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Software Architect Interview Questions

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Software Architect interview questions and answers.

  1. Which programming languages are you proficient in and certified with, and what are your experiences with using them? See answer
  2. What has been your proudest moment as a software architect thus far? See answer
  3. What does the acronym SOLID stand for, and what are the principles behind it? See answer
  4. What is dependency injection and in which scenarios would you opt to use it? See answer
  5. What interpersonal skills do you have that you believe can aid your success as a software architect? What examples can you provide? See answer
  6. What is the most complex project you’ve worked on as a software architect? What made it more challenging and how did you approach it?
  7. Why do you want to work as a software architect for our company?
  8. What do you do in your free time to maintain or expand your knowledge of software architecture and programming languages?
  9. What made you want to pursue a career as a software architect? What do you find intriguing about it?
  10. Can you tell me the difference between interfaces and implementations? What examples can you provide?
  11. How would you describe a system’s base property? What is its purpose and what are some possible limitations?
  12. What is the difference between eventual consistency and strict consistency?
  13. How would you rate your teamwork skills as a software architect? Are you comfortable working with software developers and providing guidance on their projects?
  14. How do you differentiate between continuous deployment, continuous delivery and continuous integration?
  15. What do you do to ensure you maintain secure and up-to-date software systems?
  16. What experience do you have with technical planning? How would you structure updates, integrations and other important changes to maximize system efficiency?
  17. What does the CAP in the CAP theorem stand for? What does the CAP theorem claim, and how does this influence software architecture?
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Hire your next Software Architect today.

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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines
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6 Software Architect Interview Questions and Answers

Which programming languages are you proficient in and certified with, and what are your experiences with using them?

Experts often agree that you should aim for the best fit for an architecture position long-term rather than the best software architect who knows the particular programming language you need. Languages can be learned quickly by skilled architects, so it helps to seek candidates that have a diverse education and have sought to continue bettering themselves beyond the structure of a university curriculum.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Modern programming language diversity
  • Languages pertinent to the position at your company
  • The drive to seek certifications and other such recognitions

Example:

“I graduated knowing C++, C#, HTML, PHP, Oracle and SQL Server. Since then, I have learned Python and Ruby and achieved MCSD and other certifications.”

What is the most complex project you have worked on, and was it difficult for good or bad reasons?

The fundamentals of software architecture only prepare a software architect to navigate unexpected challenges, which will undoubtedly be faced with each new project. The goal here is to learn how the candidate deals with the hardest challenges that they face. Find out what they learned from them, and how they can carry forward to subsequent projects that will be an asset for your company.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Positive disposition toward challenges
  • Honest account of working on hard projects and learning something from the challenge
  • Realization of any patterns and anti-patterns

Example:

“My most challenging project was an equipment leasing backend. It was exciting because it demanded learning about inventory, financials, CRM-type functions and so on. Although it was hard at first, I came away from it with new, valuable skills that I continue to use.”

What has been your proudest moment as a software architect thus far?

This question is less about right and wrong answers and more about gaining insight into how a candidate thinks and feels within the context of their field. Seemingly generic answers are not necessarily bad, such as a data architect whose proudest moments come from the day-to-day effort to ensure a clear data model that other architects can use with little to no explanation.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Tangible excitement and pride
  • Real insight into what was achieved
  • How the moment stacks up with what your company does

Example:

“My proudest moment when the primary project achieved certification and the lead designer cited me specifically as being a crucial part in that achievement.”

What does the acronym SOLID stand for, and what are the principles behind it?

Object-oriented design remains fundamental to modern software architecture. An appreciation for Robert C. Martin’s five principles of OO design demonstrates an understanding beyond high-level concepts, which most students tend to possess. It shows that a software architect appreciates what it means to be object-oriented at a granular level. It is more important that a candidate understands the five concepts rather than specific terms.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Awareness of who Robert C. Martin is
  • Understanding of the five core concepts
  • Appreciation for the fundamentals of object-oriented design

Example:

“SOLID stands for single-responsibility, open-closed, Liskov substitution, interface segregation and dependency inversion principles. These are the first five rules of OO design by Martin.”

What is dependency injection and in which scenarios would you opt to use it?

This question builds on the last regarding SOLID design. Understanding dependency injection demonstrates that a software architect not only understands SOLID but knows how to achieve it in a real-world scenario. Dependency injection does this by decoupling creation from usage and is important to modern coding because it reduces the frequency at which classes need to be updated just because their dependencies changed.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Knowledge of what dependency injection is
  • Understanding of when you may want to use it
  • Insight into particular use cases

Example:

“Dependency injection is the decoupling of object usage and creation. It is a technique that makes it easier to adhere to the SOLID principles.”

What interpersonal skills do you have that you believe can aid your success as a software architect? What examples can you provide?

Software architects are responsible for developing and monitoring software systems and fulfilling complex system needs for businesses. This question allows an interviewer to learn more about what types of interpersonal traits a candidate has that could enhance their job capabilities at their company.

A candidate's answer should emphasize:

  • Self-awareness
  • Previous professional experience
  • Multiple interpersonal skills

Here is one example of a quality candidate answer:

Example:

"I believe I have a few key interpersonal skills that contribute to my role as a software architect, including interpersonal communication, detail orientation and time management. Interpersonal communication is important as it allows me to work with a range of professionals who have varying understandings of computer software. This is especially helpful when I need to explain the necessary time-frame for a project. I also need to have a keen attention to detail to catch coding errors and time management ensures I meet my deadlines."

Create a Culture of Innovation
Download our free step-by-step guide for encouraging healthy risk-taking
Get the Guide

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