Cyber Security engineers play a crucial role in protecting the systems of top tech companies against cyber threats and data breaches. Cyber Security engineer roles are in high demand since they offer high salaries and the chance to work on sophisticated security systems.
Landing a job as a cyber security engineer is difficult, but with the right guidance and tech interview prep, you could find yourself working as a Cyber Security Engineer at a FAANG company!
If you’re preparing for a Cyber Security tech interview, check out our technical interview checklist, interview questions page, and salary negotiation e-book to get interview-ready!
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In this article, we cover key aspects of how to prepare for a cyber security engineer interview:
The role of front-end cyber security engineers is to ensure the protection of large volumes of sensitive user data.
The role of back-end cyber security engineers is to assess risk regularly and test systems to ensure they run smoothly.
The responsibilities of a cyber security engineer are:
Below are the minimum qualifications required to qualify for the role of a Cyber Security Engineer at a FAANG company:
For the role of a cyber security engineer, recruiters tend to look for ‘T-shaped’ individuals, i.e., those possessing deep expertise in one domain and multidisciplinary knowledge across broader areas.
The FAANG Cyber Security Engineer interview process typically consists of three rounds of interviews:
The interview process will generally be conducted over a period of 6-8 weeks from the time your application is shortlisted.
Most FAANG companies let you apply for cyber security engineer roles online. You can apply to top tech companies directly or via a recruiter.
Before applying, ensure your resume is updated and relevant to the Cyber Security positions you’re interested in. Also, try to get an employee referral to boost your chances of having your application shortlisted. If you don’t know a FAANG company employee who can provide a referral, network via online or personal channels to connect with FAANG employees.
If a recruiter shortlists your application, they will call you. This initial phone screen interview will be the start of your interview process.
During the phone screen, you’ll be asked basic questions about your experience, skills, and career aspirations to determine if you’re the right fit for the job.
During the coding interview, you’ll be required to solve programming problems. You’ll be asked questions on data structures and algorithms. Cyber Security Engineer coding interviews are comparatively easier than coding rounds for most other tech roles.
The on-site interviews at FAANG companies comprise 5 to 6 rounds of interviews. Each of these interviews lasts for approximately 45 to 60 minutes.
Pro Tip: Practice writing code on a whiteboard or paper as you may not be allowed to use auto-correction or in-line help during the interview.
Here are some guides to help with your System Design interview:
Amazon System Design Interview Questions
Facebook System Design Interview Questions
Google Systems Design Interview Questions
To ace this round, read about the company and your prospective team and role. Study the career page of the company to gain relevant information.
Here are some company-specific guides for behavioral interviews:
Amazon Behavioral Interview Questions
Facebook Behavioral Interview Questions
Prepare these critical. concepts for your cyber security engineer interview:
Coding:
System Design:
Behavioral Topics:
Cyber Security Topics:
Without proper practice and guidance, the chances of succeeding at your first cyber security interview are very low. To nail your cyber security engineer interview, practice as many interview rounds as possible before the interview.
You can practice mock interviews by yourself, with peers, or industry professionals. At Interview Kickstart, you can practice mock interviews with FAANG hiring managers and experts and get unique insights and feedback.
Whether you wish to become a FAANG+ cyber security engineer, a software developer, or an engineering manager, our mentors and coaches at Interview Kickstart are here to guide you through your interview prep.
Having guided over 9,000 software engineers through their tech interview prep to land their dream jobs, Interview Kickstart knows what it takes to crack FAANG interviews.
We’ve collated sample cyber security engineer interview questions to help you gauge the type of problems you should focus on during your cyber security interview prep:
Check out our complete list of solved coding problems to help with your Cyber Security interview preparation.
Here are some tips from experts to help you gain a competitive edge:
Want more insightful hacks to nail your technical interview? Read FAANG Interview Tips for Software Engineers and sign up for our free webinar.
Q. What skills do I require to become a cyber security engineer?
To become a cyber security engineer, you should be adept at:
Q. How long is the cyber security engineer interview process?
A typical cyber security engineer interview process at a FAANG company takes 6-8 weeks to complete after your application is shortlisted.
Q. How much do Cyber Security Engineers make?
The average salary of a Cyber Security Engineer in the United States is $1,01,534 per year.
To ace the Cyber Security Engineer interview, you need to strike the right balance between demonstrating domain knowledge and presenting yourself as the perfect cultural fit.
Our panel of FAANG+ experts can guide you through the process with our professionally structured tech interview prep programs.
Interview Kickstart’s Cyber Security Engineering Interview Course is taught by an expert team of instructors, experienced hiring managers, and tech leads from FAANG and other Tier-1 tech companies.
Sign up for our free webinar today to gain the competitive edge you need to crack even the most challenging interview!