Associate Engineer
Posted Aug 6, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
About your past
Walk me through a time you had to build a test fixture from scratch. What was the test trying to prove, and how did you decide on the design?
What they are checking: whether the candidate can go from a test requirement to a working physical setup independently
Tell me about a time you caught a problem with test data that didn't look right. How did you figure out whether it was the equipment, the setup, or the product?
What they are checking: analytical rigor and skepticism toward data before trusting it
Describe a time you were juggling multiple test requests from different engineers at once. How did you decide what came first?
What they are checking: ability to manage competing priorities in a lab environment
Tell me about a time you had to document a test procedure or update a lab policy. Why did it need to change?
What they are checking: contribution to continuous improvement and comfort with the clerical, documentation side of the role
Tell me about a time you mentored or trained someone newer than you in a technical setting.
What they are checking: leadership capacity given the mentoring duty listed in the role
What would you do
A piece of test equipment fails mid-test and the engineer needs results by end of day. What do you do first?
What they are checking: troubleshooting instinct and prioritization under time pressure
If a technician or junior engineer on your team was doing something unsafe with test equipment, what would you do in the moment?
What they are checking: safety mindset and willingness to intervene, not just comply
About the work
Say an engineer hands you a test procedure that calls for measuring temperature, pressure, and voltage at the same time on a running generator. How would you set up the data acquisition for that?
What they are checking: practical DAQ knowledge across mixed sensor types, not just theory
Tell me about a piece of test equipment you've calibrated or maintained. What was the process, and how did you know it was in spec?
What they are checking: real hands-on calibration experience and understanding of why calibration matters
What do you know about ISO 17025, and have you worked in a lab that followed it?
What they are checking: actual familiarity with the quality standard versus just having heard the name
What's your experience with internal combustion engines or AC and DC power generation systems?
What they are checking: direct fit with Generac's core product domain
Have you ever had to read or create an electrical schematic or blueprint for a test setup? Walk me through an example.
What they are checking: ability to translate documentation into physical build
How comfortable are you with hand and power tools, welding, or sheet metal work, and can you give an example of a fixture or part you built yourself?
What they are checking: genuine shop skills versus theoretical familiarity
Describe your experience working with thermocouples or pressure sensors specifically. What issues have you run into with them?
What they are checking: depth of sensor-level experience beyond generic instrumentation knowledge
Practice this interview out loud.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by Generac.