Netflix Data Engineer (Staff) Interview Preparation Guide 2025

Netflix's interview process for Staff Data Engineers is a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation spanning 4-6 weeks. The process assesses technical depth, system design expertise, leadership capabilities, and cultural alignment. It begins with recruiter screening and a technical phone screen, followed by 6-7 on-site one-on-one interviews with data engineers, senior engineers, managers, product managers, and directors evaluating technical proficiency, system architecture thinking, behavioral fit, and collaborative impact. For Staff-level candidates, expectations emphasize architectural thinking, cross-functional impact, technical mentorship, and strategic contribution to Netflix's data infrastructure. The entire evaluation focuses on determining whether candidates can solve complex data problems at petabyte scale, mentor and influence engineers, and thrive in Netflix's freedom and responsibility culture.