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DevOps Engineer interview questionsAutomation & Scripting Challenge round

A 60 min interview plan with a time-boxed script, what each question is for, and the signals to score against. Key skills: Automation, Scripting, Pipeline Creation, Tool Integration, Error Handling.

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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 50 minutes, we’ll dive into an automation and scripting challenge. After that, you can ask any questions you have about the role or the company.

Automation & Scripting Challenge

50 min
•

Challenge: Create a script to automate the deployment of a simple web application. Requirements: - Use a scripting language of your choice (e.g., Bash, Python). - Automate the deployment process, including setting up the environment, installing dependencies, and starting the application. - Ensure error handling is in place for each step. Follow-Up Questions: - How would you handle errors during the deployment process? - What tools would you integrate with this script to enhance its functionality? - How would you test the script to ensure reliability?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Assess automation, scripting, pipeline creation, tool integration, and error handling skills.

Signals to score

  • Clear understanding of the task
  • Logical and structured approach
  • Efficient and clean script
  • Proper error handling implemented
  • Integration with relevant tools
  • Testing strategy explained
  • Open to feedback and adjusts accordingly

Follow-up questions

  • Can you explain your thought process on how to approach the task?
  • How do you plan to handle errors in your script?
  • Can you walk me through your script and explain each step?
  • How would you test your script?
•

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 would you do differently if you had more time?
  • How could you optimize your script further?
  • Are there any additional features you would add?
•

Great job on the automation and scripting challenge!

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.

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Interview Template
Position
DevOps Engineer
Round
Automation & Scripting Challenge for 60 min
Key skills
Automation, Scripting, Pipeline Creation, Tool Integration, Error Handling

DevOps Engineer interviews — common questions

Who is this DevOps Engineer interview plan for?
It is written for the interviewer, not the candidate: the hiring manager, engineer or panel member running the Automation & Scripting Challenge round for a DevOps 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 Automation & Scripting Challenge round assess?
This round is focused on: Automation, Scripting, Pipeline Creation, Tool Integration, Error Handling. It works through Introduction, Automation & Scripting 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), Automation & Scripting 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 DevOps Engineer?

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