Calix Systems Engineer Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 13 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Calix.
Calix
System Administrator
Mid Easy Positive experience Accept offer 5 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Technical screen Onsite Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
The whole thing was done via 30min Zoom calls. It took nearly 3 months from when I applied until my start date, though the holidays definitely slowed things down. My first contact was a 30min Zoom with a technical recruiter. Then I had a call with the hiring manager. After that, I had a few Zooms with people who would be my peers. The final call was with an executive. Everyone I spoke with was really nice and it felt more like a 'get to know you' vibe rather than a super technical interrogation. They seemed to really value finding someone who would be a good fit, which I liked.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Could you verify that your resume accurately reflects the experience and skills required for this role?
- Could you share your background or where you're from?
- What are some of your interests outside of work?
Calix
Systems Engineer
Senior Average Positive experience Accept offer 9 rounds
Interview process
Technical screen Recruiter call Onsite Background check Offer
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral
It was a total of 7 rounds of interviews including one with the hiring manager. The whole process took over 2 months and was pretty straightforward. Each interview was 30 minutes long with a different person, and they were all really nice. After the initial 7 rounds, I had 2 more interviews with VPs. The T&C team was really helpful throughout the entire process.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Tell me about L2/L3 and what you have done in your company.
- Can you explain what you have been doing in your company and talk about L2/L3?
Calix
Systems Engineer
Entry Easy Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Phone screen Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
First, there was a phone screen. It was mostly behavioral questions, and it went well, so I got a call for the second round. The second interview was terrible though. The interviewer was rude, spoke slowly, so I couldn't hear him well, and I wasn't sure what he was asking. He had long pauses between questions, and the call even dropped. It was a really bad experience.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you tell me about a technology you're proficient in, including its pros and cons?
Calix Systems Engineer Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Calix interview reports.
“Given 3 switches outside a room controlling 3 lightbulbs inside, how do you determine which switch controls which lightbulb after turning them on and off and then entering the room?”
Read reports →“What is your understanding of TCP/IP?”
Read reports →“Can you explain Big O notation?”
Read reports →“Describe DHCP, RSTP, ARP. How would you troubleshoot a problem?”
Read reports →“Can you explain DHCP, RSTP, and ARP? Also, describe your approach to troubleshooting issues.”
Read report →“Can you tell me about your knowledge with IP routing?”
Read report →“What are your thoughts on general L2/3 concepts?”
Read report →“What are some of your interests outside of work?”
Read report →“If you encountered a question you didn't know the answer to, what would be your approach in communicating with the customer?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 13 Calix interview reports.