Landing a software developer role at Epic Systems is a coveted opportunity. As one of the largest electronic health records companies, Epic offers exciting challenges working on mission-critical healthcare software
The interview process is notoriously rigorous. You’ll need to demonstrate technical expertise problem-solving skills and commitment to quality.
This guide will walk you through the Epic software developer interview questions you’re likely to encounter. I’ll provide sample answers and tips to help you prepare. By the end, you’ll have confidence to ace your Epic interview!
Overview of Epic Systems
Let’s start with some background on the company
Epic Systems is a leading healthcare software developer based in Verona, Wisconsin. They create integrated medical records systems for major hospitals and healthcare organizations.
Some key facts:
- Founded in 1979 by Judith Faulkner
- Privately held company
- 10,000+ employees
- Used by over 250 million patients worldwide
- Annual revenue over $3 billion
Epic focuses heavily on usability and interoperability. Their software aims to improve coordination of care across providers.
As an Epic software developer, you’ll help create and enhance healthcare applications. It’s complex, meaningful work that improves lives.
Now let’s dive into the interview questions and answers.
Top 20 Epic Software Developer Interview Questions
1. Why do you want to work for Epic?
This open-ended question tests your knowledge of the company. Show your enthusiasm for their mission.
Sample Answer: I’m deeply inspired by Epic’s mission to improve healthcare quality through technology. I appreciate that your software focuses strongly on both patient experience and provider workflow. Epic builds highly intuitive, interoperable systems that allow more coordinated, effective care. I would be proud to develop software that makes a real difference for patients and hospitals worldwide. Epic also fosters a collaborative culture where I can learn from talented peers. The complexity of the engineering problems and massive scale of the installed base are compelling to me. Overall, I’m a strong believer in Epic’s values and vision.
2. What excites you about being a software developer?
Share your passion for coding to convince interviewers you’ll thrive in this role.
Sample Answer: What excites me most about being a software developer is the ability to solve meaningful problems through code. I love the challenge of taking complex requirements and breaking them down into elegant, efficient solutions. It’s immensely rewarding to see applications I’ve built help users accomplish their goals. I also enjoy the constant learning – languages, frameworks and best practices evolve so rapidly in this field. Software development lets me flex both my creative and analytical muscles. Lastly, I appreciate the collaborative nature of working on a technical team toward a shared objective. For all these reasons, being a developer is an energizing, engaging career path for me.
3. Tell us about a complex technical challenge you faced. How did you approach and overcome it?
Your problem-solving skills are key in this role. Demonstrate critical thinking and tenacity.
Sample Answer: As part of a previous project building a web application, I ran into a problem enabling asynchronous search for users. The product requirements called for very fast response times, even with large user-generated datasets. My initial search algorithms struggled with latency at scale during load testing. To overcome the challenge, I revisited requirements and explored a number of design approaches. I ultimately found success combining an indexing strategy to optimize data structures with caching for performance. Through iterative testing and adjustments, I was able to achieve sub-second response times. This experience demonstrated the importance of taking a methodical approach to analyzing complex technical problems. Even when solutions aren’t immediately clear, sticking to fundamentals allows me to overcome challenges.
4. How do you stay up-to-date on the latest technology trends in your field?
Show interviewers you have a lifelong learner mindset.
Sample Answer: Staying current on technology trends is critical in this rapidly evolving field. I make it a habit to regularly read industry sites like HackerNews, TechCrunch and software development blogs. I follow thought leaders on Twitter who share insightful posts on emerging languages, frameworks and best practices. I attend local tech meetups and conferences when possible. At work, I volunteer for proof-of-concept projects using new technologies so I can gain hands-on experience. I’m also continually expanding my knowledge by taking online courses on platforms like Udemy and Coursera. Immersing myself in the developer community keeps me excited about continuous learning. I look forward to learning from experienced peers at Epic as well.
5. Describe your experience working with healthcare data and systems.
Even if your background isn’t specifically healthcare, highlight any relevant experience you do have.
Sample Answer: While my past professional roles haven’t involved healthcare directly, I do have experience developing secure applications to handle sensitive user data. For example, at [Company X] I built tools to collect and encrypt customer financial information in compliance with all regulations. I also interfaced those tools with their internal banking systems. From an analytics perspective, I have worked extensively with large, complex datasets. Though new to the healthcare space, I’m confident my technical foundation in security, integrations and analytics will allow me to quickly get up to speed on industry best practices. I’m truly looking forward to applying my skills to support healthcare workflows and gain domain expertise.
6. Why do you want to live and work in Madison, WI?
Epic is based in Madison, so your answer should show this location interests you.
Sample Answer: I’m eager to relocate to Madison because it seems like a great fit for my lifestyle. I love that it has a vibrant, growing tech scene thanks to companies like Epic. The city has a fun, young energy with lots to do. But it also offers an excellent quality of life with access to outdoor activities. Midwest friendliness is important to me as well – I’m looking forward to getting involved in the Madison community. Professionally, I think Epic provides amazing opportunities for growth, learning and impact as a software developer. And Madison offers an affordable cost of living while still providing big-city career options. For all these reasons, I’m genuinely excited about the prospect of living and working in Madison long-term.
7. How do you handle working on multiple projects with competing priorities?
Show you can juggle priorities and manage your time effectively.
Sample Answer: In any software development role, the ability to multitask across several projects is crucial. My approach starts with keeping an up-to-date list of each project and upcoming deadlines I’m accountable for. As new tasks and requests come in, I assess priority level based on factors like business impact and time sensitivity. I use tools like Trello to stay on top of what’s on my plate and track progress. If I feel I’m nearing bandwidth, I communicate with managers early about priorities and adjustments to my workload. I might also delegate appropriate tasks to colleagues if possible. At the end of each day, I take stock of what I accomplished to make sure I’m on track. The key for me is transparency about my workstreams and continuously reevaluating priorities.
8. Tell us about a time you had to balance speed and quality. How did you approach this?
Demonstrate good judgment around delivering fast vs. delivering perfect software.
Sample Answer: In one instance, my team was racing to complete a customer-facing web app ahead of a major industry conference. We had tight timeline pressure, but couldn’t risk performance issues or bugs in front of potential clients. My approach was to work closely with designers and testers to determine which features were absolutely critical for the first release, and which we could defer. I advocated that we focus on core functionality first and making it as robust as possible. Then we could iterate to build out additional features. Using this approach, we built an MVP that showcased our product’s value. The client was thrilled we met the tight deadline with a high-quality app, even without all the bells and whistles. This experience showed me how pivoting the roadmap and priorities can help balance velocity and quality.
9. Tell me about a time you had to compromise on a technical design or solution. Why was this the right approach?
Show that you can set aside your own preferences for the greater benefit of the product and users.
Sample Answer: As a developer, I naturally have my own preferences for how I’d architect a solution. But it’s important to stay open to alternate approaches based on business needs. For example, on one project I wanted to build a responsive web client with the latest JavaScript framework because I was excited to gain experience with it. However, after discussing with colleagues, we realized reliance on a new framework could alienate some users and add development overhead. Instead, I compromised by sticking with tried-and-true technology for the web client. But I prototyped some smaller internal tools with the framework as a learning exercise. Making this concession allowed the project to move forward strategically while still satisfying my desire to experiment. I learned to recognize when my preferences might not align with the goals or constraints at hand.
10. How do you balance collaboration with working independently?
Success at Epic requires both independent motivation and working cooperatively.
Sample Answer: One aspect that appeals to me about Epic is the collaborative culture. At the same time, I appreciate opportunities for deep focus in my work. In my experience
Software developer career Interview questions and answers | Epic system
FAQ
How to prepare for an interview with Epic?
How hard is it to get hired at Epic Systems?
How long is the epic interview process?
What is epic skills assessment like?
What is the interview process like at Epic?
I interviewed at Epic first a phone interview with a Software Developer. Then there is a 4 hour oa. There are four part in the oa: two minutes on 10 apputide question, 4 coding questions without actual running the code, few math questions, and Logics Test question
What did you learn at Epic phone interview?
I interviewed at Epic Phone Interview went through day to day life as a technical solution engineer Skill assessment including 4 part: Math, Logic, Tech Learning, Programming (leetcode type problems) in a basic text editor without syntax highlights. 4 programming questions in total
Why should you work together at Epic?
This collaborative approach not only helps in managing workload but also fosters a supportive environment where we motivate each other to meet our collective goals. Get ready for your interview at Epic with a list of common questions you may encounter and how to prepare for them effectively.
How long does it take to get a job at Epic?
The process took 2 months. I interviewed at Epic There are three rounds to go through. The first one is a resume screening, the second one is a logic/programming evaluation, and the third one is a phone call from HR or from the head of the team you have applied to enter.
