Interview plan template

Use Template
to edit & run interviews

Cloud Engineer interview questionsCoding Test round

A 60 min interview plan with a time-boxed script, what each question is for, and the signals to score against. Key skills: Coding, Automation, Scripting Languages, Infrastructure as Code, CI/CD Tools.

Click "Use template" to edit

Introduction

5 min
•

Hi, I’m [YOUR_NAME], and I’m a [YOUR_TITLE] at [COMPANY_NAME]. I’m excited to learn more about your experience today.

•

Could you briefly introduce yourself and share what attracted you to apply for this position?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Assess communication skills, alignment with the role, and initial confidence.

Signals to score

  • Clear introduction provided
  • Relevant experience mentioned
  • Motivations for applying explained
  • Alignment with team values
  • Specific skills highlighted
  • Response is concise and organized
  • Understanding of role requirements

Follow-up questions

  • What excites you most about this position?
  • How does your background align with our team’s work?
•

Great, thank you for sharing! In the next 55 minutes, we’ll focus on a coding challenge related to cloud engineering. After that, you can ask any questions you have about the role or the company.

Coding Challenge

50 min
•

Challenge: Write a script to automate the deployment of a simple web application on AWS using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform or CloudFormation. The application should include a load balancer, auto-scaling group, and a database. Requirements: - Use Terraform or CloudFormation - Deploy a web server behind a load balancer - Configure auto-scaling based on CPU usage - Set up a database instance Follow-Up Questions: - How would you handle secrets management in this setup? - What are the security considerations for this deployment?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Assess coding, automation, scripting languages, and infrastructure as code skills.

Signals to score

  • Clear understanding of IaC tools
  • Logical and structured approach
  • Explains thought process
  • Considers security and scalability
  • Efficient, clean, well-formatted code
  • Tests and debugs the code effectively
  • Open to feedback and adjusts accordingly

Follow-up questions

  • Can you explain your thought process on how to approach the problem?
  • How do you plan to handle security in your solution?
  • Can you walk me through your code and explain each step?
•

If you had more time, what would you change in your solution?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Assess the candidate's ability to reflect on their work, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Signals to score

  • Recognizes limits in their original answer.
  • Points out clear areas to improve.
  • Suggests specific changes.
  • Talks about how changes could help performance.
  • Shares ideas clearly and logically.
  • Shows a desire to learn and improve.

Follow-up questions

  • What additional features would you add to enhance the deployment?
  • How would you improve the security of the setup?
•

Great job on the coding exercise!

Closing

5 min
•

Do you have any questions for me about the team or the company?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Gauge the candidate’s curiosity and interest in the role.

Signals to score

  • Thoughtful questions asked
  • Interest in company culture
  • Curiosity about growth expressed
  • Questions about role raised
  • Inquiries about team challenges
  • Engagement with responses shown
  • Desire to learn next steps
  • Focus on company values expressed

Follow-up questions

  • What interests you most about this team?
  • Are there any areas of the role you’d like to explore further?
•

Thank you for your time today. We’ll be in touch soon regarding the next steps.

Use Template
to edit & run interviews
Interview Template
Position
Cloud Engineer
Round
Coding Test for 60 min
Key skills
Coding, Automation, Scripting Languages, Infrastructure as Code, CI/CD Tools

Cloud Engineer interviews — common questions

Who is this Cloud Engineer interview plan for?
It is written for the interviewer, not the candidate: the hiring manager, engineer or panel member running the Coding Test round for a Cloud Engineer role. It gives you a 60 min script to follow in the conversation — 4 questions with what each one is for and the signals to score against — so you are not writing the round from scratch the night before.
What does the Coding Test round assess?
This round is focused on: Coding, Automation, Scripting Languages, Infrastructure as Code, CI/CD Tools. It works through Introduction, Coding Challenge and Closing, scoring against 28 observable signals, with follow-up prompts on all 4 questions for going deeper where an answer is thin.
How is the 60 min split up?
Introduction (5 min), Coding Challenge (50 min), Closing (5 min). The timings are there so the round stays on schedule and every candidate gets the same shape of interview — which is what makes two candidates comparable afterwards.
What other rounds should I run for a Cloud Engineer?

A single round does not cover a whole role. The other rounds in this library for a Cloud Engineer: