{"id":5180,"date":"2020-08-16T14:12:51","date_gmt":"2020-08-16T12:12:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deepbluembedded.com\/?page_id=5180"},"modified":"2020-08-22T22:00:19","modified_gmt":"2020-08-22T20:00:19","slug":"embedded-systems-interview-questions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/deepbluembedded.com\/embedded-systems-interview-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Embedded Systems Interview Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Embedded Systems Interview Questions<\/strong><\/h1>\n

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In this moderately long page, I’ll list down the most common embedded systems interview questions. I’ve been answering too many questions over the past few years and many readers have asked for a compiled list of questions and answers for embedded systems and embedded c interview questions. So here it is! <\/span><\/p>\n

Whether you’re a student searching for an embedded systems internship, a graduate seeking an embedded software position, or a full-time embedded systems engineer seeking to switch your position or the company. In all cases, you’ll need to go through one or more technical interviews to get where you want.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Please, be advised that the interview questions depend heavily on the specialty of the company you’re going after (automotive, security, robotics, etc), the position you’re applying for (internship, testing, embedded software, tooling, etc), and also your CV. Yea, your CV somehow dictates some of the interview questions. For me personally, I was asked in (USB, CapTouch, etc) just because it’s all written in my CV, however, these topics are not mandatory at all for most embedded systems positions. So, only write in your CV what you can actually demonstrate and be ready to get questions about it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regardless of the position you’re seeking, the company specialty, or your previous experience, there are many general questions that you’ll most probably get. And this is what I’m going to mainly focus on this page. To help you quickly revise and get ready for your next embedded systems interview. <\/span><\/p>\n

We can categorize these questions as follows.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Embedded Systems Interview Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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  • Embedded C<\/strong><\/span>: some questions about C programming, structs, typedef, pointers, the C build process, multi-file projects, memory sections, bootloader vs startup code, arrays, strings manipulations, and things like that.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Computer Architecture<\/strong><\/span>: some questions about memory types, buses, 8-bit and 32-bit microcontrollers, Harvard vs von Neuman, ARM, instruction sets, Endianness, and other questions in this area.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Microcontroller Peripherals<\/strong><\/span>: some questions about ADC, Timers, Interrupts, PWM, WDT, Com Protocols like UART, SPI, I2C, and others.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Data Structures & Algorithms<\/strong><\/span>: some questions about basic data structures like the stack, queue, linked list, and implementation in C programming language. As well as some algorithms questions for sorting, searching, and things like that.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • RTOS & OS Concepts<\/strong><\/span>: some questions about real-time operating systems, FreeRTOS-based implementations, Mutex, Semaphores, DeadLock, Priority inversion and inheritance, and other OS concepts.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Problem Solving & IQ<\/strong><\/span>: some questions for IQ assessment and to check how do you think while solving a problem and how well you can communicate this with the interviewer. You don’t have to actually solve all the problems as long as you can show logical thinking and communicate this in a good manner.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Automotive<\/strong><\/span>: (optional in most cases) questions about CAN, LIN, Ethernet, AUTOSAR software architecture, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Embedded Software Testing<\/strong><\/span>: (optional in most cases) questions about Static testing, Dynamic testing, V-Model, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Embedded Hardware<\/strong><\/span>: some questions about general embedded hardware knowledge. Things like debuggers, JTAG, using DSO, logic analyzers, emulators, and troubleshooting.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    Note<\/strong>: The questions on this page are answered in 3 different ways. Short answers are collapsable by clicking the question text you can view\/hide the answer. Long answers are found on dedicated pages that redirect you back to here, after reading the answer with a couple of links there. And previously answered questions will be linked-to in such a way so that it opens up in a new tab without redirection. I hope it’s a convenient way of handling this.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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    Note<\/strong>: You should expect more or less questions on certain topics depending on the 2 factors I’ve stated earlier. The company’s specialty and the position you’re applying for. You may not be asked about automotive protocols at all or barely get a question related to software testing unless you’re seeking certain positions. The same goes for RTOS and data structures and so.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n