20 SES Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to interviews, preparation is key. And when you’re interviewing for a job with a specific company, it’s important to do your research and be prepared to answer questions about the company itself.

If you’re interviewing for a job with SES, the world-leading satellite operator, you can expect to be asked questions about the company, its history, and its operations. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample questions and answers about SES.

SES Interview Process

The interview process at SES is very organized. The first step is usually a phone call from HR, followed by an in-person interview with the manager. If you are applying for a position that requires technical skills, you may also be asked to do a technical interview. The whole process can take up to two weeks.

1. Why do you want to work at SES?

This question is an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the position and why you are a good fit. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific aspects of SES that interest you or how you would like to contribute to the company’s success.

Example: “I am interested in working at SES because I have always been fascinated by space exploration. In my current role as a project manager, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many different clients on satellite projects. I find that I really enjoy helping others achieve their goals through space technology. I think I could bring valuable skills and experience to SES.”

2. What are your skills with tracking and forecasting operations in a large team environment?

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to work in a team environment and how you can contribute to the success of the company. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight your communication skills, problem-solving abilities and leadership qualities.

Example: “I have experience working with large teams on operations forecasting projects. I’ve found that my strong communication skills help me lead the team through complex processes. My attention to detail also helps me identify potential issues before they become major problems. In one instance, I noticed a discrepancy in our budgeting process and alerted my supervisor so we could fix the issue before it became too late.”

3. Tell us about a time when you had to take on additional responsibilities due to a co-worker being absent. How did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of how you handle stressful situations and your ability to work independently. Use examples from previous roles or describe what you would do if you were absent from work.

Example: “In my last role, I was responsible for managing all social media accounts while also handling customer service calls. One day, one of my co-workers called in sick, leaving me with two major responsibilities. I asked another colleague to cover my shift so that I could focus on completing both tasks. I delegated some of the smaller tasks to other employees so that I could focus on the more important ones.”

4. Does this position require any travel? Would that be an issue for you?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your availability and willingness to travel. If you have a family, are in school or have other obligations that would make it difficult for you to travel, be honest about those factors when answering the question.

Example: “I am willing to travel as needed for work, but I do not have any upcoming trips planned at this time. In my last position, I traveled twice per year to attend training seminars and conferences. I enjoy learning new things and meeting new people, so I look forward to traveling again in the future.”

5. Where do you see yourself five years from now?

This question is a great way to assess an applicant’s career goals and aspirations. It also allows you to see if they are interested in the SES role long-term or if it’s just a stepping stone on their path to something else.

Example: “I hope to be working for SES as a senior engineer five years from now. I am passionate about space exploration, so I would love to continue my work with satellites and help advance our knowledge of the universe.”

6. Describe your experience working in the space industry.

This question is a great way to show the interviewer your experience and expertise in the space industry. You can use this opportunity to highlight any previous work you’ve done that relates to SES’s business.

Example: “I have worked for NASA as an aerospace engineer for five years, where I was responsible for designing new spacecrafts and satellites. My team and I also developed new technologies that improved satellite performance and efficiency. In my last role, I led a team of engineers who were tasked with improving the design of existing satellites.”

7. Are there any specific aspects of software engineering that you have a passion for?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you have a passion for software engineering and can apply it in a way that benefits SES. You should highlight any specific skills or tools that you are proficient in, as well as how they help you solve problems.

Example: “I am passionate about learning new programming languages and frameworks because I find that it helps me understand complex systems better. For example, when I was working at my last company, I learned Python to automate some of our processes. This allowed us to scale up our operations without adding more employees.”

8. What would you say is your greatest strength and weakness?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to be honest. The interviewer wants to know what your greatest strengths are so they can see how you will use them to benefit the company. They also want to know about any weaknesses that may need improvement.

Example: “My greatest strength is my ability to work well with others. I am always willing to help someone else succeed, even if it means sacrificing some of my own success. My weakness would have to be my perfectionism. Sometimes I spend too much time on projects making sure everything is perfect before I submit it. This has caused me to miss deadlines in the past.”

9. What do you think is the most important thing to remember when trying to be innovative?

This question is a great way to show your creativity and problem-solving skills. It also allows you to discuss how innovation can help the company grow.

Example: “Innovation is one of the most important things for any business, but it’s especially true in this industry because there are so many new technologies being developed every day. I think that the most important thing to remember when trying to be innovative is to always keep an open mind. You never know what kind of ideas other people have or what they’re working on. By keeping an open mind, you can learn from others and use their ideas to create something even better.”

10. If hired, what would be your approach to designing software for satellite ground control systems?

This question is an opportunity to show your technical skills and knowledge of the industry. You can use examples from past experience or explain how you would approach this task if you have no prior experience designing software for satellite ground control systems.

Example: “I would first conduct a thorough analysis of the current system, including its strengths and weaknesses. Then I would develop a plan that includes all necessary upgrades and improvements. In my last role as a senior engineer at XYZ Corp., I was tasked with upgrading our satellite ground control system. After conducting research on the existing system, I developed a new design that included more efficient hardware and software.”

11. Do you have any experience working in a team environment?

Working in a team environment is an important part of the SES role. The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your teamwork skills and how you interact with others. To answer, think of a time when you worked well with others on a project or task. Try to describe what made that experience successful.

Example: “I have plenty of experience working in a team environment. In my current position as a network engineer, I work alongside other engineers, IT professionals and managers to solve problems and complete projects. We often collaborate on tasks like creating new policies for our company or implementing new software solutions.”

12. We want our engineers to be able to work independently. Do you think you would be a good fit for that type of environment?

This question is a great way to see if the company values independent work. It’s also an opportunity for you to show that you’re comfortable with working independently and can be successful in this type of environment.

Example: “I’ve worked as an engineer for several years now, so I’m used to working independently. In fact, I enjoy it because it allows me to focus on my own projects without having to constantly check in with someone else. I think I would be a good fit for your organization because I have experience working in an independent environment.”

13. What is your experience with designing and testing mechanical components?

This question is a great way to show your technical skills and knowledge. It’s also an opportunity for you to explain how you used these skills in the past to solve problems or complete projects.

Example: “In my last position, I was responsible for designing mechanical components that were then tested by our engineering team. This process helped me understand what it takes to test mechanical components and gave me insight into the testing process. I learned how to use different software programs to design mechanical components and create 3D models.”

14. How often do you like to be in contact with your team when working on a project?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you interact with your team and whether you prefer to work independently or in a group setting. Your answer should show that you value teamwork and collaboration, but also have the ability to complete projects on your own if necessary.

Example: “I like to be in contact with my team as often as possible when working on a project. I find it helpful to check in with them at least once per day to see how they’re progressing on their tasks and offer any assistance they may need. However, I am comfortable working alone for extended periods of time if needed.”

15. Have you ever worked remotely before? How do you feel remote work should be managed?

This question is a great way to assess your experience with remote work and how you feel about it. If the company has a policy of allowing employees to work remotely, this can be an important factor in deciding whether or not to hire them.

Example: “I have worked remotely before, but I prefer working in an office setting. I think that having some flexibility for remote work is beneficial, but I also believe that there are many benefits to being in the same place as your coworkers. For example, I find that face-to-face communication is often more effective than communicating over email or video conferencing.”

16. Give an example of a time when you had to solve a problem that was not straightforward. How did you approach the problem?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and how you approach challenges. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation in which you had to solve a complex problem and the steps you took to do so.

Example: “In my previous role as a network engineer, I was tasked with solving a connectivity issue that occurred when one of our satellites experienced a power outage. The first step I took was to assess the cause of the outage by reviewing all satellite data. After determining the cause of the outage, I worked with my team to develop a plan for restoring power to the satellite. We were able to successfully restore power to the satellite within 24 hours.”

17. Can you tell me about a time when you were working on a team project and there was conflict, how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to see how you handle conflict and your ability to work with others. It’s important that you show the interviewer that you can collaborate with others, even if it was in an SES interview.

Example: “In my last position as a project manager, I had a team of five people working on a large project for one of our clients. We were all working hard to meet deadlines and deliverables, but there was some miscommunication between two members of the team. I called everyone together and explained that we needed to be more communicative with each other so we could avoid any issues or delays in the future.”

18. When was the last time you built something for fun or for yourself?

This question is designed to give the interviewer insight into your creativity and problem-solving skills. It’s important to show that you have a passion for what you do, even if it’s not related to your career.

Example: “I built my own computer when I was in high school because I wanted to play video games with better graphics. I learned a lot about how computers work and gained valuable experience working on something complex.”

19. What has been your favorite job thus far? Why?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential future colleagues. It also allows you to share what you enjoy doing and how it relates to the position you’re interviewing for.

Example: “My favorite job thus far has been my current role as an IT specialist at XYZ Company. I love working with computers, but I also really enjoy helping others solve problems. In this position, I get to do both of those things every day. I’m constantly learning new ways to troubleshoot issues and find solutions that work best for our company.”

20. What’s one thing that you learned from your previous employer that you will bring here?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you’re willing to learn and adapt. It’s also an opportunity for you to share something about yourself that may not be obvious from your resume.

Example: “I learned how to manage my time more effectively when I worked at the marketing firm, where we had multiple projects going on at once. This skill has helped me become more efficient in my work and allowed me to complete tasks ahead of schedule.”