Common Infrastructure Engineer interview questions
Question 1
Can you explain what infrastructure as code (IaC) is and why it is important?
Answer 1
Infrastructure as code (IaC) is the process of managing and provisioning computing infrastructure through machine-readable definition files, rather than physical hardware configuration or interactive configuration tools. It is important because it allows for automation, consistency, and repeatability in infrastructure deployment, reducing human error and speeding up the process.
Question 2
How do you ensure high availability and disaster recovery in your infrastructure designs?
Answer 2
To ensure high availability, I design systems with redundancy at every critical point, such as using load balancers, clustering, and failover mechanisms. For disaster recovery, I implement regular backups, geographically distributed data centers, and well-documented recovery procedures to minimize downtime and data loss.
Question 3
What monitoring tools have you used, and how do you respond to alerts?
Answer 3
I have used tools like Nagios, Prometheus, and Datadog for monitoring infrastructure. When an alert is triggered, I assess the severity, investigate the root cause, and take corrective action, while also documenting the incident and updating monitoring thresholds if necessary.
Describe the last project you worked on as a Infrastructure Engineer, including any obstacles and your contributions to its success.
The last project I worked on involved migrating a legacy application from on-premises servers to AWS. I designed the cloud architecture using VPC, EC2, and RDS, and automated the deployment with Terraform. The migration improved scalability and reliability, and reduced operational costs. I also implemented monitoring and backup solutions to ensure high availability. The project was completed on time and met all business requirements.
Additional Infrastructure Engineer interview questions
Here are some additional questions grouped by category that you can practice answering in preparation for an interview:
General interview questions
Question 1
Describe your experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
Answer 1
I have extensive experience with AWS, including EC2, S3, VPC, and CloudFormation for IaC. I have also worked with Azure for virtual networking and storage solutions, and I am familiar with Google Cloud's Compute Engine and Kubernetes Engine for container orchestration.
Question 2
How do you manage configuration drift in your environments?
Answer 2
I use configuration management tools like Ansible and Puppet to enforce desired state configurations. Regular audits and automated compliance checks help detect and remediate drift, ensuring environments remain consistent with defined baselines.
Question 3
What steps do you take to secure infrastructure components?
Answer 3
I implement network segmentation, use firewalls and security groups, enforce least privilege access, and regularly patch systems. Additionally, I enable encryption for data at rest and in transit, and monitor for suspicious activity using security tools.
Infrastructure Engineer interview questions about experience and background
Question 1
What is your experience with containerization and orchestration tools?
Answer 1
I have worked extensively with Docker for containerization and Kubernetes for orchestration. I have set up multi-node clusters, managed deployments, and implemented CI/CD pipelines to automate application delivery.
Question 2
Can you describe a challenging troubleshooting incident you resolved?
Answer 2
Once, a production outage was caused by a misconfigured load balancer. I quickly identified the issue through log analysis and monitoring tools, corrected the configuration, and implemented additional checks to prevent recurrence.
Question 3
How do you stay current with new technologies and best practices in infrastructure engineering?
Answer 3
I regularly read industry blogs, participate in online forums, attend webinars, and complete certifications. I also experiment with new tools in lab environments to evaluate their potential for our infrastructure.
In-depth Infrastructure Engineer interview questions
Question 1
Explain how you would migrate an on-premises application to the cloud.
Answer 1
I would start by assessing the application's architecture and dependencies, then plan the migration strategy—lift-and-shift, re-platform, or refactor. I would set up the cloud environment, migrate data, test the application, and cut over traffic, ensuring rollback plans and minimal downtime.
Question 2
How do you handle scaling challenges in a rapidly growing environment?
Answer 2
I design systems with scalability in mind, using auto-scaling groups, load balancers, and stateless application architectures. I also monitor performance metrics and adjust resource allocation dynamically to handle increased load without service degradation.
Question 3
Describe a time you automated a manual infrastructure process. What tools did you use and what was the outcome?
Answer 3
I automated server provisioning using Terraform and Ansible, replacing a manual ticket-based process. This reduced provisioning time from days to minutes, improved consistency, and allowed the team to focus on higher-value tasks.