Ginkgo BioWorks Software Engineer Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 5 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Ginkgo BioWorks.
Ginkgo BioWorks
Software Engineer
Intern Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Presentation
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation
For the Early Talent roles I applied to, it usually started with a behavioral interview with HR. After that, it was either a second behavioral interview with the team or straight to the technical interview. The technical interview part was either a presentation about a paper or a problem set, depending on the specific role.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Tell me about how you tackle and get over challenges? (You can give an example if you want).
Ginkgo BioWorks
Software Engineer
Mid Average Positive experience No offer 4 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Presentation Onsite Panel Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation
I sent in my application online, and after about two months, I got an invitation for a 30-minute phone chat. This initial call included an overview of the company and the team, some discussion about my relevant past experience, and a couple of behavioral questions. About a week later, I had another similar interview with a different employee. Several weeks after that, I went for the onsite interviews. I kicked things off with a 20-minute presentation about my previous work to a group of interviewers, followed by the rest of the day filled with 45-minute 1-on-1 meetings. Everyone I interacted with seemed genuinely excited about their work and Ginkgo's mission, and they were all very pleasant and friendly. The projects they are working on sound really interesting.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Could you share a challenge you faced in your previous research?
- Can you describe what a typical day is like for you?
- What have you been working on for the last couple of years?
Ginkgo BioWorks
Senior Software Engineer
Senior Average Neutral experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Presentation
Interview formats
Behavioral Presentation
I had a recruiter call first. Then it went straight to a full day zoom interview, which included a 45-minute presentation. It felt like a step was missed because I didn't even meet the hiring manager until the day of my presentation.
Confirmed questions1 question
- How could engineering be applied to simplify biology?
Ginkgo BioWorks Software Engineer Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Ginkgo BioWorks interview reports.
“How could engineering be applied to simplify biology?”
Read reports →“Can you describe what a typical day is like for you?”
Read reports →“What have you been working on for the last couple of years?”
Read reports →“Could you share a challenge you faced in your previous research?”
Read reports →“Tell me about how you tackle and get over challenges? (You can give an example if you want).”
Read report →“Can you tell us about projects you've worked on previously?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 5 Ginkgo BioWorks interview reports.