After an initial HR phone screen, I was allowed to speak with the hiring manager. They asked a combination of questions about work experience, related skills, and physics textbook education.

My third interview was with the team leader, who only asked experience- and skills-related questions.

I was then instructed to complete a small design project and a presentation for the department group review of more than 10 people at the onsite visit.

The in-person interview lasted from 9 to 5. Most questions were highly concentrated on statistical tolerance analysis. Many didn't appear to be related to the job duties; some seemed like a personality quiz.

More questions focused on engineering statics and mechanics of materials. This can be a challenge for even the most experienced and skilled engineers, who typically aren't required to recall past college education during their careers.

That said, my biggest surprise was the lack of skills assessment testing.

Most questions were theoretical, focusing on free-body diagrams and physics-based scenarios. The questions seem heavily favored to aid the hiring of recent college graduates.