Data Engineer Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers in 2022

Data Engineer Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers in 2022

Data engineering has blown up recently and the demand for data engineers is at an all-time high. The importance of data in the 21st-century cant be put into words, and it’s this massive rise in relevance that has led to data engineering becoming a popular career prospect among freshers. Acing an interview to become a data engineer might seem like a hefty task, but being prepared with common questions and their respective answers is a great way to boost your confidence and increase your chances. You should also be capable of showing your employers how adept you are with big data concepts. This article takes you through some of the most commonly asked data engineer interview questions for freshers.

Frequently Asked Data Engineer Interview Questions

Given below are a few of the most commonly asked data engineer interview questions with their answers.

1. What is data modeling?

Data modeling is the practice of documenting advanced and complicated software design in a pictorial form, such as a diagram, making it so that it becomes easier to understand. If you’ve had previous experience with data modeling, mentioning that will add value to your answer.

2. How are data warehouses different from operational databases?

This is more of a question for those applying for intermediate-level positions, but certain organizations do treat it as a data engineer interview question for a fresher. Databases that use Delete SQL statements, Insert, and Update are standard operational databases. These focus on speed and efficiency, thus analyzing data can be complicated. Data warehouses on the other hand focus on aggregations, calculations, and select statements. This is why data warehouses are ideal for data analysis.

3. What are the core skills required to become a data engineer?

A data engineer should be proficient in

  • Database design & architecture.
  • SQL and NoSQL databases systems.
  • Datastores and distributed systems like Hadoop.
  • Data Warehousing and ETL tools.
  • Robust computing and math skills.
  • Data Visualization Skills.

4. What is the difference between structured and unstructured data?

This is another commonly asked data engineer interview question since data engineers constantly work with data of all formats. 

Structured data is usually stored in DBMS and follows ADO.net, ODBC, and SQL standards. Unstructured data unmanaged file structures that follow STMP, XML, CSV, and SMS standards. Schema scaling for structured data is very difficult while scaling is very easy for unstructured data. (Read more on Data Engineering Skills)

5. Can you explain how a data engineer differs from a data scientist?

Data engineers design and construct ‘pipelines’ that transport data while transforming it into a usable form for data scientists. These pipelines are tasked with the responsibility of collecting data from various sources and then storing them in a single database.

Data science is the practice of dealing with massive hordes of data using advanced tools, algorithms, and machine learning principles, all in an attempt to decipher patterns from these trenches of data in order to make key business decisions. Data scientists require data engineers to efficiently carry out their tasks. 

6. List the Design Schemas in Data Modeling

There are two design schemas in data modeling, star schema, and snowflake schema. A star schema is the elementary form of a dimensional model, in which data are organized into facts and dimensions. The snowflake schema is a variant of the star schema where the centralized fact table is connected to multiple dimensions.

7. List all the components of a Hadoop Application

This is yet another important data engineer interview question that is asked pretty often. The components of a Hadoop application are

  • Hadoop Common
  • HDFS
  • Hadoop Mapreduce
  • Hadoop Yarn

8. What are the most important features of Hadoop?

The most important features of Hadoop are:

  • Hadoop is an open-source framework that is available freely
  • Hadoop supports faster-distributed processing of data.
  • It stores the data in the cluster
  • Compatible with the various types of hardware

9. List the various modes in Hadoop

  • Standalone mode
  • Pseudo distributed mode
  • Fully distributed mode.

10. Why choose a career in data engineering?

Perhaps the most commonly asked data engineer interview question, and yet the answer to this varies from applicant to applicant. Your answer to this very simple question will notify the interviewer about the depth of your passion for data engineering, and how willing you are to dedicate your time to it. An ideal answer would include your story, what got you hooked into data engineering, what all you’ve done to upskill yourself, and why you want to become a proficient data engineer.
This is the age of data and the need and demand for data engineers are not going down anytime soon. Data engineering is definitely one of the most lucrative career options of the present age, and companies around the world are in a constant hunt for remarkable data engineers. We at Praxis have identified this rise in demand and are proud to present the first Post Graduate Program in Data Engineering in India. This 6-month long Data Engineering program will train you with all the latest and greatest tools required and also give you the practical exposure needed to stand apart from the crowd. Our fantastic placement record is just glaring proof that we could indeed provide you with the kickstart that you truly deserve.

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