Electrical Engineer Interview Questions in United States
With an electrical engineer interview, expect to answer technical questions that will evaluate your problem-solving, project management, and communication skills. Expect the interviewer to ascertain you have the proper training to fulfill the job, such as a strong background in mathematics, physics, and electronics.
Top Electrical Engineer Interview Questions & How To Answer
Here are three top electrical engineer interview questions and how to answer them:
Question #1: How do you prioritize your time when working on multiple projects?
How to answer: It's important to highlight how you can focus on numerous projects concurrently while prioritizing accordingly. Mention how you can stay motivated and on-task by using your organizational skills. Also, discuss how you collaborate with other team members to ensure all projects are completed promptly.
Question #2: What would you do if a colleague wanted to take a different direction on a project?
How to answer: Most electrical engineers work in groups with other types of engineers and project managers. You might encounter colleagues who want to deviate from the original plan, so employers may want to make sure you have communication and conflict-management skills. Consider using the STAR method to answer the question by explaining how you handled a similar situation.
Question #3: How do you ensure precision in your work?
How to answer: As an electrical engineer, you're tasked with working on complex projects, so precision is essential. With this open-ended question, illustrate your accuracy at work by explaining your attention to detail and the use of critical thinking skills to investigate problems from all perspectives.
Q2: A pnp transistor with its base connected to a voltage source, the V source is connected to a +10V source. The emitter of the transistor is connected to a resistance, and then to the same +10V source. The collector side is connected to a capacitor, which is not charged at t=0-. Given the graph of Vsource = 10 V stepping up at t = 0 to further, draw the graph of Vout. Vout is between the point of collector and capacitor.
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I just made it back from Lutron's HQ and I was asked for the same question. My first approach will be identifying a PNP BJT, and elaborating all 4 BJT operating regions. Before t = 0, since q = 0, by using Q = CV, we can tell that the voltage across the capacitor is 0. Hence, Vo = -10V before t = 0. Recall the capacitor's current equation: I = C*(dv/dt), we can solve for the slope of changing voltage -> dv/dt = I/C. Here, I is simply the BJT's collector current, which can be found by looking at the BJT's emitter current. Given that the (beta) parameter is infinite, we see the base current to be 0. Now, at this point, we need to look for I_E. Since the R is given to be 9.3k, and VEE = 10V, it is natural to assume V_EB = 0.7V, and thus the voltage across R = 9.3V. Therefore, I_E = 9.3/9300 = 1mA. Voila, we now values for all currents: I_E = I_C = 1mA, and I_B = 0A. Plug the I_C value into the equation: I_C/C = dv/dt (C = 1uF). We know that the slope of the voltage change is 1000V/second, or 1 Volt per millisecond. Now, we know the capacitor voltage raises at 1V/ms from -10V, but we also need to know where is the upper limit. Looking back to the BJT basics about operating regions and BJT's 2-diode model, it is not hard to identify that this PNP BJT must operate in "Saturation" region (NOT IN "ACTIVE" REGION!). The boundary of that region is V_BC <= 0.7V (I hope everybody is able to solve for this). Hence, 0.7V will be the upper limit for capacitor voltage. At this point, you will have a flat line at Vo = -10V before t = 0. and raises at 1V/ms for 10.7ms and hit Vo = 0.7V. From t = 10.7ms and on, the Vo stays at 0.7V. Less
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ANS: Vout should be constantly -10V until t=0, and will hit V=0 V linearly from V=-10 V after t=0. Less
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Hi, Can you explain why it linearly increases? Are you assuming that Collector is tied to -10V? The pnp transistor is completely cutoff for the given biasing. The only way the capacitor is going to charge is through leakage currents. It is very slow and takes a lot of time. Please advise me if my analysis is correct. Less
Draw the circuit for an active low-pass filter.
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There's a lot of elements to typically cover in these questions, clarifications, scoping, making sure you're answering the actual question the interviewer is looking for you to answer, etc. Could be worth doing a mock interview with one of the Prepfully Fitbit Electrical Engineer experts... they've worked in the role so they clearly know how to get through the interview. prepfully.com/practice-interviews Less
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resistor going into V- on a op amp, V+ to GND, and a resistor and cap in parallel from output to V-. Less
How do you represent a real-world quantity in a digital system?
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What he really wanted me to do was draw the schematic of an ADC input circuit. I don't know why he didn't just ask that in the first place. Since it was a broad question, I spent over 5 minutes explaining binary representation, word size (8/16/32bit), endian-ness, and finally when I mentioned ADCs, he latched onto that and tried to get me to dig deeper. So I drew a block diagram of an ADC, focusing mostly on the interface to the microcontroller, and the channel select multiplexer. He grew increasingly frustrated and tried to get me to draw more detailed sub-circuits for each of the blocks in my diagram. Finally, I got to the actual ADC front end, and I drew a classic textbook R2R ladder circuit, and he seemed satisfied with that. By that point we had spent over 10 minutes in an interview where he was already complaining that he had a lot of ground to cover in limited time. I was so frazzled by the question that I did not even think of mentioning a successive approximation ADC as an alternative to the R2R, even though it's a much more common implementation in my experience. Less
If a conveyor motor trips out, how do you diagnose it?
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The answer they want: You uncouple it and see if it spins freely unloaded. This only is valid for small, accessible motors, the real answer is you test the motor with a Baker analyzer and look for your standard motor defects: turn to turn shorts, open circuits, and ground faults. Less
Why railway industry? Why Network Rail? How do you develop the professional relationship and how do you feel before during and after?
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Show your expectation to the company and tell them how you going to make a contribution Less
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Hey mate, please share the technical questions, if you can.. Thank you so much
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I was not asked any obvious technical question.
Q: What does a capacitor look like at high frequency?
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A: A capacitor looks like a capacitor, inductor, and resistor in series at high frequency. Less
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A short
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Its an short circuit at very high frequencies. Look at the impedance for a capacitor and you'll notice that the frequency is inversely related to it. (also note that capacitor impedance is purely reactive). Therefore, as frequency increases the impedance approaches 0, which acts like a short. (an inductor is the opposite) Less
A boat is in a swimming pool and there is a rock in the boat. What happens to the level of water if the rock is thrown out of the boat?
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Any rock that will have the density less than water?... It will fall because due to Achimedes' Law the total bouyant force decreased, hence so it is with the volume of space occupied below the water level. Less
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It depends on the ratio of volume of the rock vs the displacement of water. This is dependent on the density of the substance. In the boat it should displace a volume of water greater than the volume of the rock since the density of the rock is greater than the density of the water. Once in the water it should displace only it's own volume which do to it's density is less than the water it had to displace while in the boat.; hence, the water level decreases. Less
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It depends on the density of the rock If the rock sinks: the water level actually falls....think about it...but this is the right answer. Less
How would you know if an electric motor is bad without connecting to power?
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Explain the motor resistance test.
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Motor resistance test:This test is an important measurement/test because it detect some of the problems other test/measurement couldn't, it is easy with the use of "motor circuit analysis" winding resistance test detects various faults in motors such as shorted and open turns, wrong turn count, wrong wire gauge, some connection mistakes, resistance balance between phases, short to ground. Less
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Aside the physical observation for burnt and smell of the coil also the colour appearance of the coil and rust, an ammeter will be used to check winding of the phase to determine if there short circuit or shunt in each winding,which implies continuity . The cone or ammiture should be tested ,component test for resistivity and inductance will be tested. Less
What represents P, in P=IV
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Q: What are my likes and dislikes in college? Q: How do you feel like moving to the east coast?
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Did you interview at the Groton facility or just over the phone?
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Both
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How long did it take for them to let you know if you got an offer or not?