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Technical Lead interview questions and answers

Use these sample Technical Lead interview questions to identify experienced and qualified candidates for your IT department. Modify these questions to meet your specific needs.

Christina Pavlou
Christina Pavlou

An experienced recruiter and HR professional who has transferred her expertise to insightful content to support others in HR.

technical lead interview questions

10 good technical lead interview questions

  1. What advice would you give to a new team member to make sure they onboard well?
  2. If you felt one developer on your team would be a better fit on another team, who would you discuss a potential transfer with first?
  3. The deadline on a big project was just moved up. How would you motivate your team to be more productive under the earlier deadline?
  4. Your team members suggest that new hardware would help them increase their performance. How do you respond, and how would assess their request?
  5. What are the first things you do when reviewing someone else’s code? What tools do you use to test code quality?
  6. Are you familiar with IT help desk software? How are these types of software used to monitor and improve remote systems?
  7. What research methods do you use to design a new software system? What steps do you follow before deployment?
  8. How can you debug a program while it’s being used?
  9. What’s your favorite programming language and why?
  10. What features (if any) would you like to add to this language?

Here are 10 essential interview questions and sample answers to help identify the best candidates for this role.

1. What advice would you give to a new team member to make sure they onboard well?

This question aims to understand the candidate’s approach to team integration and ensuring that new members are set up for success from the start.

Sample answer:

I would advise a new team member to take the time to understand the team’s current projects, familiarize themselves with our coding standards, and actively seek feedback. Regular check-ins with senior members and open communication are also key to a smooth onboarding process.

2. If you felt one developer on your team would be a better fit on another team, who would you discuss a potential transfer with first?

This question assesses the candidate’s approach to team dynamics and their communication skills, especially in potentially sensitive situations.

Sample answer:

I would first discuss it with the developer in question to understand their perspective and feelings about a potential move. If they are open to the idea, I would then approach the other team’s lead and HR to discuss the possibility.

3. The deadline on a big project was just moved up. How would you motivate your team to be more productive under the earlier deadline?

This question evaluates the candidate’s leadership skills and their ability to handle pressure and unexpected changes.

Sample answer:

I would first assess the scope of work remaining and prioritize tasks. I’d then communicate the importance of the new deadline to the team, ensuring they have all the resources they need. Recognizing their efforts and providing regular feedback can also boost motivation.

4. Your team members suggest that new hardware would help them increase their performance. How do you respond, and how would assess their request?

Understanding how a technical lead evaluates and responds to team feedback is crucial, especially when it involves potential investments.

Sample answer:

I would ask the team members to provide specific details on how the new hardware would improve performance. After evaluating the cost and potential benefits, I would discuss the request with the IT Manager and other relevant stakeholders.

5. What are the first things you do when reviewing someone else’s code? What tools do you use to test code quality?

Code review is an essential part of a technical lead’s role. This question assesses the candidate’s approach to ensuring code quality and consistency.

Sample answer:

I first look for code clarity, consistency, and adherence to our coding standards. I use tools like SonarQube and CodeClimate to assess code quality, checking for potential issues and ensuring best practices are followed.

6. Are you familiar with IT help desk software? How are these types of software used to monitor and improve remote systems?

This question gauges the candidate’s familiarity with tools that can aid in remote system management and support.

Sample answer:

Yes, I’m familiar with IT help desk software like Jira Service Desk and Zendesk. These tools help in tracking issues, providing remote support, and monitoring system health, ensuring timely resolution and improved system performance.

7. What research methods do you use to design a new software system? What steps do you follow before deployment?

Understanding the candidate’s approach to system design and deployment is crucial for ensuring successful project outcomes.

Sample answer:

I start with requirement gathering, followed by system architecture design. I then prototype, conduct user testing, and iterate based on feedback. Before deployment, I ensure thorough testing, code reviews, and documentation are completed.

8. How can you debug a program while it’s being used?

Debugging in a live environment can be challenging. This question assesses the candidate’s problem-solving skills in real-time situations.

Sample answer:

I would use tools like log analyzers and real-time monitoring systems to identify issues. If possible, I’d replicate the issue in a staging environment to debug without affecting the live users.

9. What’s your favorite programming language and why?

This question provides insights into the candidate’s technical preferences and their rationale behind them.

Sample answer:

My favorite programming language is Python because of its versatility, readability, and extensive libraries. It’s suitable for web development, data analysis, and even machine learning.

10. What features (if any) would you like to add to this language?

Understanding what a candidate feels might be lacking in their preferred language can provide insights into their depth of knowledge and innovative thinking.

Sample answer:

While Python is powerful, I’d love to see improvements in its performance for certain applications. Incorporating features for better concurrency support would be a great addition.



Technical Lead Interview Questions

Technical Leads (or Tech Leads) are responsible for managing a team of engineers and providing support with programming issues. They also review code and take accountability for delivering high-quality technical projects.

Your ideal candidates should have a solid technical background, combining a degree in Computer Science with hands-on experience in the IT field. Technical Leads share job duties with Team Leaders, as they’re both responsible for delegating tasks, motivating their team members and managing projects end-to-end.

Tech Leads who put in the effort to deal with complex coding projects will add value to your company. Their role is to deliver successful technical solutions and they set an example for their team. These are knowledgeable individuals who are comfortable offering directions. It’s best to include a written assignment to your hiring process to evaluate candidates’ skills. Also, ask specific coding interview questions to test their knowledge of programming languages and frameworks that you use.

Let’s summarize some of the questions and add a few more divided into specific types.

Operational and Situational questions

  • What advice would you give to a new team member to make sure they onboard well?
  • If you felt one developer on your team would be a better fit on another team, who would you discuss a potential transfer with first?
  • The deadline on a big project was just moved up. How would you motivate your team to be more productive under the earlier deadline?
  • Your team members suggest that new hardware would help them increase their performance. How do you respond, and how would assess their request? If necessary, how would you negotiate for new software/hardware with the IT Manager?

Role-specific questions

  • What are the first things you do when reviewing someone else’s code? What tools do you use to test code quality?
  • Are you familiar with IT help desk software? How are these types of software used to monitor and improve remote systems?
  • What research methods do you use to design a new software system? What steps do you follow before deployment?
  • How can you debug a program while it’s being used?
  • What’s your favorite programming language and why? What features (if any) would you like to add to this language?

Behavioral questions

  • Have you implemented significant improvements to an IT infrastructure? What were they?
  • Describe a successful project you’ve recently worked on. Who was on the team, and what was your contribution?
  • How do you manage conflicts on a team?
  • In the past, what did you do to ensure you meet deadlines for challenging projects?
  • How do you keep current with technology trends? Are you currently working on any side projects?

Frequently asked questions

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