Rincon Research Corporation Software Engineer Interview Questions
& Process

So, I applied for Research Software Engineer, but it seems like they were more keen on me being in a research role that uses my physics background. The software questions were pretty basic, though I tend to overthink even simple ones. They asked a cool question about special relativity, which is unusual for a software role. I liked the interview process – it was straightforward. After HR and the VP, it was mainly technical discussions about their work (like a lesson on communication theory) and then they'd ask questions to gauge my thought process, not necessarily tied to the discussion. The interviewers were a diverse and interesting bunch; one had this wild white hair and beard. They warned I'd be tired afterward, but I felt mentally energized. The only downside was that the talk I prepared wasn't presented.

I sent in my resume online and then got a phone screening. After that, I was invited for an onsite interview which consisted of about 8 interviews, each lasting 30 minutes, plus an hour-long lunch interview. They asked a variety of technical questions, covering both programming and systems topics. It seemed like they were often assessing my problem-solving abilities. I felt I performed well and was expecting an offer, but a week later, HR informed me I wouldn't be receiving one. I reached out to one of the engineers I spoke with, and he explained that while I was technically skilled and showed I could work through problems and learn quickly, they were seeking someone with more direct experience who could start contributing immediately. I appreciated his call and still consider Rincon a company I'd like to work for in the future once I gain more experience.

So the interview process kicked off with a 45-minute phone chat. After that, I had an hour-long virtual coding test. The last part was a full day, in-person final interview, which ran from about 9 AM to 3 PM, with a lunch break thrown in.