Interviewing for a Software Support Engineer role (Linux, Python, Bash, CI/CD) — what technical questions should I prepare for?

[u/Obvious-Difficulty32]

Hey everyone,

I have a 30-minute interview coming up for a Software Support Engineer position at a defense contractor, and I'm trying to prepare as thoroughly as possible.

The recruiter mentioned there won't be a formal technical assessment, but I still want to be ready for any technical questions or troubleshooting scenarios.

For background, I currently work in cloud/data center infrastructure operations, where I use Linux, Python, and Bash for diagnostics, troubleshooting, and automation. I also have experience developing software applications, working with REST APIs, automated testing, and CI/CD.

Here's the relevant job description:

Responsibilities:

• Support lab tooling and version control through CI/CD pipelines.
• Create and deploy test scripts.
• Support and troubleshoot software deployments on custom servers.
• Support configuration management processes.
• Develop unit tests and tailor rule sets.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in CS, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 2+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience with Python and Bash.
• Ability to independently and collaboratively solve complex technical problems.

Preferred qualifications:

• Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience with GitLab.
• Experience with Linux and NFTables.

I'm particularly interested in moving toward DevOps/platform engineering, so this seems like a great opportunity.

For anyone working in DevOps, Linux administration, software integration, or similar roles:

1. What technical questions would you expect in an interview for this position?
2. What Linux troubleshooting scenarios should I be prepared to walk through?
3. How deeply should I study GitLab CI/CD, unit testing, and NFTables?
4. Does this sound more like DevOps, software integration, or traditional software support?
5. If you were interviewing a candidate for this role, what would you want them to demonstrate?

I'm not looking for shortcuts or leaked interview questions. I genuinely want to understand the technical expectations and make sure I can speak confidently about the work.

Appreciate any advice!

[u/bityard]

You pasted the job description, so presumably you already know what you don't know. So I'm not sure why you are asking us.

Anyway, studying technical material ahead of an interview is almost always a waste of time. There is not nearly enough time to go deep on any technical topics, plus you have no idea which directions the interview will go. You could spend a week cramming for bash questions only to find out they barely use it, or that none of the interviewer got around to asking about it.

Once you get an interview, they have already decided that you're probably a good technical fit by reading your resume. The interview is mostly to quickly verify that you didn't lie on your resume and then judge you for a cultural fit. So better uses of your time will be:

• Rehearse what you will say when asked about projects you have undertaken and what challenges you overcame.

• Learn everything you can about the company, the products it sells, how it makes money, where the major locations are, who the CEO is, etc.

• Create a list of questions to ask the interviewer. These can be softball questions like, "how long have you been with the company," to meatier ones like "what's the biggest challenge your team is facing right now?" Or, "What is the company's highest priority right now?" And of course questions that relate directly to your position like whether there is any travel or on call.

That last point is probably most important. Where most people go wrong is spending the whole interview just answering questions and trying to phrase their answers to make themselves look good. If you treat the interview as a two-way conversation, that shows genuine interest and I can guarantee they'll be tripping over themselves to extend an offer.

If it's a remote interview, do not, I repeat, do NOT use AI to help you answer questions. People can tell when you're doing that