Altera Digital Health Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Altera Digital Health, a part of the N. Harris Computer Corporation family, is dedicated to enhancing healthcare delivery through innovative IT solutions that empower caregivers globally.

As a Software Engineer at Altera Digital Health, you will play a crucial role in the design, development, and maintenance of health information exchange technologies. This includes engaging with business stakeholders to gather requirements, crafting technical specifications, and implementing robust solutions using the InterSystems technology stack. You will be responsible for developing end-to-end solutions, participating in code reviews, and ensuring high-quality documentation of technical designs. Additionally, your role will involve providing support during testing phases and participating in go-live meetings, with the expectation of offering after-hours on-call support on a rotational basis.

Candidates should possess a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent, along with 4-8+ years of relevant experience as a Software Engineer, particularly in healthcare settings. Proficiency in Ensemble with custom components development, HL7 interfaces, SQL Adapter, and scalable cloud solution design is essential. Familiarity with REST/SOAP API development and experience in agile methodologies will be key assets. A strong commitment to innovating the healthcare experience aligns with Altera’s mission of inspiring healthier communities.

This guide aims to equip you with the insights and knowledge needed to navigate your interview for the Software Engineer position at Altera Digital Health successfully.

The interview process for a Software Engineer role at Altera Digital Health is structured to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the organization. Here’s what you can expect:

1. Initial Screening

The process begins with an initial screening, typically conducted by a recruiter over a phone call. This conversation lasts about 30 minutes and focuses on your background, experience, and motivations for applying to Altera. The recruiter will also provide insights into the company culture and the specifics of the Software Engineer role, ensuring that you understand the expectations and responsibilities.

2. Technical Assessment

Following the initial screening, candidates will undergo a technical assessment, which may be conducted via video conferencing. This assessment is designed to evaluate your proficiency in relevant technologies, including the InterSystems stack, SQL, and API development. You may be asked to solve coding problems or discuss your previous projects, particularly those related to health information exchange and healthcare technology.

3. Behavioral Interview

After the technical assessment, candidates typically participate in a behavioral interview. This round focuses on your soft skills, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities. Expect questions that explore how you handle challenges, work within a team, and communicate with stakeholders. The goal is to gauge your alignment with Altera's values and your ability to thrive in a collaborative environment.

4. Onsite or Final Interview

The final stage of the interview process may involve an onsite interview or a series of virtual interviews with key team members. This round usually consists of multiple one-on-one interviews, where you will discuss your technical expertise in greater detail, including your experience with Ensemble, HL7 interfaces, and cloud solutions. Additionally, you may be asked to present a past project or a case study relevant to the healthcare domain.

5. Reference Check

If you successfully navigate the previous rounds, the final step will be a reference check. Altera will reach out to your previous employers or colleagues to verify your work history and assess your professional reputation.

As you prepare for your interviews, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the types of questions that may arise during the process.

Here are some tips to help you excel in your interview.

Understand the Healthcare Technology Landscape

Given Altera Digital Health's focus on health IT solutions, familiarize yourself with current trends and challenges in healthcare technology. Understand how Altera's products, such as HealthShare and TouchWorks, fit into the broader healthcare ecosystem. This knowledge will not only demonstrate your interest in the role but also your commitment to contributing to the company's mission of improving care delivery.

Master the InterSystems Stack

Since the role heavily involves working with InterSystems technologies, particularly Ensemble and HealthShare, ensure you have a solid grasp of these tools. Review their documentation, explore sample projects, and be prepared to discuss your experience with custom components development, HL7 interfaces, and SQL Adapter. Highlight any relevant projects where you utilized these technologies to solve real-world problems.

Emphasize Agile Methodologies

Altera values dynamic teamwork and agile methodologies. Be prepared to discuss your experience working in agile environments, including your role in scrum meetings and how you’ve contributed to iterative development processes. Share specific examples of how you’ve collaborated with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and deliver solutions effectively.

Showcase Problem-Solving Skills

In the healthcare sector, problem-solving is crucial. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you identified challenges and implemented solutions, particularly in the context of software development and health information exchange. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, ensuring you convey the impact of your contributions.

Prepare for Technical Assessments

Expect technical assessments that may include coding challenges or system design questions. Brush up on your coding skills, particularly in languages and frameworks relevant to the role. Practice coding problems that involve API development, SQL queries, and data transformation, as these are likely to be focal points during the interview.

Highlight Your Documentation Skills

Documentation is a key responsibility in this role. Be ready to discuss your approach to documenting technical designs and functionality. Provide examples of how thorough documentation has benefited your previous projects, particularly in terms of knowledge transfer and maintaining project continuity.

Be Ready for On-Call Scenarios

Since the role may require after-hours on-call support, be prepared to discuss your availability and approach to handling urgent issues outside of regular hours. Share any past experiences where you successfully managed on-call responsibilities, emphasizing your ability to remain calm and effective under pressure.

Align with Company Culture

Altera Digital Health values diversity and inclusion, so be sure to convey your alignment with these principles. Share experiences that demonstrate your ability to work with diverse teams and your commitment to fostering an inclusive environment. This will resonate well with the company’s values and show that you are a good cultural fit.

By following these tips and preparing thoroughly, you will position yourself as a strong candidate for the Software Engineer role at Altera Digital Health. Good luck!

Altera Digital Health Software Engineer Interview Questions

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during an interview for a Software Engineer position at Altera Digital Health. The interview will focus on your technical skills, experience with healthcare IT solutions, and your ability to work in a collaborative environment. Be prepared to discuss your past projects, technical methodologies, and how you approach problem-solving in a healthcare context.

Technical Skills

1. Can you explain your experience with the InterSystems stack, particularly Ensemble and HealthShare?

Your familiarity with the InterSystems technologies is crucial for this role, and the interviewer will want to gauge your depth of knowledge and practical experience.

How to Answer

Discuss specific projects where you utilized Ensemble and HealthShare, highlighting your role and the outcomes of those projects.

Example

“I have worked extensively with the InterSystems Ensemble for developing HL7 interfaces, where I created custom components that improved data exchange efficiency by 30%. Additionally, I have implemented HealthShare solutions that enhanced patient data accessibility across different healthcare systems, which significantly improved care coordination.”

2. Describe your experience with REST/SOAP API development. What challenges have you faced?

APIs are essential for integrating various healthcare systems, and your ability to develop and troubleshoot them is vital.

How to Answer

Share specific examples of APIs you have developed, the technologies used, and any challenges you overcame during the process.

Example

“In my previous role, I developed REST APIs for a health information exchange platform. One challenge was ensuring secure data transmission while maintaining performance. I implemented OAuth 2.0 for authentication, which not only secured the APIs but also improved user experience by streamlining access.”

3. How do you approach designing scalable and secure cloud solutions?

Given the sensitive nature of healthcare data, your understanding of cloud architecture and security practices is critical.

How to Answer

Discuss your design principles, tools you use, and any relevant experiences that demonstrate your ability to create secure and scalable solutions.

Example

“I prioritize security by implementing encryption at rest and in transit, and I use Azure’s built-in security features to monitor and manage access. In a recent project, I designed a cloud solution that scaled to handle a 50% increase in user traffic while maintaining compliance with HIPAA regulations.”

4. Can you walk us through your experience with SQL and Cache Object Script?

Your ability to work with databases and scripting is essential for this role, especially in a healthcare setting.

How to Answer

Provide examples of how you have used SQL and Cache Object Script in your projects, focusing on the impact of your work.

Example

“I have over three years of experience using SQL with InterSystems Cache, where I optimized queries that reduced data retrieval times by 40%. Additionally, I utilized Cache Object Script to create custom business logic for our applications, which improved overall system performance.”

5. What is your experience with HL7 standards, particularly HL7v2?

Understanding HL7 standards is crucial for effective communication between healthcare systems.

How to Answer

Discuss your familiarity with HL7 standards, any specific projects where you implemented them, and the outcomes.

Example

“I have implemented HL7v2 interfaces in multiple projects, ensuring seamless data exchange between different healthcare applications. For instance, I developed an interface that integrated patient admission data from a hospital system to a central health information exchange, which improved data accuracy and reduced manual entry errors.”

Problem-Solving and Collaboration

1. Describe a challenging technical problem you faced and how you resolved it.

Your problem-solving skills are essential in a fast-paced environment, especially in healthcare IT.

How to Answer

Choose a specific example that highlights your analytical skills and ability to work under pressure.

Example

“In a previous project, we faced a critical issue with data synchronization between two systems. I led a root cause analysis and discovered a misconfiguration in our API endpoints. By collaborating with the team, we quickly implemented a fix and established a monitoring system to prevent future occurrences.”

2. How do you ensure effective communication with business stakeholders during requirement gathering?

Collaboration with stakeholders is key to successful project outcomes, especially in healthcare.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to gathering requirements and ensuring all parties are aligned.

Example

“I prioritize active listening and ask clarifying questions to ensure I fully understand the stakeholders' needs. I also create visual aids, such as flowcharts, to help communicate complex technical concepts, which has proven effective in aligning expectations and requirements.”

3. Can you give an example of how you have contributed to a team in an Agile environment?

Agile methodologies are common in software development, and your experience in this area is important.

How to Answer

Share specific contributions you made to your team’s Agile processes and how they benefited the project.

Example

“I actively participated in daily stand-ups and sprint planning sessions, where I contributed to defining user stories and prioritizing tasks. My focus on continuous integration and testing helped the team deliver features more rapidly, resulting in a 20% increase in our sprint velocity.”

4. How do you handle feedback and code reviews?

Receiving and giving feedback is crucial for team growth and project success.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to code reviews and how you incorporate feedback into your work.

Example

“I view code reviews as an opportunity for learning and improvement. I actively seek feedback from my peers and provide constructive criticism in return. For instance, after receiving feedback on a recent project, I refactored my code to enhance readability and maintainability, which was well-received by the team.”

5. What strategies do you use to stay updated with the latest technologies in healthcare IT?

The healthcare IT landscape is constantly evolving, and staying informed is essential.

How to Answer

Share your methods for keeping up with industry trends and technologies.

Example

“I regularly attend webinars and conferences focused on healthcare technology, and I am an active member of several online forums where professionals share insights and best practices. Additionally, I dedicate time each week to read industry publications and research papers to stay informed about emerging technologies and standards.”