How exciting it is to get the call from the recruiter telling you that you got your dream job! How relieved you are to finally see the offer letter you’ve been working too hard for years! The pride in your parents voices when you call home and say “Hey look Ma, I’ve made it!”.
But before that, there’s the grueling screening process to get through. Tech interviews can last up to three months, and companies may go through five to seven rounds of screening before making a choice.
How do you get ready for these interviews? A quick Google search turns up almost 2,000 articles and courses written by “experts” who say they can guarantee you the job. Well, I’m not an expert. I don’t have a course. I did, however, go through the same interview process three months ago and make it through. I got the job of my dreams (or at least made it through the job hunt season) with these tips and tricks.
Behavioral interviews are pretty similar across the board. Just be honest and be yourself (a charming, funny, PG-13 version of yourself) and you should be fine. This round tests your people skills more than anything. Focus on making a connection with your interviewer. If you get them to root for you, your chances of getting the job increase tenfold.
Practice what you’d want to say beforehand so your answers have more content than filler words. You can record yourself or rehearse your answers with a friend. Most interviews now happen online, so have a practice interview on a Zoom call before the real one. This way, you can get rid of any weird habits, like staring at yourself on screen, which is something I really enjoy doing.
These are some common questions asked during behavioral interviews. Use the STAR method and try to answer each question in about 3-4 sentences.
Heres a list of the questions I used to prepare for the behavioral round: Behavioral Interview Practice Questions
Technical interviews… the final boss of software engineering interviews. People spend months, even years, preparing for this round. And it’s even harder for us embedded software engineers.
The issue with technical interviews for embedded software positions is that there’s no clear cut syllabus. We can’t simply grind Leetcode 75 like our software engineering peers. Nevertheless, here’s a handy playbook to help you crack the (embedded) coding interview.
Well, there’s good news and bad news. One bad thing about embedded software interviews is that they test your knowledge of Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA), just like all other software engineering interviews. This is especially important because in systems with few resources, the programmer often has to set up and build these structures themselves. And the best way to prepare for these kinds of problems is by using Leetcode.
Leetcode is overwhelming. With over 2500 problems, it’s hard to know where to even start. Now for the good news: you don’t have to do all of these things (at least not right away). The platforms you’ll be writing software for don’t usually support complex data structures like trees and graphs. Focus on arrays, strings and bit manipulation to ace the coding round.
Try CodeSignal for a fun twist on the same DSA problems. Like an arcade game, the coding challenges are set up so that you have to solve each one to move on to the next level. CodeSignal is also used by many companies for their online tests, so once you’re done practicing, use their mock interviews to see how well you did. HackerRank is another useful tool to check out too.
Don’t do what I did: I decided to be different and spent my first month Leetcoding in C. It was the worst idea ever! It took me ten times as long and twice as much work, but I learned how important it is to use the right tool for the job and got pretty good at C. My suggestion is to stick to Python. It’s easier and is a better tool to solve these problems.
There is a lot of disagreement about whether or not leetcode is a good way to test your coding skills. However, there is no real way to test your embedded software skills, which is why interviewers usually ask you about your theoretical knowledge of embedded systems. This round of interviews can be about anything from microcontroller architecture to C syntax to communication protocols to operating systems and object orientation. Here are my favorite resources to help you brush up your theory:
That’s it! A free, pocket-sized Cracking The (embedded) Coding Interview (no copyright violation meant) to get the job offers coming in.
As a side note, I read that there is no such thing as a dream job. I agree with some of that. There are people, technologies, and products you might want to work on, but there is no such thing as a dream company, in line with the idea behind the quote. This year’s job market is really, really tough. Many of the big companies have put recruitment freezes in place, so don’t give up if you don’t get a 200K, WFH, MAANG job. Your “dream” first job is a place for you to be mentored and to learn to contribute. A place that you’re excited to go to and people you can’t wait to work with. You will get the job of your dreams if you go into the job market with this in mind.
Nailing an interview for an embedded systems role requires strong technical skills. You’ll need to demonstrate your expertise in embedded C operating systems microcontrollers, and more.
Preparation is key Study this list of the 8 most common and critical embedded systems interview questions – along with examples of impressive responses
With insider tips and ideal answers, you’ll gain the confidence to ace the embedded systems interview and land the job.
1. What Experience Do You Have with Embedded Systems?
Hiring managers want to assess your hands-on experience right off the bat. Be ready to explain your background working with embedded technology.
Good responses include:
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Detailing specific projects you contributed to. “In college, I designed an automated sprinkler system using a PIC18F microcontroller.”
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Listing courses taken. “I’ve completed training courses in embedded C and UX design for embedded devices.”
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Describing familiar tools and components. “I have experience programming Arduino boards and working with sensors, power management ICs, and memory.”
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Discussing roles utilizing embedded technology. “As a manufacturing engineer, I programmed PLCs and designed control panel interfaces.”
Takeaway: Concisely summarize hands-on experience that qualifies you for the role.
2. Explain the Components of an Embedded System
Hiring managers want to assess your overall understanding of embedded systems. Illustrate your knowledge by explaining the key components.
Good responses explain:
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The microprocessor or microcontroller that executes programmed instructions
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Input/output devices like sensors, touchscreens, switches and actuators
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Memory chips including RAM, ROM and flash memory
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The real-time OS managing scheduling and task execution
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Communication interfaces like WiFi, Bluetooth and USB
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Power supply components to provide stable, consistent voltage
Takeaway: Demonstrate you understand the fundamental elements that comprise an embedded system.
3. What Are the Advantages of Using an RTOS?
Real-time operating systems unlock powerful capabilities for embedded devices. Hiring managers will expect you to be well-versed in the pros of using an RTOS.
Good responses include:
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Enabling real-time multitasking – executing critical tasks precisely when needed
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Providing preemptive scheduling – stopping lower priority tasks to run urgent ones
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Allowing fast context switching between tasks
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Implementing synchronization primitives like semaphores
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Permitting modular, well-structured programming
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Increasing reliability and error handling
Takeaway: Explain key benefits like real-time responsiveness, robustness, and efficient concurrency.
4. How Do You Optimize Code for Embedded Systems?
Engineering managers will want to see you understand best practices for efficient, compact code.
Good responses include:
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Minimizing RAM usage through code optimization
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Using bit fields in structures to conserve memory
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Avoiding recursion and floating point numbers
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Using loop unrolling and inlining to improve speed
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Adhering to coding standards for portability and readability
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Thoroughly commenting code to ease understanding
Takeaway: Demonstrate fluency in critical embedded C programming techniques.
5. How Do You Test an Embedded System?
Thorough testing is crucial for bulletproof embedded systems. Hiring managers want to ensure you grasp effective testing approaches.
Good responses include:
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Unit testing each module in isolation
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Performing static analysis to catch bugs early
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Executing integration tests across components
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Conducting usability testing for optimal UX
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Doing extensive regression testing when code changes
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Stress testing under heavy loads to expose weaknesses
Takeaway: Convey your expertise in core testing strategies necessary for robust embedded products.
6. How Do You Approach Debugging Issues?
Employers want problem solvers who can efficiently investigate bugs. Discuss your best practices for embedded systems debugging.
Good responses include:
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Checking logs and console output for error messages
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Using debuggers like GDB to monitor code execution
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Adding extra output statements for insight into runtime flow
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Employing tools like profiling to identify bottlenecks
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Breaking problems down methodically to pinpoint root cause
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Updating documentation with issues found to aid future debugging
Takeaway: Demonstrate systematic approaches for debugging and documenting issues effectively.
7. What Real-Time Protocols Are You Familiar With?
For many embedded roles, networking experience is key. Be ready to discuss real-time communication protocols you’ve worked with.
Good responses include:
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CAN bus – Enables real-time communication in vehicles
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Profinet – For industrial automation and control systems
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DDS – A publish-subscribe protocol for reliable data exchange
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MQTT – A lightweight IoT protocol for connections with remote devices
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Zigbee – Enables mesh networks of low-power devices
Takeaway: Illustrate your hands-on experience with vital networking protocols.
8. Where Do You See Your Career in 5 Years?
Finally, hiring managers want to understand your long-term goals and vision. Share where you hope to take your embedded systems career.
Good responses include:
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Transitioning into a team lead role mentoring junior engineers
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Becoming an embedded Linux expert if pursuing software track
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Gaining hardware design skills like PCB layout if pursuing a hardware focus
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Moving into systems engineering to oversee entire product development
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Switching to the business side in embedded systems product marketing
Takeaway: Articulate ambitions aligned with embedded systems career growth paths.
Ready to Show Your Embedded Systems Mastery
Preparing for these common embedded systems interview questions will help you highlight your unique qualifications for the job.
Use this guide to polish your responses and confidently interview. You’ll prove you have the exact skills and knowledge hiring managers seek in top embedded systems talent. Now get out there and ace that interview!
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A college senior with a major in Computer Engineering and a minor in English. Most of the time, you can find me coding, practicing classical dance, or reading.
Embedded Software Engineering Interview Questions & Answers
FAQ
Is embedded C difficult?
What are the commonly found errors in embedded systems?
Why did you choose embedded?
