Bioinformatics Engineer II
Posted Aug 20, 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
How do you estimate how long a ticket will take, and what do you do when your estimate is wrong?
What they are checking: Whether they plan honestly and raise slips early, as the posting asks them to flag blockers.
Tell me about a time you mentored a junior engineer.
What they are checking: Whether they can teach and set standards, which the posting describes as part of the role.
What do you like about working where software meets biology?
What they are checking: Whether they understand and enjoy the domain, which helps when requirements are scientific.
What would you do
A production job fails overnight and the logs are unclear. How do you troubleshoot it?
What they are checking: Whether they work methodically through logs, inputs and recent changes instead of guessing.
A stakeholder's requirements are vague. How do you get to a clear spec before you start coding?
What they are checking: Whether they ask the right questions so they build the right thing the first time.
About the work
Walk me through how you would design a pipeline that processes sequencing data from raw files to final results.
What they are checking: Whether they can think through steps, tools, failure points and logging in an end-to-end process.
Write or describe a SQL query to find samples that failed QC in the last thirty days, grouped by run.
What they are checking: Whether they are comfortable with relational databases and can write practical queries quickly.
What makes a good code review comment?
What they are checking: Whether they give clear, kind and specific feedback that helps others improve their code.
How do you write unit tests for code that processes large genomic files?
What they are checking: Whether they use small fixtures and test edge cases rather than skipping tests for data-heavy code.
Tell me about a time you compiled a program from source or used Linux pipes to solve a problem.
What they are checking: Whether their Linux skills are real and practical, since the posting asks for intermediate to advanced use.
How do you document your work so someone else can maintain it?
What they are checking: Whether they treat documentation as part of the job rather than an afterthought.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by Tempus AI.