Cruise Systems Engineer Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 27 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Cruise.
Cruise
Systems Engineer
Mid Easy Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen
Interview formats
Technical
So after the initial recruiter call, I had an interview with the manager. Apparently, their job descriptions are not really accurate. My background seemed to fit the job description well, including the required skills. But the 'Bonus Points' section, which was listed as extra coding experience, was actually crucial for the job! Even the recruiter didn't seem to realize this. I feel like many companies will reject you after one try and then block you from reapplying for a while. Also, job descriptions that don't clearly state the actual requirements really hurt your chances. It also makes it less exciting to apply.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you describe the most challenging coding problem you've encountered?
Cruise
Systems Engineer
Senior Average Positive experience No offer 5 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Take home Technical screen Onsite Presentation Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Coding Case Presentation
Applied via employee referral. Had a recruiter call about a month after applying where they asked about my current job and salary expectations. Then, an initial interview with the hiring manager where they asked me to introduce myself beyond my resume and discussed the role. Followed by a take-home assessment asking for business recommendations based on AV incident data. The onsite was virtual and included interviews with people from different teams covering safety, Python programming, A/B testing, and systems engineering. Wrapped up with a final interview with the hiring manager.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- Create a Python function that returns a list of elements common to two given lists.
- For determining if some cars have more incidents than others, what test would you perform? (e.g., difference of means)
- What do you think you would contribute to this team?
Cruise
Systems Engineer
Entry Average Positive experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Background check
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
I found the job online. HR got in touch for the first phone screen. After that, the hiring manager contacted me within a week. They decided I wasn't the right fit. The whole process from applying to hearing back took about 2 weeks. It was 15 days from when I applied until I heard back the first time.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- Can you walk me through your resume and emphasize aspects relevant to this position?
- Describe how you would design a system for traffic light detection.
- How would you approach designing a system for handling left turns at an intersection?
Cruise Systems Engineer Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Cruise interview reports.
“Create a Python function that returns a list of elements common to two given lists.”
Read reports →“Given the regulation requiring a 3ft minimum distance from cyclists, describe how you would develop an algorithm for an autonomous vehicle aiming to change lanes and overtake a cyclist ahead.”
Read reports →“What conditions must an autonomous vehicle meet to navigate scenarios such as construction detours or unprotected left turns?”
Read reports →“Could you illustrate a high-level systems diagram for an autonomous vehicle?”
Read reports →“How would you approach making a left turn at a stop sign?”
Read report →“For determining if some cars have more incidents than others, what test would you perform? (e.g., difference of means)”
Read report →“Can you outline the pros and cons of different sensor types?”
Read report →“Can you outline a high-level sub system design for an AV to navigate around an obstacle?”
Read report →“Describe how you would design a system for traffic light detection.”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 27 Cruise interview reports.