Senior Systems Administrator Interview Preparation Guide - FAANG Standards
Systems Administrator
Senior
8 rounds
Updated 11/23/2025
This guide is based on general FAANG interview practices and may not reflect specific company procedures.
The interview process for a Senior Systems Administrator at FAANG companies typically consists of 8 rounds spread over 4-6 weeks. The process comprehensively evaluates technical depth in systems administration, infrastructure design thinking, automation capabilities, security awareness, incident response skills, leadership and mentorship abilities, and cultural fit. At the senior level, interviewers assess your ability to design scalable and reliable infrastructure, mentor junior administrators, own significant infrastructure projects, make sound technical decisions, and influence infrastructure strategy across teams.
Interview Rounds
1
Recruiter Screen
30 min5 focus topicsbehavioral
2
Technical Phone Screen
45 min6 focus topicstechnical
3
Linux and Windows Administration Deep Dive
60 min6 focus topicstechnical
4
Infrastructure Design and Architecture
60 min6 focus topicssystem design
5
Networking, Security, and Monitoring
60 min6 focus topicstechnical
6
Automation and Infrastructure as Code
60 min6 focus topicstechnical
7
Behavioral and Leadership
45 min6 focus topicsbehavioral
8
Hiring Manager and Bar Raiser Round
45 min5 focus topicsbehavioral
Additional Information