60 min: 2 coding + 20 MCQs (DS, OS, DBMS)
Out loud, in order: clarify, build it, check it, explain it.
Practise PythonLoadingone moment…
Data engineering interview · Media, Streaming & Telecom
Strong DSA + DBMS bar (Hotstar SDE roots) plus DE-specific SQL, Spark optimization, and peak-scale streaming 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. 4 rounds have reported questions, described below.
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The topics it covers and the questions candidates reported.
1 reported question. See them below
2 reported questions. See them below
1 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.
Online AssessmentHigh confidence
DSA / CodingHigh confidence
SQL (DE)Medium confidence
Spark / DBMS (HM)Medium confidence
Nobody reported these exact questions at Disney+ Hotstar. 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.
DSA (linked lists, arrays) + SQL window functions
Do first (3)Spark optimization (skew/partition/joins/OOM)
Peak-scale streaming design
Data modeling/warehouse; DBMS (SQL vs NoSQL, indexing)
ThenBehavioral scale stories
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Why candidates were turned down, as reported.
Weak DSA at OA/coding rounds (Hotstar bar is SDE-like)
Modeling is named in 14 of 50 company accounts.Shallow Spark optimization
Spark is named in 25 of 50 company accounts.Cannot design for peak concurrency
Design is named in 27 of 50 company accounts.08
4 reported, 1 composite. Each opens and closes. Composites are labelled.
An online test (two coding tasks and 20 multiple choice questions), two rounds on data structures (reverse a linked list, including in parts; intersection and union of arrays), a hiring manager round on design and databases (SQL against NoSQL, indexing) and HR. The coding and database level applies to data engineers.
What to take from it Prepare linked lists, arrays and database basics.
Not a data engineering account. A coding round with an SDE-2 at Hotstar: two data structures questions, one on visiting all rooms when each room holds keys to others (a graph problem).
What to take from it Practise graph reachability problems.
Not a data engineering account. This is from another Disney division, so the format may differ at Hotstar: a recruiter call, two pipeline design rounds, a Python and SQL round and a six-person onsite panel. The author notes it depends on the hiring manager.
What to take from it Ask your recruiter exactly what your loop will be.
Not a data engineering account. This is from another Disney division: an interview built on earlier data engineering and API work. The role was later frozen.
What to take from it Hiring can pause. Keep other options open.
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 Disney+ Hotstar. Questions reported for this round: 60 min: 2 coding + 20 MCQs (DS, OS, DBMS).
What to take from it Practise these questions before you reach this round.
Retrieved first-hand is the Hotstar SDE track; the DSA + DBMS bar carries into DE, plus Spark + peak-scale design.
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Their reported questions, one at a time, against a stopwatch.
60 min: 2 coding + 20 MCQs (DS, OS, DBMS)
Out loud, in order: clarify, build it, check it, explain it.
Practise Python10
Pick your level and the weeks you have.
Built from what Disney+ Hotstar asks, strongest first. For the wider basics at your level, follow the Mid level plan alongside it.
Python and coding
Read: Python chaptersDrill: Python practiceSay it aloud: Python questionsFull plan: Ace the Python round
Spark and big data
Read: Spark chaptersDrill: Spark playgroundSay it aloud: Spark questionsFull plan: Ace the Spark round
Pipeline and system design
Read: Data pipeline chaptersDrill: Pipeline practiceSay it aloud: Data pipeline questionsFull plan: Ace the pipeline round
Behavioral and communication
Read: Behavioral storytellingSay it aloud: Behavioral questions
Rehearse the Disney+ Hotstar loop
Run the question deckThen repeat your weakest topic once more.