Nutanix Interview Experience for SRE

Application Process: I applied for the Nutanix SRE role and was selected among the 220 shortlisted candidates out of 600+ applicants. The process began with a HackerRank test comprising 50 multiple-choice questions. The subjects covered were Cloud, Operating Systems (OS), Computer Networks (CN), Linux (Basic + network troubleshooting), Virtualization, and Cloud Computing. I managed to clear this round, making it to the next stage along with 80 other candidates.

Round 1:

Technical Interview: I was invited for the technical interview, which was conducted by the Director of worldwide support at Nutanix, having an impressive 15+ years of industry experience. The interview started with a brief introduction, and the director asked me why I wanted to join as a Technical Support Engineer. My response centered around my passion for debugging complex issues and my desire to assist customers in resolving technical challenges. However, he probed further, questioning why I wouldn’t consider a developer role, where I could also utilize my debugging skills. This line of inquiry was repeated three times throughout the interview, possibly indicating the company’s openness to not considering developer profiles for support roles.

The technical part of the interview comprised questions related to Operating Systems and Computer Networks. Some of the questions asked were:

1. Explain the functions and differences between ARP and TCP.
2. Compare and contrast Switches and Routers, detailing their respective roles in a network.
3. Elaborate on the OSI Model and its different layers.
4. Discuss Memory Management and the importance of Process Address Space (PAS) and Local Address Space (LAS).

Round 2:

Technical Interview Continued: In other panels, the questions were more hands-on and scenario-based, focusing on practical problem-solving skills:

1. Describe the steps to connect two devices using a wired connection and a switch.
2. Troubleshooting question: How would you approach fixing a monitor displaying a blurry screen?
3. Given a network where one device is working while another connected to the same switch is not, explain the troubleshooting steps to identify and resolve the issue.

Throughout the interview, I was also asked to highlight my strengths and share specific instances where my debugging, and troubleshooting skills came in handy.

Round 3:

Advanced Technical Interview: While I didn’t progress past Round 2, I get to know that Round 3 would be the most challenging, with in-depth technical questions that require a deep understanding of the subject matter.

General Tips for Aspiring Candidates:

1. Tailor your resume to highlight your suitability for the SRE role.
2. Prioritize preparation for the MCQ round, focusing on Cloud, OS, CN, Linux, and Virtualization. Make sure to review your notes thoroughly.
3. In the technical interview, demonstrate a keen interest in debugging and relate your skills to support scenarios.
4. Prepare extensively for OS and CN concepts, as these are significant areas of inquiry.
5. Stay confident and consider your motivation for joining the SRE role.

Best of luck to all applicants!