Staff Engineer, Systems Software
Posted Sep 21, 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
Tell me about a software feature you led from design through integration. What were you accountable for?
What they are checking: Whether they have owned a feature end to end as the technical expert, as the posting describes.
Tell me about a process problem you spotted and the fix you recommended.
What they are checking: Whether they improve how the team works, which the posting expects.
How do you mentor engineers who are newer to systems programming?
What they are checking: Whether they share knowledge and raise the skill of the team.
What would you do
Integration fails the day before a milestone. What do you do?
What they are checking: Whether they can lead the team through a crisis and find the real cause quickly.
About the work
How do you define a branching, integration and deployment strategy for a feature?
What they are checking: Whether they can set a workable strategy that keeps several developers moving without breaking things.
Walk me through how you'd build a hardware or interface simulator for testing.
What they are checking: Whether they can simulate devices well enough to test software before hardware is ready.
How do you structure source code for a large subsystem so it stays maintainable?
What they are checking: Whether they think about modularity and clear boundaries, which this role defines.
How do you take product and software requirements and give useful input to stakeholders?
What they are checking: Whether they can question and improve requirements instead of just accepting them.
How do you write unit and integration tests for systems software?
What they are checking: Whether they test at the right levels so defects are caught early.
How does working on a regulated diagnostic instrument change your approach to software design?
What they are checking: Whether they understand design controls, traceability and risk management.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by Abbott.