2 "fairly simple" exercises
Out loud, in order: clarify, build it, check it, explain it.
Practise PythonLoadingone moment…
Data engineering interview · Data & Cloud Platforms
Hybrid practical/LeetCode coding (Python or Go), a production-quality take-home, and DB-type trade-off system design.
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And what its data engineers work with.
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Stages in the order candidates meet them.
5 stages. 3 rounds have reported questions, described below.
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The topics it covers and the questions candidates reported.
Coderpad, 2 engineers
Medium confidence3 reported questions. See them below
production-quality
Medium confidence1 reported question. See them below
2 reported questions. See them below
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By round. Questions marked Expected are written from the company's standards.
CodingMedium confidence
Take-home projectMedium confidence
Databases / DesignMedium confidence
Nobody reported these exact questions at Datadog. They are the questions a loop for each of its top topics is known to ask, so prepare for them as likely, not as confirmed.
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Ranked by how much of the evidence points at each topic.
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Do the first group before the second.
Clean coding (Python/Go) incl. take-home quality (unit tests, docs, formatting)
Do first (3)DB-type trade-offs (SQL/NoSQL/time-series)
App architecture design
SQL over metrics/log data
ThenTime-series storage
Behavioral
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Why candidates were turned down, as reported.
Weak take-home (no tests/docs/formatting)
Cannot reason about DB-type trade-offs
Design is named in 27 of 50 company accounts.Shallow coding under added complexity
Python is named in 13 of 50 company accounts.08
3 reported, 2 composite. Each opens and closes. Composites are labelled.
A recruiter call about behavior, a coding round with two engineers (two simple exercises), a take-home where code, notes, unit tests and formatting all count, then a design round about an application.
What to take from it Treat the take-home like production code: tests and clear notes.
A round with two engineers in New York: 15 minutes on your resume and projects, then 45 minutes for two coding challenges.
What to take from it Be ready to talk about your projects, then code.
A take-home that the candidate felt was weaker than they wanted. The company still gave detailed feedback.
What to take from it Datadog reads the take-home closely, so give it time.
Composite walkthroughs. Built from the company's documented loop, not from one person's account.
This is a composite, not one person's account. It is built from the loop we have on record for Datadog. Coderpad, 2 engineers. Questions reported for this round: 2 "fairly simple" exercises; Internal bank: hybrid practical + LeetCode (start simple, then add complexity); Python or Go.
What to take from it Practise these questions before you reach this round.
This is a composite, not one person's account. It is built from the loop we have on record for Datadog. production-quality. Questions reported for this round: Code + documentation + unit tests + formatting.
What to take from it Practise these questions before you reach this round.
Take-home rigor (tests/docs) and DB-type trade-offs are decisive; coding is hybrid practical/LeetCode.
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Their reported questions, one at a time, against a stopwatch.
2 "fairly simple" exercises
Out loud, in order: clarify, build it, check it, explain it.
Practise Python10
Pick your level and the weeks you have.
Built from what Datadog asks, strongest first. For the wider basics at your level, follow the Mid level plan alongside it.
Pipeline and system design
Read: Data pipeline chaptersDrill: Pipeline practiceSay it aloud: Data pipeline questionsFull plan: Ace the pipeline round
Python and coding
Read: Python chaptersDrill: Python practiceSay it aloud: Python questionsFull plan: Ace the Python round
Behavioral and communication
Read: Behavioral storytellingSay it aloud: Behavioral questions
Rehearse the Datadog loop
Run the question deckThen repeat your weakest topic once more.