Software Development Engineer In Test (Core OS SDET) Interview Experience - Cupertino, California
Process
A recruiter reached out to me and scheduled a 30-minute phone interview with the hiring manager.
In the phone interview, the manager asked me about the NVMe I/O process and some basic functionalities of FTL in NAND memory systems.
Then, I was called for an on-site interview.
About five to six people interviewed me for approximately 45 minutes each. Most of the questions were about basic scripting in Python.
The confusing part for me was that if this position was so much about scripting, then I am not sure why they were looking for someone from a NAND memory systems background.
That being said, I was not asked a single question on NAND or protocol-level topics such as SATA/NVMe at the on-site interview.
There were also some open-ended questions, which I believe I did not answer well.
Questions
Scripting questions in Python, like: Parse a CSV file and extract the name, phone numbers, and emails into a dictionary.
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 1 interview experience for the Apple Software Development Engineer In Test (Core OS SDET) role in Cupertino, California.
Success Rate
Apple's interview process for their Software Development Engineer In Test (Core OS SDET) roles in Cupertino, California is extremely selective, failing the vast majority of engineers.
Experience Rating
Candidates reported having mixed feelings for Apple's Software Development Engineer In Test (Core OS SDET) interview process in Cupertino, California.
Apple Work Experiences
- 4.0Overall, a Good EmployerSoftware Engineer • Former EmployeeCupertino, California, United StatesApril 2, 2025Pros: - Great benefits - First-class facilitiesCons: - Sometimes stressful environment. - Massive company (pro & con).
- 5.0Great Internship, Summer EventsSoftware Engineer Intern • Former EmployeeCupertino, California, United StatesFebruary 13, 2024Pros: Interesting internship and networking eventsCons: My internship was for 8 months, and most of the events were only organized during the summer.
- 4.0A good place to workSoftware QA Engineer • Current EmployeeCupertino, California, United StatesJune 11, 2008Pros: People at Apple are mostly very excited about their work and the products they produce. The campus is nice, with great perks and a laid-back work atmosphere. The secrecy of Apple makes working there feel perhaps more important than it otherwise would.Cons: Long hours are certainly a downside if you have a family, but at least the hours are flexible. The offices are not as colorful as Google's, but feel more natural and less forced-cute.
Apple Interview Questions
