Senior+ Data Manipulation (SQL/Python) Interview Questions

Senior+ data interviews push SQL and data manipulation well past basic SELECTs. These questions were reported from senior-level interviews, so they cluster around the harder techniques: multi-level window functions, recursive and layered CTEs, cohort and retention logic, and pandas transformations that mirror real analytics work. At the senior+ level, interviewers also expect you to reason about query performance and explain why one approach beats another. Drill these to get fluent in the patterns that separate senior+ data candidates — writing a running total, a month-over-month change, or a cohort query without reaching for a reference. Most questions come with a worked solution so you can compare your query to a clean one.

41 Questions 118 Companies09.11.2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What SQL topics show up in senior data interviews?
Window functions (running totals, LAG/LEAD, ranking), CTEs including recursive ones, self-joins, cohort and retention analysis, and query optimization. Pandas equivalents show up for analytics roles.
How hard is the SQL at the senior level?
Medium-to-hard. The queries are multi-step and the interviewer often asks you to reason about performance and explain trade-offs between approaches.
Are these real senior SQL questions?
Yes — each is reported from an actual senior-level data interview, and most include a worked solution.