Finding the right expert with in-depth knowledge of electricity and circuits for your business isn’t easy. Do they know the difference between a series and a parallel circuit? Have they worked with AC circuits before?
There are, however, two main ways to tell if their skills are enough for the job you want to fill:
Below, we’ve provided 73 interview questions to help you prepare for interviewing your candidates. All the questions you need are here – along with some sample answers to review applicants’ responses.
Interviewing for a power engineering role? You’ve come to the right place In this comprehensive article, we’ll cover some of the most common and tricky power engineering interview questions you’re likely to encounter.
From technical queries to situational questions we’ve gathered insider tips straight from hiring managers and career experts. Read on to find out what you need to know to ace your upcoming interview.
Why Prepare for a Power Engineering Interview?
The field of power engineering is highly technical and competitive When hiring for these roles, interviewers want to see that you have
- In-depth knowledge of electrical systems and equipment
- Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills
- A sharp attention to detail and safety protocols
They’ll ask targeted questions to assess whether you have these competencies. If you want to stand out from other applicants, you need to come prepared with clear, compelling responses.
Thorough interview preparation will help you:
- Articulate your experience and qualifications confidently
- Provide specific, memorable examples that showcase your abilities
- Answer questions smoothly and avoid getting flustered
- Exude competence and demonstrate that you’re the ideal candidate
Let’s look at some of the power engineering interview questions you’re likely to get asked.
Technical Power Engineering Interview Questions
Technical questions allow hiring managers to gauge your hands-on abilities and engineering knowledge. Be ready to get quizzed on topics like:
What experience do you have with power systems and equipment?
This is often one of the very first questions. The interviewer wants to understand your overall background and capabilities working with electrical systems.
In your response, touch on things like:
- Your certifications and training credentials
- The specific power systems/equipment you’re familiar with
- Projects you’ve worked on (scope, challenges, results)
- Your maintenance and troubleshooting experience
- Any special expertise like working with renewable energy sources
Example response:
“I have over seven years of experience working with power systems and equipment in industrial settings. I’m a certified Professional Engineer and have hands-on experience with generators, switchgear, transformers, motors, variable frequency drives, and PLCs. For a large manufacturing client, I managed a project to upgrade their aging power distribution system, which involved design, procurement, and commissioning of new MV switchgear and harmonic filters. We were able to reduce their power losses by 18% through the upgrades. I’ve also done extensive troubleshooting and preventive maintenance on generators, switchgear, and other power equipment.”
Tell me about a time you had to troubleshoot a complex issue with electrical equipment.
Troubleshooting questions allow interviewers to understand your analytical approach and how you ensure safety and proper protocols.
When responding, be sure to discuss:
- The specific situation, equipment involved, and issue you faced
- How you approached isolating the root cause methodically and safely
- Any creative troubleshooting techniques you used
- The solution and end result of your efforts
Example response:
“Recently, I was troubleshooting an issue with intermittent power failures on an automated packaging line. The line had 3 large motors controlled by variable frequency drives. I started by reviewing any operational logs and alarm histories that could point me to a pattern. I also performed thorough thermal imaging, insulation resistance testing, and loop impedance testing to check the motors and cables. Ultimately, the issue turned out to be a malfunctioning VFD output filter capacitor that was overheating and going into thermal overload randomly. By methodically testing each component, I was able to isolate it without needing to power down the whole line. I recommended adding more comprehensive thermal monitoring and preventive drive maintenance to prevent issues going forward.”
How do you ensure safety when working with high voltage equipment?
Safety is paramount when working with electricity. Interviewers want to confirm that you have the proper knowledge, vigilance and attitude to work safely.
In your response, discuss things like:
- The safety procedures and personal protective equipment (PPE) you utilize
- How you isolate energy sources and use lockout/tagout devices
- Your understanding of arc flash hazards
- Any training on electrical safety principles and regulations
- How you maintain an attitude of caution when working with electricity
Example response:
“Safety is my top priority when working with high voltage equipment. I always wear the appropriate PPE, like arc-flash rated clothing and a face shield, insulating gloves, and electrical hazard-rated boots. Before beginning any work, I confirm all energy sources are isolated per lockout/tagout procedures and stored energy is safely discharged. I take precautions like not wearing conductive jewelry and keeping equipment properly grounded. I’ve completed formal training on NFPA 70E arc flash safety guidelines and OSHA electrical safety standards. I understand the severe risks and always maintain a cautious, vigilant attitude when working with high voltage.”
What experience do you have with renewable energy systems?
Renewable energy is a fast-growing field, and companies want engineers with relevant knowledge. Be ready to share your exposure to sources like solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and microgrids.
In your response, mention things like:
- Specific types of renewable systems you’re familiar with
- Any direct project work you’ve done (installation, maintenance, etc)
- Knowledge of how the system types work and the technology involved
- Understanding of the pros/cons of different renewable energy sources
- Training or certifications related to renewable energy
Example response:
“I have experience working with both solar PV and wind turbine systems. For a 50 MW solar farm project, I helped design the grid interconnection system, sized inverters, specified wiring architectures, and developed the O&M plan. I routinely inspect our company’s 250 kW solar array and have changed out defective inverters and wiring components. Although I have not directly worked on wind farms, I understand wind turbine technology and generator systems very well through self-education. I can leverage this electrical system knowledge into wind farm work. Understanding renewable energy is a passion of mine, and I stay up-to-date on the latest technologies through IEEE journals and industry conferences.”
Power Engineering Behavioral Interview Questions
Behavioral questions allow hiring managers to understand your soft skills and assess how suitable you are for the company culture:
Tell me about a time you successfully led a complex power engineering project with a cross-functional team.
This question tests your leadership skills. Share a specific example that highlights your project management abilities, cross-team collaboration, and leadership style.
In your response, be sure to discuss:
- The project background/scope and why it was complex
- The different roles/departments involved
- How you brought alignment between diverse viewpoints
- Your approach to task delegation and accountability
- The end result of the project and how you successfully delivered
Example response:
“Recently, I led a project to overhaul a large industrial client’s power factor correction system. It was a complex undertaking with a high-pressure deadline that required close coordination between the engineering, procurement, field service, and controls teams. I developed a detailed project plan and timeline with critical milestones. During weekly status meetings, I was able to get all stakeholders aligned on priorities through open communication. I also delegated tasks and followed up to ensure accountability. Despite some initial technical hurdles, our team was able to deliver the upgraded system on time for testing and commissioning, meeting the client’s deadline. This was achieved through strong leadership and facilitating team collaboration.”
Tell me about a time you made a mistake on a project. How did you handle it?
Don’t be afraid to share examples of mistakes you’ve made – the interviewer wants to see how accountable you are and your resiliency. Focus your answer on the actions you took to remedy the situation and what you learned.
In your response, be sure to discuss:
- Briefly, the situation and the mistake that occurred
- How you took responsibility for the mistake rather than blaming others
- The actions you took to mitigate any damage and get the project back on track
- How you changed your approach going forward and applied lessons learned
Example response:
“On a past project, I made the mistake of underestimating the full labor hours needed for a generator installation job. As the project progressed, it became clear we were severely over budget on labor. I took responsibility for the estimating error when informing my manager of the overrun. I worked with the field team to identify redundancies we could eliminate in the remaining work to cut back on extra hours. I also negotiated with the client to determine value we could add while controlling additional costs. In the end, we were able to complete the job without going significantly over budget. I learned just how detailed an estimate needs to be for major installations. Going forward, I now take extra care to identify any small tasks that may have been overlooked but add up.”
Tell me about a time you successfully explained a technical concept to a non-technical audience.
Strong communication skills are essential for any engineer. This question assesses your ability to explain complex details in an easy-to-understand way.
In your response, be sure to discuss:
- The situation and audience you were communicating with
- How you determined the right level of information to provide
- Techniques you used to simplify and visualize the concept
What is a resistor?
Candidates familiar with electrical components should know that a resistor opposes a current’s flow. They may also know that this electrical part has two terminals and that electrical engineers use them to slow down or stop the flow of electricity.
5 situational interview questions and answers to assess electrical engineers
Here are five situational interview questions for electrical engineers, along with their sample answers. Use them to gauge your applicants’ responses and see who has the skills you need.
Power Engineers interview with Jon Erickson
FAQ
What does a power engineer do?
How hard is power engineering?
What is the purpose of power engineering?
What questions do power engineers ask?
Most interviews will include questions about your personality, qualifications, experience and how well you would fit the job. In this article, we review examples of various power engineer interview questions and sample answers to some of the most common questions. What experience do you have with power engineering?
What did you learn from a power engineer interview?
Through this experience, I learned the importance of taking the time to consider all options and to make an informed decision that is in the best interest of the project.” Common Power Engineer interview questions, how to answer them, and sample answers from a certified career coach.
How do you interview a power engineer?
Describe a time when you had to troubleshoot an issue with a piece of electrical equipment. Troubleshooting is a key part of being a power engineer. Interviewers want to know that you have the skills and experience necessary to be able to identify and resolve problems quickly and efficiently.
Why is a power engineering interview important?
This question is important because it allows the interviewer to get a better sense of the engineer’s understanding of the power engineering industry and its challenges. Additionally, it allows the interviewer to gauge the engineer’s ability to think critically about problems and identify potential solutions.
