Behavioral and Leadership Prompts for a Data Engineer (Onsite)

Context: You are interviewing for a Data Engineer role. Answer each prompt with specific, metric-driven examples. Use a structured method (e.g., STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result), and be ready for deep follow-ups on metrics, decisions, and failure points.

(a) Describe a time you had a conflict with a colleague or stakeholder. How did you diagnose root causes and resolve it?

(b) Tell me about a project with an immovable deadline. How did you plan, prioritize scope, and communicate trade-offs? What was the outcome?

(c) What is the most important project you led end-to-end? What measurable impact did it have, and what were your specific contributions?

(d) Give an example where you persuaded others using data. What analysis, metrics, or experiment changed the decision, and how did you handle pushback? Expect deep follow-ups on metrics, decisions, and failure points.