Zoox Reliability Engineer interview questions

The interview process was one of the most disappointing experiences I've had in over 10 years of my engineering career. The process consisted of multiple rounds with hiring managers, followed by an extensive technical assignment that took approximately 10–12 hours to complete. Candidates are expected to analyze complex technical problems involving advanced statistical methods, prepare a detailed report, and then, if selected, deliver a presentation to a panel of five interviewers. Unfortunately, I felt that the effort expected from candidates was disproportionate to the evaluation process. After investing significant time preparing the assignment and presentation, I received a generic rejection with little meaningful feedback. My biggest concern was the technical evaluation itself. While the hiring managers were professional and courteous, I felt that several members of the interview panel did not have sufficient subject-matter expertise to fairly evaluate highly specialized technical work. In my experience, only one panelist appeared to have a strong understanding of the technical domain, while the discussion from others suggested limited familiarity with the role's core responsibilities. Similarly, the program manager conducting the interview did not seem to have a solid understanding of the technical aspects of the position. The recruiter was professional and pleasant throughout the process, and I appreciate their communication. However, the overall interview structure was unnecessarily long and demanded a very large amount of unpaid work from candidates without providing a proportionate or transparent evaluation. Based on my experience, this was the least effective interview process I have encountered in my engineering career. I hope the company reviews its hiring process to ensure that candidates' time is respected and that highly technical work is evaluated by interviewers with the appropriate expertise.