Ascension Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Ascension is one of the leading non-profit health systems in the United States, dedicated to providing high-quality, compassionate care to its patients.

The Software Engineer role at Ascension involves designing, developing, and maintaining software applications that support the organization's mission of delivering exceptional healthcare services. Key responsibilities include collaborating with cross-functional teams to gather requirements, writing clean and efficient code, and performing thorough testing to ensure software quality. Strong skills in programming languages such as Java, JavaScript, and understanding of frameworks like Spring and Angular are essential. Additionally, familiarity with CI/CD processes and cloud technologies will enhance a candidate’s fit for this role. A great fit for this position will be someone who embraces Ascension's values of compassion, excellence, and integrity, and who demonstrates strong problem-solving abilities and a commitment to continuous improvement.

This guide will help you prepare for an interview by providing insights into the role and expectations at Ascension, ensuring you present your skills and experiences in alignment with the company's values and goals.

The interview process for a Software Engineer at Ascension is structured and thorough, designed to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the organization. The process typically unfolds over several weeks and consists of multiple stages.

1. Initial Phone Screen

The first step in the interview process is a phone screen, usually lasting around 20 to 30 minutes. This initial conversation is typically conducted by a recruiter from Human Resources. During this call, the recruiter will discuss your resume, relevant experiences, and general qualifications for the role. They may also touch on your interest in Ascension and the specific position, as well as provide insights into the company culture.

2. Technical Interviews

Following the initial screen, candidates usually participate in one or more technical interviews. These interviews can be conducted via video conferencing platforms and may involve multiple interviewers, including hiring managers and team members. Expect to answer questions related to software development best practices, programming languages, and specific technologies relevant to the role, such as Java, Angular, or Spring. Candidates may also be asked to solve coding problems or discuss past projects in detail.

3. Behavioral and Team Fit Interviews

In addition to technical assessments, candidates will likely undergo behavioral interviews. These interviews focus on assessing your interpersonal skills, teamwork, and alignment with Ascension's values. You may be asked situational questions that explore how you handle challenges, work within a team, and contribute to a positive work environment. Group interviews with potential team members are common, allowing the team to gauge how well you would fit into their dynamic.

4. Case Study or Assessment

Some candidates may be required to complete a case study or a practical assessment, which could involve presenting a solution to a hypothetical problem or demonstrating your analytical skills through a technical task. This step is designed to evaluate your problem-solving abilities and how you approach real-world scenarios relevant to the role.

5. Final Interview

The final stage often includes a wrap-up interview with senior management or department heads. This interview may cover your long-term career goals, your understanding of Ascension's mission, and any remaining questions you have about the role or the company. It’s an opportunity for both parties to ensure mutual fit before moving forward.

As you prepare for your interviews, be ready to discuss your technical expertise and how it aligns with the needs of the team, as well as your personal experiences that demonstrate your problem-solving and teamwork capabilities.

Next, let’s delve into the specific interview questions that candidates have encountered during the process.

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

Understand the Interview Structure

Ascension's interview process typically involves multiple stages, including phone interviews, technical assessments, and group interviews. Familiarize yourself with this structure so you can prepare accordingly. Expect to engage with various team members, including HR, hiring managers, and potential colleagues. This will help you feel more comfortable and confident during the interviews.

Prepare for Behavioral Questions

Ascension places a strong emphasis on cultural fit and teamwork. Be ready to answer behavioral questions that explore your past experiences and how they align with the company's values. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, ensuring you highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to work collaboratively in diverse teams.

Showcase Your Technical Skills

As a Software Engineer, you will likely face technical questions related to programming languages, software development practices, and problem-solving scenarios. Brush up on relevant technologies and frameworks that are commonly used at Ascension, such as Java, Angular, and Spring. Be prepared to discuss your previous projects and how you applied your technical skills to overcome challenges.

Emphasize Your Adaptability

Given the dynamic nature of the healthcare industry, Ascension values candidates who can adapt to changing environments and requirements. Be prepared to discuss instances where you successfully navigated change or uncertainty in your previous roles. Highlight your ability to learn quickly and your willingness to embrace new technologies and methodologies.

Engage with Your Interviewers

During the interviews, take the opportunity to ask thoughtful questions about the team dynamics, company culture, and ongoing projects. This not only demonstrates your interest in the role but also allows you to assess whether Ascension is the right fit for you. Remember, interviews are a two-way street, and showing genuine curiosity can leave a positive impression.

Be Mindful of Company Culture

Ascension values diversity and inclusivity, so be sure to reflect this in your interactions. Be respectful and open-minded when engaging with interviewers, regardless of their communication style. Whether they are more reserved or outspoken, adapt your approach to foster a positive dialogue. This will help you align with the company's culture and demonstrate your ability to work well within a diverse team.

Follow Up Thoughtfully

After your interviews, send a personalized thank-you email to your interviewers, expressing your appreciation for their time and reiterating your interest in the position. This small gesture can set you apart from other candidates and reinforce your enthusiasm for the opportunity.

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

Experience and Background

1. Describe one of the most difficult challenges you've faced as a project manager and how you handled it.

This question aims to assess your problem-solving skills and ability to manage challenges effectively.

How to Answer

Focus on a specific challenge, detailing the context, your actions, and the outcome. Highlight your leadership and decision-making skills.

Example

“In my previous role, we faced a significant delay in a project due to unforeseen technical issues. I organized a series of meetings to identify the root cause and collaborated with the team to develop a revised timeline. By reallocating resources and maintaining open communication, we were able to complete the project successfully, albeit a week behind schedule.”

2. How would you contribute to the team?

This question evaluates your understanding of teamwork and your potential fit within the company culture.

How to Answer

Discuss your skills and experiences that align with the team’s goals. Emphasize collaboration and your willingness to support others.

Example

“I believe my strong background in software development and my ability to communicate effectively with team members will allow me to contribute positively. I enjoy mentoring junior developers and sharing knowledge, which can help foster a collaborative environment.”

3. What is one of your strengths?

This question is designed to gauge your self-awareness and how your strengths can benefit the team.

How to Answer

Choose a strength that is relevant to the role and provide an example of how it has helped you in your work.

Example

“One of my key strengths is my analytical thinking. In my last project, I was able to identify performance bottlenecks in our application by analyzing user data, which led to a 30% improvement in load times after implementing the necessary changes.”

4. Tell us about one time you used your analytical skills.

This question assesses your problem-solving abilities and how you apply analytical thinking in real-world scenarios.

How to Answer

Provide a specific example where your analytical skills led to a successful outcome. Focus on the process you followed and the impact of your analysis.

Example

“In a previous project, I was tasked with optimizing our database queries. By analyzing the execution plans and identifying inefficient queries, I was able to refactor them, resulting in a 40% reduction in response time for our application.”

5. How comfortable are you working with large data sets?

This question evaluates your experience and comfort level with handling large volumes of data, which is often crucial in software engineering roles.

How to Answer

Discuss your experience with large data sets, including any tools or technologies you have used. Highlight your ability to manage and analyze data effectively.

Example

“I have extensive experience working with large data sets, particularly in my last role where I managed a database with over a million records. I utilized SQL for data manipulation and Python for data analysis, which allowed me to derive meaningful insights efficiently.”

Technical Skills

1. How is Java Collections different from Streams?

This question tests your understanding of Java and its core libraries, which is essential for a software engineering role.

How to Answer

Explain the key differences between Java Collections and Streams, focusing on their use cases and performance implications.

Example

“Java Collections are primarily used for storing and managing groups of objects, while Streams are used for processing sequences of elements. Collections are mutable and can be modified, whereas Streams are immutable and provide a functional approach to processing data, allowing for operations like filtering and mapping.”

2. Do you have experience with CI/CD work?

This question assesses your familiarity with Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment practices, which are vital in modern software development.

How to Answer

Discuss your experience with CI/CD tools and processes, emphasizing how they have improved your development workflow.

Example

“Yes, I have worked extensively with CI/CD pipelines using tools like Jenkins and GitLab CI. Implementing these practices in my previous projects significantly reduced deployment times and improved code quality through automated testing.”

3. How much experience do you have in Python?

This question gauges your proficiency in Python, a commonly used programming language in software development.

How to Answer

Provide a brief overview of your experience with Python, including any projects or applications you have developed.

Example

“I have over three years of experience in Python, primarily focusing on web development and data analysis. I have built several applications using Flask and Django, and I frequently use libraries like Pandas and NumPy for data manipulation.”

4. What are the 12 steps for software development?

This question tests your knowledge of the software development lifecycle and best practices.

How to Answer

Outline the key steps in the software development process, demonstrating your understanding of project management and development methodologies.

Example

“The 12 steps typically include: 1) Requirement Analysis, 2) Feasibility Study, 3) Design, 4) Implementation, 5) Testing, 6) Deployment, 7) Maintenance, 8) Documentation, 9) Review, 10) Feedback, 11) Iteration, and 12) Retirement. Each step is crucial for ensuring a successful software product.”

5. How do you secure REST calls?

This question assesses your knowledge of security practices in web development, particularly for RESTful APIs.

How to Answer

Discuss the various methods you use to secure REST calls, including authentication and data protection techniques.

Example

“To secure REST calls, I implement OAuth 2.0 for authentication, ensuring that only authorized users can access the API. Additionally, I use HTTPS to encrypt data in transit and validate input to prevent common vulnerabilities like SQL injection and cross-site scripting.”