Top 20 Interview Questions & Answers for SRE Roles – 2025

Prepare for your SRE (Site Reliability Engineer) job interview with these 20 in-depth questions and answers. Demonstrating your experience and knowledge in areas such as software engineering, automation, and system reliability will help you stand out as a top candidate for this in-demand role.

General Questions

• 1. Tell us about your background and experience with software development and operations.
  

  Answer: I have a degree in Computer Science and have been working as a software engineer for the past 5 years. During this time, I have also gained experience in operations through my involvement in the deployment and maintenance of our software products. This combination of skills has given me a strong foundation for the SRE role.

  
  
• 2. Why are you interested in pursuing a career in Site Reliability Engineering?
  

  Answer: I have always been passionate about finding ways to improve the performance and reliability of systems. The SRE role offers the perfect opportunity for me to combine my technical skills with my problem-solving abilities to ensure the smooth operation of complex systems.

  
  
• 3. How do you keep up with the latest industry trends and practices in SRE?
  

  Answer: I am an avid learner and regularly attend workshops, conferences, and webinars to stay updated with the latest developments in SRE. I also follow influential thought leaders and industry publications to keep up with current trends and practices.

Behavioral Questions

• 4. Can you tell us about a time when you had to troubleshoot and resolve a complex technical issue?
  

  Answer: In my previous role, our website experienced a sudden increase in traffic, causing it to crash. I quickly identified the root cause of the issue, which was a bug in the code. I worked with the development team to fix the bug and implement scalable solutions to prevent similar issues in the future. This experience taught me the importance of having a continuous improvement mindset in preventing and solving technical issues.

  
  
• 5. How do you prioritize and manage multiple tasks with tight deadlines?
  

  Answer: I prioritize my tasks by evaluating their urgency and impact on the team’s overall goals. I also communicate with my team to ensure we are aligned on priorities and make use of tools like Kanban boards to track progress. In situations where tasks require more time, I am transparent with my team and stakeholders about potential delays and work on finding alternative solutions to meet the deadline.

  
  
• 6. Tell us about a time when you had to handle a major incident or outage. How did you handle the situation?
  

  Answer: In my previous role, our website went down due to a database failure. I quickly identified the issue and led a cross-functional team to resolve it within 30 minutes, minimizing the impact on users. I communicated proactively with stakeholders and provided regular updates on the progress until the issue was resolved. After the incident, I conducted a thorough post-mortem to identify areas for improvement and implemented changes to prevent a similar outage in the future.

Situational Questions

• 7. If a new software release results in a significant increase in errors and crashes, what steps would you take to address the issue?
  

  Answer: First, I would gather data and analyze the root cause of the issue. Then, I would work with the development team to rollback the release and implement a fix. After that, I would closely monitor the system for any further issues and, if necessary, involve a larger team to help troubleshoot and resolve the issue.

  
  
• 8. How do you approach implementing a new technology or tool in an existing system?
  

  Answer: The first step is to thoroughly research and understand the new technology or tool. Then, I would consult with my team to evaluate its potential impact, benefits, and risks. If we decide to move forward, I would create a step-by-step implementation plan, conduct thorough testing, and ensure proper documentation and communication with all stakeholders.

  
  
• 9. If a critical system outage occurs during after-hours, how would you handle the situation?
  

  Answer: I am always prepared to respond to critical incidents, even outside of regular working hours. I would follow our defined incident response process, escalate the issue to the necessary team members, and work to resolve the issue as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Technical Questions

• 10. What are some key metrics and monitoring tools that you would use to assess the performance and reliability of a system?
  

  Answer: Some key metrics that I would use include uptime, error rates, incident response and resolution time, and customer satisfaction. In terms of monitoring tools, I would utilize tools like Prometheus, Nagios, and ELK stack.

  
  
• 11. How do you approach automated testing and continuous integration for a system?
  

  Answer: Automated testing is essential for ensuring the reliability and scalability of a system. I would work with the development team to define a strong testing strategy and utilize tools like Selenium, JUnit, and TDD (Test-Driven Development) to automate testing. For continuous integration, I would use tools like Jenkins, Docker, and GitLab to automate the build and deployment process.

  
  
• 12. Can you explain the concept of "chaos engineering" and how it can benefit a system?
  

  Answer: Chaos engineering involves deliberately introducing failures and disruptions into a system to test its resilience and identify potential weaknesses. By conducting these experiments in a controlled environment, we can make the necessary changes to improve the system's reliability and minimize the impact of potential failures in the future.

Cultural Fit Questions

• 13. How do you prioritize customer satisfaction in your role as an SRE?
  

  Answer: Ensuring the reliability and performance of a system is crucial to maintaining customer satisfaction. In my role as an SRE, I prioritize customer needs and work closely with the development team to deliver high-quality, user-friendly products that exceed customer expectations.

  
  
• 14. Tell us about a time when you had to collaborate with a cross-functional team to solve a problem.
  

  Answer: In my previous role, I worked on a project that required collaboration with the development, QA, and product teams. We were able to effectively communicate and work together to identify and fix a critical issue, demonstrating the importance of cross-functional collaboration in achieving team goals.

  
  
• 15. How do you prioritize and balance your workload in a fast-paced and dynamic environment?
  

  Answer: In a fast-paced environment, it is important to have good time management skills and the ability to prioritize tasks. I regularly evaluate my workload and communicate with my team to determine priorities. I also make use of tools like Kanban boards to track progress and manage my time effectively.

Industry Best Practices

• 16. What is your experience with incident response and post-mortem practices?
  

  Answer: I have extensive experience in incident response and post-mortem practices. In my previous roles, I have worked with team members to define incident response processes and conduct thorough post-mortems to identify areas for improvement and implement changes. I am also familiar with using tools like PagerDuty and Netflix’s Simian Army for incident response and chaos engineering.

  
  
• 17. Can you explain the concept of "service-level objectives" (SLOs) and how they are used in SRE?
  

  Answer: SLOs are specific, measurable targets for the performance, availability, and reliability of a system. In SRE, SLOs are used to set concrete goals and continuously track and improve the system's performance. By setting and meeting SLOs, we can ensure a high-quality user experience for our customers.

  
  
• 18. How do you stay updated with the latest security practices in SRE?
  

  Answer: Security is a critical aspect of SRE, and I make sure to stay updated with the latest security practices by continuously learning and educating myself. This includes staying informed about industry standards and regulations, participating in security-focused workshops and conferences, and conducting regular security audits.

Closing Questions

• 19. What do you know about our company and why do you want to work for us?
  

  Answer: Your company is known for its innovative products and strong commitment to customer satisfaction. I am particularly drawn to your use of cutting-edge technologies and your dedication to continuously improving and scaling your systems. Working for your company would provide me with the perfect opportunity to grow my skills and contribute to the success of a dynamic and fast-paced organization.

  
  
• 20. Do you have any questions for us?
  

  Answer: Yes, I am curious about your team’s approach to on-call rotations and how you handle incidents and outages outside of regular working hours.