Question Overview: Design engineers must be able to work well with others. The ideal candidate will explain how they work in a team. Do they prefer to work alone or with a group? What is their leadership style? Do they prefer to be the leader or the follower?
Sample Answer: I enjoy working in a team because it allows me to bounce ideas off of others. I like to be the leader of the group because I enjoy being the one to come up with new ideas.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of basic engineering concepts. Focus on their answer and how they explain the difference between the two materials. Is the applicant able to give you a detailed explanation?
Sample Answer: Steel and wood have different properties. Steel is a much stronger material than wood, so it will be able to handle more stress than wood. Answer: The stress in both will be different. Wood is a material that is more flexible than steel. Steel has a higher tensile strength than wood. Answer: The stress in both will be different. Wood is a material that is more flexible than steel. Steel has a higher tensile strength than wood.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have many strengths. Focus on what the applicant is best at and how it relates to the position. Is the applicant a critical thinker? Are they a good communicator? What are their strengths in relation to the position?
Sample Answer: I'm best at communicating with others. I'm able to break down complex engineering ideas for clients and colleagues.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will be able to work well with others. Focus on what the applicant did to help the team succeed. Did they take on a leadership role? Did they help other team members with their tasks? Were they able to work well with other leaders?
Sample Answer: I was not the leader of my team when I was working on a project for a client. I took on the role of a project manager and helped my team members stay on track. I was able to delegate tasks and make sure that everyone was working on the right things.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a good understanding of the company's values and mission. They will also be able to explain why they are a good fit for the company. Focus on the applicant's answer to see if they are a good match for your company.
Sample Answer: I want to work for your company because I have heard great things about it. I know that you are a great company that cares about its employees and clients. I am a hard worker who is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that your clients are happy.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a clear vision of where they want to be in the future. Focus on what the applicant's career goals are. Is the applicant looking to move up in their current position or move into a different industry?
Sample Answer: I see myself in a management role in five years. I'm confident that I will be able to take on a leadership role at my company and continue to grow as an engineer.
Question Overview: The body effect is a phenomenon that occurs when a design engineer's body is in the way of their work. It's important to identify if the applicant has experienced this before and how they handled it. Did they find a way to move around their body? Did they find a way to move their body around the work?
Sample Answer: The body effect is when your body is in the way of your work. I have experienced this before and I was able to move my body out of the way so that I could continue working.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a clear understanding of what value means to the role. They should be able to explain how they will add value to the company. Focus on how the applicant will add value in the role. Is it through their education, experience or personality?
Sample Answer: I will add value to this role by using my education and experience to create a design that is both innovative and cost-effective.
Question Overview: Design engineers must have the ability to work well with clients. The ideal candidate will be able to explain how they handled a situation where the client wanted something that wasn't feasible. Were they able to compromise? Did they find a way to make the design work?
Sample Answer: I would explain to the client why the design wouldn't work if it was built the way they wanted it. I would then offer a few alternatives that would work better.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will be able to explain their thought process when designing something. Focus on how they solve problems and how they think through a design. Does the applicant have a creative approach to problem solving?
Sample Answer: I like to start with the end product in mind and work backwards. I like to think about what the client is looking for and what I can do to make it happen.
Question Overview: Design engineers must be able to think critically and logically. The ideal candidate will be able to explain how they came up with a solution and the steps they took to complete the task.
Sample Answer: I started by listing all the possible inputs for the XOR function. I then listed all the possible outputs for the XOR function. I then began to map out all the different combinations of inputs and outputs.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a working knowledge of CMOS leakage current and how to reduce it. Focus on the applicant's explanation of the term and what they did to reduce it. Did they use a specific design technique? Did they create a new process?
Sample Answer: CMOS leakage current is the current that flows through the transistors when they are not being used. I reduced this by adding a new design technique that would allow the transistors to be turned off when not in use.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a clear understanding of why they are the best fit for the position. They will be able to explain their past experience and how it aligns with the job description. Focus on any specific skills that the applicant mentions.
Sample Answer: I am a hard worker who is always looking for ways to improve my skills. I have been working in the design engineering field for five years and have experience in many different areas. I am confident that I can help your company grow and succeed.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have experience with a variety of design software. Focus on any software that is similar to the ones used at your company. Is the applicant able to quickly adapt to different applications?
Sample Answer: I learned AutoCAD, SolidWorks and PTC Creo in my undergraduate program. I have also learned Solid Edge and Inventor since then.
Question Overview: Design engineers must be able to balance timeliness and thoroughness. The ideal candidate will explain how they balance the two. Focus on how the applicant explains their answer. Does the applicant give a specific example of a time they had to balance timeliness and thoroughness?
Sample Answer: I believe that timeliness is more important than thoroughness. In my last design engineering position, I was working on a project that was due in two weeks. I had to work with my team to create a design that was both timely and thorough.
Question Overview: The V/I graph is a graph that shows the relationship between voltage and current for a capacitor. The ideal candidate will explain how they would find the V/I graph for a given capacitor. They should be able to explain their thought process and how they came to the answer.
Sample Answer: I would use a circuit simulator to find the V/I graph for a given capacitor. I would start by setting up the circuit in the simulator and then finding the current and voltage at each point on the graph. I would then plot the points on a graph and connect them with a line.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a list of projects that they've contributed to in their previous job. They should be able to detail their contributions and innovative ideas. Focus on what the candidate's role was in the project and how they were able to contribute to the final product.
Sample Answer: I was able to contribute to the design of a new product by creating a 3D model of the product. I was also able to create a 3D model of the product's packaging.
Question Overview: Design engineers must be able to work well with others. The ideal candidate will explain a conflict they had with a teammate and how they resolved it. Did they work with the team to come up with a solution? Did they speak to their manager about the issue? Did they find a way to work around the problem?
Sample Answer: I had a conflict with my teammate when we were working on an important project. We were both working on the same part of the project and we were unable to come up with a solution. I spoke to my manager about the issue and we came up with a solution that worked for both of us.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have experience doing something uncomfortable in order to do the right thing. The applicant should be able to explain a time when they had to do something uncomfortable. What was the situation? What was the outcome?
Sample Answer: I had to confront my boss about a project that he was not doing correctly. I knew that I had to do it because it was the right thing to do.