This question evaluates project leadership, impact measurement, decision-making under constraints, and risk mitigation competencies for a data scientist by requiring explicit goals, quantified outcomes, trade-off rationale, and failure de-risking.

Describe the project you’re most proud of using the STAR method. Specify the exact goal and success metrics up front; quantify at least two outcomes (e.g., latency, revenue, accuracy, cost). What was the hardest trade-off you faced, what alternative did you reject and why, and what was the key failure you de-risked? Finally, what would you change if you had 3 more months and 20% less budget?