Infosys BPM Systems Engineer Interview: Rounds, Questions and Preparation

What the job involves

Systems Engineers in Indian IT services support and maintain client IT infrastructure, including servers, networks, and applications, ensuring high availability and performance. They work in shifts, troubleshoot issues, and coordinate with internal teams and clients to resolve incidents within agreed service levels. The role also involves basic scripting, monitoring, and documentation to keep systems running smoothly.

Role and Technical Knowledge

1. 1

   What is the difference between a server and a workstation?

   Highlight that servers are designed for high availability, handle multiple concurrent requests, and often run specialized OS like Windows Server or Linux. Workstations are for individual users with general-purpose OS.

2. 2

   Explain the OSI model layers and why it matters for troubleshooting.

   List the seven layers and give a practical example of how a support engineer uses it, such as checking physical connectivity (layer 1) before moving to IP configuration (layer 3).

3. 3

   What is Active Directory and what are common tasks a systems engineer performs in it?

   Describe AD as a directory service for user and computer management. Mention tasks like password resets, group membership changes, and creating user accounts.

4. 4

   How would you check if a server is reachable and what basic commands would you use?

   Mention ping, tracert/traceroute, and telnet to specific ports. Explain what each command tells you about network connectivity.

Practical Scenarios

1. 5

   A user reports that they cannot access a shared drive. How would you troubleshoot?

   Start by checking if the issue is isolated to one user or multiple. Verify network connectivity, permissions, and whether the file server is up. Use a step-by-step approach.

2. 6

   You receive an alert that a server's CPU usage is consistently above 90%. What steps would you take?

   Identify the process consuming CPU using Task Manager or top. Check if it is a known application, review recent changes, and consider restarting the service if safe. Escalate if needed.

3. 7

   How would you handle a situation where a critical application is down and users are escalating?

   Follow incident management: acknowledge, communicate status, investigate using logs, and involve SMEs. Keep stakeholders updated and document actions.

4. 8

   Describe how you would perform a password reset for a user in Active Directory.

   Outline the steps: open ADUC, locate user, right-click and reset password, enforce change at next logon, and inform the user securely.

Behavioural and Situational

1. 9

   Tell me about a time you had to learn a new technology quickly.

   Use STAR method: describe the situation, the technology, how you learned it (online resources, peers), and the positive outcome.

2. 10

   How do you prioritize tasks when you have multiple tickets and a senior person asks for help?

   Explain assessing urgency and impact, communicating with the senior about current commitments, and reprioritizing based on business needs.

3. 11

   Give an example of a time you worked in a team to solve a problem.

   Focus on collaboration, your specific role, and how the team achieved a resolution. Highlight communication and mutual support.

4. 12

   Describe a situation where you made a mistake. What did you do?

   Be honest, show accountability, and explain the corrective action and what you learned to prevent recurrence.

HR and Company Fit

1. 13

   Why do you want to work as a Systems Engineer in IT services?

   Connect your interest in infrastructure and problem-solving to the dynamic, client-focused nature of IT services. Mention willingness to learn and grow.

2. 14

   Are you comfortable working in rotational shifts, including night shifts?

   Answer honestly but positively. Emphasize adaptability and understanding that support roles often require 24x7 coverage.

3. 15

   Where do you see yourself in five years?

   Show ambition to grow technically (e.g., becoming a subject matter expert or moving into cloud/automation) while contributing to the organization.

4. 16

   How do you handle stress or pressure?

   Share healthy coping mechanisms like prioritizing, taking short breaks, and seeking help when needed. Give a brief example.