17 Communication Engineer Interview

Questions and Answers

Learn what skills and qualities interviewers are looking for from a communication
engineer, what questions you can expect, and how you should go about answering
them.

Interview Insights
Published Jul 17, 2022

Communication engineers design and maintain the systems that allow

people to communicate with each other. They might work on telephone
systems, satellites, or the internet. They might also work on systems that
allow people to control things like traffic lights or heating and cooling
systems remotely.

If you’re looking for a job in this field, you’ll need to be able to answer
questions about your experience, skills, and knowledge. You’ll also need to
be able to explain why you’re interested in the job and what you can bring
to the company.

To help you prepare, we’ve gathered some common communication

engineer interview questions and answers.

COMMON COMMUNICATION ENGINEER INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

 Are you comfortable working with complex technical information?

 What are some of the most important skills that a communication
engineer should have?
 How would you go about troubleshooting a problem with a
communication system?
 What is your experience with using mathematical formulas and
equations in your work?
 Provide an example of a time when you had to use your problem-
solving skills in order to find a solution to a difficult issue.
 If hired, what area of communication engineering would you like to
focus on during your first year here?
 What would you say is your greatest strength as a communication
engineer?
 How well do you understand the use of digital signal processing in
communication systems?
  Do you have experience with designing and building prototypes?
 When troubleshooting a problem, how do you determine where to
start?
 We want to improve our communication systems to make them more
efficient. Give me an example of a strategy you would use to do this.
 Describe your experience with writing code.
 What makes you the best candidate for this job?
 Which communication systems have you worked with in the past?
 What do you think is the most important thing that communication
engineers can do to stay up-to-date with new technologies?
 How often do you make recommendations on new designs or
changes to current systems?
 There is a problem with a communication system that impacts many
people. How do you handle it?

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Are you comfortable working with complex technical information?

Communication engineers need to understand complex technical

information. Employers ask this question to see if you have the ability to
work with challenging concepts and apply them to your job. Use your
answer to show that you are willing to learn new things and develop your
skills as a communication engineer.

Example: “I am definitely comfortable working with complex technical

information. In my previous role, I was responsible for creating detailed
diagrams of how our company’s network worked. These diagrams were
quite complex, but I learned how to create them through practice. Now, I
feel confident in my abilities to communicate complex ideas to other
people. I also know when it is appropriate to seek help from others.”

What are some of the most important skills that a communication engineer should have?

Communication engineers need to have a variety of skills, including

problem-solving and analytical abilities. Employers ask this question to
make sure you know what the job entails. In your answer, list some of the
most important skills that communication engineers should have. Explain
why these are so important.

Example: “Communication engineers must be able to think critically and

solve problems. These two skills are essential for any engineer, but they’re
especially important in my field because we often work with complex
systems. Communication engineers also need strong math and computer
science skills. We use these skills every day when working on projects.
Finally, communication engineers should have excellent interpersonal
skills. This is because we regularly collaborate with other professionals.”

How would you go about troubleshooting a problem with a communication system?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach a
problem and your thought process. Use examples from past experiences to
highlight your critical thinking skills, communication skills and technical
knowledge.

Example: “When troubleshooting a problem with a communication system,

I first try to identify what’s causing the issue by checking for any errors in
the network or hardware. If there are no issues with the network or
hardware, then I check the configuration of the software and compare it to
the original settings. If everything is still working as expected, then I’ll
check the cables and connectors to make sure they’re secure. Finally, if all
else fails, I will reboot the entire system.”

What is your experience with using mathematical formulas and equations in your work?

Communication engineers use mathematical formulas and equations to

calculate the best way to send data from one location to another. This
question helps employers understand your experience with math and how
you apply it in your work. Use examples of any formulas or equations
you’ve used in your past roles, and explain what they do and why you use
them.

Example: “In my last role as a communication engineer, I was responsible

for calculating the most efficient way to transmit data between two
locations. One of the ways I did this was by using a formula called the
Shannon-Hartley theorem. The theorem is used to determine the maximum
amount of information that can be transmitted over a channel at a given
bandwidth. It’s important to use this equation because it allows me to find
the most cost-effective solution for transmitting data.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to use your problem-solving skills in order to
find a solution to a difficult issue.

Communication engineers often have to solve problems that arise in the

workplace. Employers ask this question to see if you are able to use your
critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities to find solutions to
issues. In your answer, explain how you used your communication
engineering knowledge to fix the issue.

Example: “At my last job, I was working on a project with another engineer
when we realized there was an issue with our software. We were unable to
figure out what was causing the problem, so we decided to take a break
from the project for the day. That night, I stayed up late trying to figure out
what could be causing the issue. After several hours of testing different
scenarios, I figured out that one of the settings in the program needed to
be changed.”

If hired, what area of communication engineering would you like to focus on during your first
year here?

This question helps employers understand your career goals and how you
plan to achieve them. It also shows that you have a realistic idea of what
the job entails. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention
an area of communication engineering that interests you or one that you
feel confident in.

Example: “I would like to focus on improving the quality of video streaming

for our customers. I think this is an important part of our company’s
services and something that could help us stand out from other companies.
I am excited about learning more about the different technologies we use
to stream videos and how they can be improved.”

What would you say is your greatest strength as a communication engineer?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and how
you would fit into their company culture. They want to know what makes
you unique as a candidate, so take some time to think about the skills that
make you stand out from other candidates. Try to choose a skill that is
relevant to the job description or one that you have developed over time.

Example: “My greatest strength as a communication engineer is my

attention to detail. I am always sure to double-check all of my work before
submitting it for review. This has helped me avoid many mistakes in the
past, which has saved both myself and my clients time and money. I also
pride myself on being able to communicate clearly with others, no matter
who they are.”

How well do you understand the use of digital signal processing in communication systems?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you have a

strong understanding of the fundamentals of communication engineering.
Your answer should include examples of how you use digital signal
processing in your daily work and what benefits it provides for
communication systems.

Example: “Digital signal processing is one of the most important aspects of

communication engineering because it allows engineers to process analog
signals into digital ones, which makes them easier to transmit over long
distances. In my last role as a communication engineer, I used digital
signal processing to convert analog voice signals into digital data so they
could be transmitted through fiber optic cables. This allowed our company
to reduce costs by eliminating the need for landlines.”

Do you have experience with designing and building prototypes?

Communication engineers often need to create prototypes of their designs

before they can be implemented. The interviewer may ask this question to
learn more about your experience with prototyping and how you approach
the process. In your answer, share what types of projects you have worked
on that required prototyping. Explain how you went about creating a
prototype for those projects.

Example: “In my last role as a communication engineer, I was responsible

for designing and building prototypes for all of our projects. For each
project, I would first meet with the client to understand their needs and
expectations. Then, I would design a solution based on the information I
gathered from the client. After I designed the solution, I would build a
prototype to test out the functionality of the system. Once I tested the
prototype, I would make any necessary adjustments to the design and then
implement it.”

When troubleshooting a problem, how do you determine where to start?

Communication engineers must be able to troubleshoot problems quickly

and efficiently. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the
skills necessary to succeed in their role. In your answer, explain how you
would approach a problem like one you might encounter on the job.

Example: “I start by identifying what the issue is. I use my knowledge of

networking protocols to determine where the problem may lie. For
example, if there’s an issue with network connectivity, I’ll check all the
physical connections first. If everything looks good, then I’ll move onto
checking the configuration settings for each device. Once I’ve checked all
these things, I know that it’s likely a software-related issue.”

We want to improve our communication systems to make them more efficient. Give me an
example of a strategy you would use to do this.

This question is a great way to show your communication engineer skills

and how you can apply them to improve systems. When answering this
question, it’s important to be specific about the steps you would take to
make improvements.
Example: “I would start by analyzing our current system to see where we
could optimize. I would then create new plans for each of these areas that
are more efficient. For example, if we have an issue with bandwidth, I
would look at ways to increase bandwidth without increasing costs. If there
are no cost-effective solutions, I would find alternative methods to reduce
bandwidth usage.”

Describe your experience with writing code.

This question can help the interviewer determine your experience with
writing code and how you apply it to communication engineering. Use
examples from past projects that highlight your ability to write code, such
as:

Example: “In my last role, I was responsible for writing code in C++ and
Java. In one instance, I had to write a program that would allow users to
communicate with each other through an application. The program needed
to be compatible with multiple operating systems, so I wrote the code in
both C++ and Java. This allowed me to create a program that could run on
Windows, Mac and Linux.”

What makes you the best candidate for this job?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and
how you feel you can contribute to their company. Before your interview,
make a list of all the skills you have that are relevant to this role. Focus on
highlighting your communication engineering experience, but also include
any other skills that may be beneficial to this position.

Example: “I am an excellent communicator who is always looking for ways

to improve my interpersonal skills. I am highly motivated by challenges and
enjoy finding solutions to problems. My ability to think critically and
creatively makes me a valuable asset to any team. I am also very
organized and detail-oriented, which helps me stay focused on my work.”

Which communication systems have you worked with in the past?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience level
and how you might fit into their company. If you have worked with a specific
system in the past, share what you learned about it and why you enjoyed
working with that system. If you haven’t worked with any systems before,
you can talk about which communication systems interest you and why.

Example: “I’ve worked with several different types of wireless

communication systems in my previous roles. I enjoy learning new
technologies and implementing them to improve communication within
organizations. In my last role, I helped implement a mesh network for an
organization that was looking for more reliable connections between its
employees.”

What do you think is the most important thing that communication engineers can do to stay
up-to-date with new technologies?

Communication engineers need to stay up-to-date with new technologies in

their field. Employers ask this question to make sure you have a plan for
keeping your skills current and relevant. In your answer, explain what steps
you take to keep yourself informed about the latest communication
engineering developments.

Example: “I think it’s important that communication engineers are always

learning. I subscribe to several industry publications and attend at least
one conference per year. I also try to read as many books on
communication engineering as I can find time for. These resources help
me learn more about the newest technologies and how they apply to my
work.”

How often do you make recommendations on new designs or changes to current systems?

This question can help the interviewer understand how often you make
recommendations to your team and management. It can also show them
what kind of authority you have in your role as a communication engineer.
Use examples from past experiences where you made recommendations
on new designs or changes to current systems.

Example: “In my last position, I was responsible for making sure all
communication lines were working properly. One day, I noticed that one of
our satellite communication lines wasn’t functioning properly. After
checking it out myself, I realized that we needed to replace the entire
system because there was an issue with the wiring. I recommended
replacing the system instead of repairing it so we could avoid future
issues.”

There is a problem with a communication system that impacts many people. How do you
handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle stressful
situations and make decisions that affect others. Use your answer to
highlight your problem-solving skills, ability to collaborate with others and
commitment to quality work.

Example: “If I encountered a situation like this, I would first assess what
caused the issue and determine if it’s something we can fix or if we need to
wait for outside support. If I could solve the problem myself, I would do so
immediately. If not, I would communicate with everyone who was impacted
by the issue and let them know when they can expect the system to be
back online. I would also ensure that someone else is available to take
over my responsibilities while I’m working on resolving the issue.”