Interviewing at Helix can be an exciting yet nerve-wracking experience. As a leading genomics company empowering individuals to improve their health, Helix attracts top talent from a range of backgrounds. With competition fierce for open roles, it’s important to go into your Helix interview fully prepared.
In this article, we’ll overview frequently asked Helix interview questions and provide tips for crafting strong responses. We’ll cover both general questions any candidate could expect, as well as role-specific questions tailored to key positions like Software Engineering, Bioinformatics, and Lab Operations. Master these common Helix interview topics and you’ll showcase that you have what it takes to join the Helix team!
General Helix Interview Questions and Answers
Let’s start with some broad Helix interview questions you might encounter regardless of the specific role you’re applying for
Why do you want to work for Helix?
Helix’s mission to empower every person to improve their health and wellbeing through DNA insights resonates strongly with me I’m excited by the way Helix democratizes access to genetic testing and provides users with actionable steps to optimize their health. I want to contribute my skills in [your field] to drive that mission forward and bring personalized health insights to people across the globe
What interests you about this role?
I’m particularly interested in the opportunity to [summarize key responsibilities of the role]. My background in [relevant experience/skills] makes me well-equipped to tackle these core functions. I’m also excited about the chance to collaborate cross-functionally and contribute to key company initiatives like [name a major goal like launching a new product].
Why should we hire you?
In addition to my directly relevant expertise in [key requirements of the role], I bring a passion for Helix’s mission and a strong cultural fit. I’m a curious, collaborative team player excited to take on challenges and drive results. Hiring me allows you to gain someone extremely motivated to contribute to Helix’s continued growth and success.
What are your strengths?
Some of my key strengths are [detail 2-3 relevant strengths]. For example, I’m highly analytical and adept at gathering and interpreting complex data sets to uncover actionable insights. I’m also an excellent communicator able to explain technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. My strengths enable me to [summarize how they would lead to success in this role].
What are your weaknesses?
I tend to give my full effort and attention to every task on my plate, which can sometimes result in difficulties prioritizing competing demands. I’m actively working to improve in this area by utilizing project management tools to better organize my time and optimize workflow. I also proactively communicate with my manager if I feel overwhelmed or need support balancing priorities.
Why are you leaving your current company?
I’ve learned a tremendous amount in my role at [current company] and appreciate the opportunities I’ve had there. However, I’m now looking to take the next step in my career and feel fully prepared to take on greater responsibilities. Helix is doing such innovative work that strongly aligns with my own passions, making it an ideal environment for me to continue challenging myself and expanding my skills.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years, I hope to be in a [next level up] role, leveraging the expertise I’ll have continued building at Helix to take on strategic projects and positively impact the business. I aim to become an expert in [area relevant to the open role] and contribute innovative ideas that push Helix forward. Most importantly, I plan to continue growing as a leader who models the company values and mentors junior team members.
Common Helix Interview Questions by Role
Let’s go a bit more in-depth on Helix interview questions tailored to key areas of the business:
Software Engineering Interview Questions
What is your experience with our tech stack?
I have [number] years of experience building cloud-native applications with Python on AWS services like EC2, Lambda, and DynamoDB. Though I haven’t used your exact stack, I learn new technologies quickly and am confident I can rapidly come up to speed. I’m especially interested in gaining hands-on experience with React, which I’ve worked with extensively for personal projects and am excited to now apply in a professional setting.
How would you improve the performance of an app with slow response times?
I would start by profiling the app to pinpoint where the bottleneck occurs. If the issue stems from inefficient database queries, I would optimize the queries and potentially add indexing. For UI lag, I may implement asynchronous processing and loading. Caching and a CDN can also improve performance by reducing load on application servers. Throughout this process, I’d collaborate with other engineers and UX designers to understand requirements and iterate based on real-world testing and usage data.
How would you go about debugging a problem you haven’t encountered before?
I would first reproduce the error and collect all available information about the failure, like stack traces or error messages. I’d search documentation and resources like Stack Overflow to see if others have encountered similar issues. If the problem appears new, I’d isolate components and test them individually to narrow down the root cause. I’d add additional logging and instrumentation as needed to gain further visibility. I’m a strong believer in asking for help when stuck after trying my own debugging strategies, as another engineer may have valuable insights or a fresh perspective.
Describe your experience collaborating on a team and owning a project end-to-end.
In my current role, I led the backend development for our customer portal from design through launch. I worked closely with the product manager to define requirements and timeline based on business needs. I then executed on the technical implementation, coordinating regularly with the frontend developer to ensure components would integrate smoothly. Throughout the project, I communicated blockers and progress clearly with both technical and non-technical colleagues to guarantee transparency. Post-launch, I monitored performance and responded quickly to resolve any issues. I also took lead authoring documentation for other engineers supporting the portal long-term.
Bioinformatics Interview Questions
How would you validate the accuracy of a new NGS analysis algorithm?
I would run the new algorithm on control sample datasets where the true variants are known. I would tune parameters as needed to optimize sensitivity and specificity versus this “gold standard” before assessing performance on real samples. I would calculate metrics like concordance, precision, recall, and F1-score relative to validated variants. I would also compare the new algorithm against existing methods by running it on the same datasets and evaluating whether it offers significantly improved accuracy.
How do you stay current with new bioinformatics tools and techniques?
I regularly read papers published in leading journals like Bioinformatics and Genome Research to learn about state-of-the-art methods. I follow thought leaders on social media who often share early research results and open source code repositories like GitHub to find newly released tools I can experiment with. I try to attend at least one major conference per year, like ASHG or AGBT, to connect directly with bioinformaticians at the forefront of the field. I’ve also found sending cold emails to authors of interesting papers often leads to valuable conversations and collaborations.
Describe a creative solution you implemented to solve a complex bioinformatics challenge.
When analyzing noisy single cell RNA-sequencing data, standard clustering techniques failed to accurately identify subpopulations due to high dimensionality. To overcome this, I constructed a deep autoencoder neural network to denoise and reduce the dimensionality of the dataset as a preprocessing step. I then leveraged the lower-dimensional encodings as features in a Gaussian mixture model, which allowed robust unsupervised clustering of the cells. This innovative approach successfully revealed novel subtypes lost using traditional methods.
How would you communicate complex results from a big data study to non-technical colleagues or executives?
I would prepare clear visualizations to highlight key takeaways, limiting jargon. Tables, charts, and diagrams can underscore main findings without getting bogged down in methods. I would focus my oral presentation on the biological significance and business implications of the results. Importantly, I would provide an executive summary and be prepared to answer questions in an accessible way, giving technical details only upon request. Follow-up documentation would recapitulate the presentation to reinforce retention of the core concepts for non-technical audiences.
Lab Operations Interview Questions
How do you stay organized while handling multiple projects and priorities?
I use project management tools like Asana to create to-do lists, set reminders, and track deadlines across initiatives big and small. I break larger projects into smaller milestones to keep momentum moving forward. I touch base with my manager regularly to calibrate on top priorities when faced with competing demands. I also block time on my calendar for focusing on key projects away from my inbox. Staying flexible while driving projects to completion in a meticulous, planned manner is crucial for success.
Tell me about a time you needed to quickly adapt to a changing situation in a lab environment.
When our LIMS went down unexpectedly last year just as we were processing a high-volume batch of samples, I immediately implemented our downtime protocols, including transitioning logins and sample tracking to paper. Once service was restored, I worked extended hours with my team to rapidly input the backlog of records to get us back on track, while taking care to
Prepare for Your Interview With Helix
FAQ
How to prepare for an audiology interview?
