Core Java, Java concurrency, big-data concepts
Out loud, in order: clarify, build it, check it, explain it.
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Data engineering interview · Finance, Payments & Fintech
Broad five-round loop: Java + big data, SQL/Python coding, PySpark, AWS/Terraform, and a VP + Executive Director finish.
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And what its data engineers work with.
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Stages in the order candidates meet them.
6 stages. 4 rounds have reported questions, described below.
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The topics it covers and the questions candidates reported.
3 reported questions. See them below
3 reported questions. See them below
2 reported questions. 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.
Java / Big DataMedium confidence
SQLHigh confidence
PySparkHigh confidence
Cloud / AWS / TerraformMedium confidence
Nobody reported these exact questions at JP Morgan Chase. 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.
SQL (rank vs row_number, lead/lag, recursion, joins, union)
Do first (3)PySpark (join/filter/pivot/window, architecture, file formats)
Java core + concurrency
AWS + Terraform (EC2, lifecycle)
ThenPython fundamentals + testing types
Banking pipeline design
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Why candidates were turned down, as reported.
Weak Java/concurrency (when team is Java-based)
Shaky SQL window/rank-vs-row_number
SQL is named in 37 of 50 company accounts.No AWS/Terraform exposure
Cloud and tools is named in 4 of 50 company accounts.Many-round fatigue
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3 reported, 2 composite. Each opens and closes. Composites are labelled.
Five rounds: a screen, a Java and big data round (about 1 hour 45 minutes), SQL and Python coding, a talk with a VP, then a talk with an executive director. Questions included rank against row_number, lead and lag, recursion, Java concurrency, Spark architecture and file formats, Terraform and a PySpark task with a join, a filter, a pivot and a window.
What to take from it Be ready for Java and infrastructure questions as well as SQL.
Two rounds with two VPs. The first was easier: Spark architecture, bucketing against partitioning and a few simple SQL queries. The second was more open data engineering questions, then behavioral questions.
What to take from it Know the difference between bucketing and partitioning.
The candidate in Hyderabad found the process long, with too many rounds. Basic Python questions came up.
What to take from it Expect many rounds. Keep your basics fresh.
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 JP Morgan Chase. Questions reported for this round: Core Java, Java concurrency, big-data concepts; Python: hash function, list comprehension, *args/**kwargs, OOP; Testing: unit/integration/regression, mock.
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 JP Morgan Chase. Questions reported for this round: Recursion; window functions; RANK vs ROW_NUMBER; LEAD and LAG; Joins, UNION vs UNION ALL, stored procedures.
What to take from it Practise these questions before you reach this round.
Broad stack (Java + Spark + SQL + AWS/Terraform) across many rounds, ending with VP and Executive Director.
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Their reported questions, one at a time, against a stopwatch.
Core Java, Java concurrency, big-data concepts
Out loud, in order: clarify, build it, check it, explain it.
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Pick your level and the weeks you have.
Built from what JP Morgan Chase 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
Spark and big data
Read: Spark chaptersDrill: Spark playgroundSay it aloud: Spark questionsFull plan: Ace the Spark round
Cloud and tools
Rehearse the JP Morgan Chase loop
Run the question deckThen repeat your weakest topic once more.