Ace Your Cerner Software Engineer Interview: The Top 25 Questions and Answers You Need to Know

Landing a software engineering role at a prestigious company like Cerner can be a challenging feat. As a global leader in healthcare technology, Cerner seeks top talent who can help transform healthcare through innovative solutions.

If you have an interview coming up for a software engineer position at Cerner you want to be as prepared as possible. Knowing what questions you will likely face and crafting strong responses can make a major difference in how you come across to the interviewers.

In this comprehensive guide, we reveal the top 25 Cerner software engineer interview questions along with tips and sample answers to help you craft your best responses

Overview of Cerner’s Software Engineer Interview Process

While specific details may vary, here is a general overview of what to expect in Cerner’s software engineering interview process:

• Initial phone/video screening A preliminary interview to evaluate your basic technical skills and fit for the role Expect questions about your background, experience, and interest in Cerner

• Technical phone/video interview: 1-2 rounds of more in-depth technical interviews. You will be asked questions testing your coding abilities, system design skills, debugging skills, and technical knowledge.

• On-site interviews: For candidates who clear the technical rounds, an on-site interview is conducted. This involves 4-6 interviews including coding challenges, system design, behavioral, and management interviews.

• Technical assignment: Some candidates may be given a take-home coding assignment to further assess skills.

• Reference and background checks: The final stage before an offer is made.

Now let’s look at the top 25 Cerner software engineer interview questions and how to best approach them.

Top 25 Cerner Software Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

1. Can you discuss your experience with health information technology or electronic medical records systems?

As a global leader in healthcare technology, Cerner wants to gauge your familiarity with the intricacies of healthcare tech and assess how well you can adapt to their specific software engineering environment. They need to be sure that you can hit the ground running, and your previous experience in this field is a good indicator of that.

Example:

“I have extensive experience with health information technology, particularly electronic medical records systems. In my previous project, I was responsible for developing a module in an EMR system that improved patient data retrieval efficiency by 30%.

My work involved understanding healthcare workflows, implementing features to enhance user experience and ensuring the system complied with HIPAA regulations. This required me to liaise closely with healthcare professionals to understand their needs and translate them into technical requirements.

Moreover, I also gained exposure to technologies like HL7 and FHIR which are widely used in healthcare interoperability. My experience has equipped me with a robust understanding of both the technical and functional aspects of health IT.”

2. How would you approach the task of developing software for healthcare data analytics?

Developing software for healthcare data analytics requires careful consideration beyond just building a functional tool. Factors like reliability, security, privacy, and handling large data volumes are critical. This question allows Cerner to evaluate your understanding of the context and unique challenges of developing healthcare-related software.

Example:

“Developing software for healthcare data analytics requires a meticulous approach due to the sensitivity and complexity of health data. I would begin by understanding the specific needs of end-users, be it clinicians, administrators or patients.

Next is ensuring compliance with regulations like HIPAA to protect patient information. This involves implementing robust security measures in the software design.

Data quality and integrity are also crucial. Hence, I’d employ rigorous testing protocols to minimize errors. To handle the vast amount of data, efficient algorithms and machine learning techniques can help derive meaningful insights. Lastly, user-friendly interfaces will facilitate easy access and interpretation of data.”

3. What strategies would you use to ensure HIPAA compliance in a software application?

HIPAA compliance is mandatory when handling protected health information. Cerner needs to confirm that you understand the importance of adhering to these regulations and can implement strategies to ensure software applications are compliant. This helps prevent breaches and protects users and the company.

Example:

“To ensure HIPAA compliance in a software application, I would implement strong access control measures including unique user identification, automatic logoff after periods of inactivity, and encryption of protected health information (PHI).

Next, I’d incorporate audit controls to record and examine activity in systems containing PHI. Regular risk analysis is crucial to identify vulnerabilities.

Furthermore, I’d ensure the application has data backup and disaster recovery plans to maintain availability and integrity.

Lastly, training users on HIPAA regulations and secure application usage is key as human error can lead to breaches.”

4. Describe an instance where you had to troubleshoot and resolve a critical issue in a production environment.

This question evaluates your skills in thinking on your feet, troubleshooting efficiently, and resolving crises in high-pressure, real-world situations. Your example should highlight technical expertise along with composure under pressure.

Example:

“In a previous project, we noticed an unexpected drop in system performance post-deployment. My first step was to analyze the logs and monitor system metrics.

I found that our application’s response time had increased significantly. Upon investigation, I discovered that a new feature was making redundant database calls, causing the slowdown.

To resolve this, I refactored the code to eliminate unnecessary queries and optimized the remaining ones. Post-optimization, the system’s performance improved substantially, resolving the critical issue.

This experience taught me the importance of thorough testing and optimization before deploying changes to a production environment.”

5. Explain how you’d go about creating a software solution that can handle large volumes of patient data securely and efficiently.

Here, Cerner wants you to demonstrate your grasp of data handling and security best practices, which are vital when working with vast amounts of sensitive health data. Emphasize strategies like encryption, access controls, audits, and leveraging cloud solutions.

Example:

“To create a secure and efficient software solution for large volumes of patient data, I would employ the following strategies:

I would use cloud-based solutions like AWS or Google Cloud, which offer scalability and robust security compliant with HIPAA.

For efficient processing, I’d use batch processing or stream processing based on real-time needs. Encryption during transit and at rest would maintain confidentiality.

Regular audits and penetration testing would identify vulnerabilities, ensuring continuous security improvements. Lastly, role-based access controls would limit data access.”

6. Tell us about a time when you worked on a cross-functional team to deliver software solutions.

This evaluates your ability to collaborate across disciplines to deliver unified solutions, which is crucial in software development. Share an example highlighting communication, transparency, and teamwork.

Example:

“At my former company, we were developing a new feature that required input across departments. As part of the engineering team, I worked closely with design, product management, and QA.

We faced challenges aligning everyone’s understanding of goals and requirements. To overcome this, I initiated daily standups and weekly syncs to ensure transparency and alignment.

Through effective collaboration, we successfully delivered the software solution on time. This experience taught me the importance of clear communication and teamwork in cross-functional projects.”

7. How familiar are you with HL7 standards, and how have you used them in your previous projects?

HL7 standards enable health data exchange, so Cerner wants to confirm your knowledge of these standards. Provide an overview of your experience implementing HL7 and how it facilitated interoperability.

Example:

“I have extensive experience with HL7 standards, particularly version 2.x. I’ve used them to enable seamless data exchange between healthcare systems.

In one project, I developed an interface engine using Mirth Connect based on HL7 for smooth data transfer. This involved parsing and transforming HL7 messages based on the recipient system’s specifications.

My experience also includes troubleshooting HL7 transmission issues to ensure data integrity and security during communication.”

8. In what ways do you see AI and machine learning impacting healthcare IT and how would you incorporate these technologies into our software?

Cerner wants forward-thinking engineers who can leverage innovative technologies like AI/ML to transform healthcare. Demonstrate your understanding of their potential applications and how you would implement them to further Cerner’s mission.

Example:

“AI and machine learning can revolutionize healthcare IT through enhanced predictive analytics, improved diagnosis accuracy, and personalized treatment planning.

Incorporating these into Cerner’s software could involve creating algorithms to analyze patient data for early disease detection and developing AI chatbots for routine inquiries, freeing staff time.

Machine learning models could predict patient outcomes based on health records, enabling proactive care and potentially saving lives.”

9. Cerner often works with legacy systems. How would you prepare yourself to work on such systems?

Understanding and working with legacy systems is a reality in health tech roles. Showcase your adaptability by highlighting strategies like studying older languages/frameworks, collaborating with experienced staff, and honing debugging skills.

Example:

“Working with legacy systems requires deep understanding of older technologies, patience,