17 Junior Devops Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

As a Junior Devops Engineer, you will be responsible for the smooth running of our software development and deployment process. This will include automating and streamlining our build, test and release process, as well as working with our Development, QA and Operations teams to ensure that our systems are stable and scalable.

To be successful in this role, you will need to have a strong understanding of both development and operations, as well as a passion for automation. You should also be able to work well in a team environment, as this role will require close collaboration with other members of the Devops team.

If you think you have what it takes to be a Junior Devops Engineer, then we would love to hear from you. Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your experience and why you think you would be a good fit for this role.

Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced environment?

Employers ask this question to make sure you’re comfortable with the pace of work in their organization. They want employees who can keep up with the demands of a busy schedule and perform well under pressure. In your answer, explain that you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment as long as it’s not too overwhelming. Share an example of a time when you were able to handle multiple projects at once.

Example: “I am definitely comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. I thrive on being challenged and always feel energized by having so many things to do. At my last job, I was responsible for managing several servers at once. This included monitoring server performance, resolving any issues that arose and making sure everything was running smoothly. I enjoyed the challenge of multitasking and found that I could manage all of these responsibilities quite easily.”

What are some of the most important skills for a junior devops engineer to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills necessary to succeed in this role. Use your answer to highlight some of the most important skills for a junior devops engineer and explain why they are so important.

Example: “The two most important skills for a junior devops engineer are communication and problem-solving skills. These skills are essential because I will be working with other members of my team, as well as developers and IT professionals. Communication is key when collaborating with others on projects, while problem-solving skills allow me to find solutions to issues that may arise during development.”

How would you describe the relationship between a senior devops engineer and a junior devops engineer?

This question can help the interviewer assess your understanding of hierarchy in an organization and how you interact with other members of a team. Use examples from past experiences to show that you understand the importance of collaboration and teamwork.

Example: “A senior devops engineer has more experience than a junior devops engineer, so they are better suited to make decisions about complex issues. However, I believe it’s important for all members of a team to contribute their ideas and opinions because no one person knows everything. In my last role, I worked alongside a senior devop who was very knowledgeable about server management. When I had questions or concerns, I would ask him for advice. He always encouraged me to think critically and develop my own solutions.”

What is your experience with using configuration management tools?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with a specific type of tool that is commonly used in devops. Use examples from past projects to highlight your skills and how they helped you complete your work.

Example: “I have extensive experience using configuration management tools, including Chef, Puppet and Ansible. I find these tools helpful for automating tasks like deploying applications and managing server configurations. In my last role, I used Chef to manage our entire infrastructure, which allowed me to streamline many processes and automate several common functions.”

Provide an example of a time when you identified a problem with a deployment and explain how you resolved it.

This question can allow the interviewer to evaluate your problem-solving skills and ability to identify issues with a deployment. Use examples from previous work experience that highlight your analytical skills, attention to detail and ability to communicate effectively.

Example: “At my last job, I noticed that our application was taking longer than usual to load for users. After investigating the issue, I realized that we had deployed an older version of the code instead of the updated one. To resolve this issue, I used my knowledge of git commands to roll back the deployment and then re-deployed the correct code.”

If you could only use three tools to complete your work as a junior devops engineer, what would they be?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your technical knowledge and determine if you are familiar with their company’s tools. It also helps them understand what skills you have that can be applied to their organization. When answering this question, try to include tools that you’ve used before or ones that you’re familiar with.

Example: “If I could only use three tools as a junior devops engineer, I would choose JIRA, Confluence and Jenkins. These tools allow me to create tickets, collaborate on projects and automate my workflows.”

What would you do if you noticed a discrepancy between the code that was deployed and the code that was supposed to be deployed?

This question can help the interviewer assess your problem-solving skills and ability to notice important details. Your answer should include a specific example of how you would handle this situation, including what steps you would take to resolve it.

Example: “If I noticed a discrepancy between the code that was deployed and the code that was supposed to be deployed, I would first check with my team members to see if they had any insight into why there might have been an error in deployment. If no one knew why there was a discrepancy, I would look at the version control system to see if there were any changes made to the code before it was deployed. If there weren’t any changes made, I would then check the build server to make sure everything was uploaded correctly.”

How well do you understand the differences between Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery and Continuous Deployment?

This question can help the interviewer assess your knowledge of DevOps processes and how you apply them to software development. Use examples from past projects where you used these three concepts in your work.

Example: “Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery and Continuous Deployment are all important steps in a DevOps process. In my last role as a junior devops engineer, I worked with a team that was developing an e-commerce platform for a client. We started by implementing continuous integration into our workflow so we could test code changes frequently and integrate them into the project more easily. This helped us identify issues early on and fix them before they became major problems.

We then implemented continuous delivery into our workflow so we could deploy new versions of the application to clients regularly. This allowed us to get feedback from users quickly and make improvements based on their experiences. Finally, we implemented continuous deployment so we could release the final version of the application to the client once it was ready.”

Do you have experience working with Puppet, Ansible or Chef?

These are three popular DevOps tools that help IT professionals automate and manage infrastructure. Your answer should show the interviewer you have experience with these tools, but also highlight your ability to adapt to new technologies.

Example: “I’ve worked with all of these tools in my previous roles. I started out using Puppet, but eventually learned Ansible and Chef as well. While I’m comfortable working with any of these tools, I prefer Chef because it’s more user-friendly than the other two. It has a lot of built-in functionality that makes it easier for me to complete tasks.”

When would you use a deployment pipeline?

This question can help the interviewer determine your knowledge of deployment pipelines and how you use them. Use examples from your past experience to show that you know when to use a pipeline and what it does for your organization.

Example: “Deployment pipelines are an essential part of my work as a devops engineer because they allow me to automate many processes within the development process. For example, I used a deployment pipeline at my last job to create a continuous integration system where developers could test their code before deploying it into production. This helped reduce errors in the testing phase and allowed us to deploy new features more quickly.”

We want to improve our deployment process. What are some strategies you would suggest we try?

This question can help the interviewer understand your problem-solving skills and how you approach new challenges. Use examples from previous projects to explain how you would implement changes in deployment processes.

Example: “I would suggest using a continuous integration server, which allows me to automate my deployments. This strategy helps me deploy code more efficiently by eliminating manual steps that are prone to human error. I also use Docker containers for testing purposes because they allow me to test applications on different operating systems without having to install them on physical machines.”

Describe your experience with containerization.

This question can help the interviewer determine your experience with a specific technology. Use examples from your previous work to highlight your skills and expertise in this area.

Example: “I’ve worked with containerization for several years now, starting when I was working as an intern at my current company. My team used containers to create virtual machines that were more efficient than traditional servers. We also used Docker to manage our applications and reduce the time it took to deploy new code. This helped us increase productivity by 50%.”

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and why you are the best person for the job. Before your interview, make a list of all your skills and experiences that relate to the position. Think about what makes you unique from other candidates and highlight these qualities in your answer.

Example: “I am the best candidate for this position because I have five years of experience as a devops engineer. In my previous role, I worked with many different types of software and learned how to integrate them into our company’s systems. I also have extensive knowledge of various cloud computing platforms, which is something your company uses. These two factors make me an excellent fit for this role.”

Which programming languages do you feel are most important for a junior devops engineer to know?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of expertise in programming languages. When answering this question, it can be beneficial to mention a few languages you are familiar with and explain why they’re important for devops engineers.

Example: “I feel that Java and Python are two of the most important programming languages for a junior devops engineer to know. These languages are both widely used by businesses and have many applications within the field of devops. I also think learning these languages early on in my career will allow me to become more proficient at other coding languages as well.”

What do you think is the most challenging part of being a junior devops engineer?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you as a person and how you approach challenges. Your answer can also show your problem-solving skills, so it’s important to be honest and specific in your response.

Example: “The most challenging part of being a junior devops engineer is learning all the different tools and technologies that are available for use. There are so many options out there, and I’m always trying to find the best ones for my projects. It can be overwhelming at times, but I’ve learned to take things one step at a time and ask questions when needed.”

How often do you think deployments should occur?

This question can help the interviewer understand your deployment strategy and how you plan to integrate it into their organization. Your answer should show that you have a clear understanding of when deployments are necessary, as well as how often they should occur.

Example: “I think deployments should happen at least once per day, but ideally multiple times throughout the day. This allows me to monitor the system for any issues or errors that may arise during peak hours. It also gives me time to fix any problems before they become major issues. I find this method is more efficient than waiting until the end of the day to deploy updates.”

There is a bug in a production environment that was deployed yesterday. What is your process for investigating and fixing the issue?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach a problem and your thought process. Your answer should include steps that show your analytical skills, attention to detail and ability to communicate with others.

Example: “I would first gather information about the bug by reviewing logs and error messages. I would then use this information to determine what caused the issue. If it was an isolated incident, I would fix the issue immediately. However, if there were multiple issues, I would investigate further to see if they are related. Once I have determined the cause of the issue, I would implement a solution.”