CHS Data Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

CHS Inc. is a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers, and cooperatives across the United States, providing essential grain, food, and energy resources to businesses and consumers worldwide.

As a Data Engineer at CHS, you will be tasked with designing, building, and maintaining robust data pipelines that facilitate the ingestion, transformation, and distribution of data across various platforms. Your role will involve working with SQL, Python, and a variety of cloud technologies, particularly AWS and Snowflake, to support data-driven decision-making within the organization. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to analyze data requirements, implement best practices in data modeling, and ensure the integrity and accessibility of data for analytics and reporting. A strong analytical mindset, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills are essential traits for success in this position, as you will be expected to translate complex technical concepts into actionable insights for stakeholders.

This guide will help you prepare for your interview by equipping you with insights into the role and the skills necessary to excel as a Data Engineer at CHS.

The interview process for a Data Engineer position at CHS is designed to thoroughly assess both technical and interpersonal skills, ensuring candidates are well-suited for the role and the company culture. The process typically consists of several key stages:

1. Initial Screening

The first step is an initial screening, which usually takes place over a phone call with a recruiter. This conversation lasts about 30 minutes and focuses on your background, skills, and motivations for applying to CHS. The recruiter will also provide insights into the company culture and the specifics of the Data Engineer role, allowing you to gauge your fit within the organization.

2. Technical Interview

Following the initial screening, candidates typically participate in a technical interview. This session is often conducted via video conferencing tools like Microsoft Teams and lasts around 30 to 60 minutes. During this interview, you will be asked to solve SQL queries, discuss data modeling techniques, and demonstrate your understanding of data integration and ETL/ELT processes. Expect to tackle real-world scenarios that test your problem-solving abilities and technical knowledge, particularly in areas such as Python programming and data visualization.

3. Behavioral Interview

In addition to technical skills, CHS places a strong emphasis on teamwork and communication. The behavioral interview usually involves a panel of interviewers, including potential teammates and managers. This round focuses on your past experiences, how you handle challenges, and your ability to collaborate effectively. Be prepared to discuss specific instances where you demonstrated leadership, overcame obstacles, or contributed to team success.

4. Final Interview

The final interview may involve a more in-depth discussion with senior team members or leadership. This stage is often less formal and aims to assess your alignment with CHS's values and long-term goals. You may be asked to elaborate on your previous projects, your approach to data engineering challenges, and how you envision contributing to the team and the company as a whole.

Throughout the interview process, candidates are encouraged to ask questions and engage in discussions that reflect their interest in the role and the company.

Now, 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.

Prepare for Technical Challenges

Given the emphasis on SQL and data modeling in the role, ensure you are well-versed in writing complex SQL queries and understand data transformation processes. Practice common data engineering tasks, such as data cleaning and preprocessing, as these are likely to come up during the interview. Be ready to discuss your experience with data visualization tools and how you have used them to present data insights effectively.

Showcase Problem-Solving Skills

The interview process will likely include logical reasoning and problem-solving questions. Prepare to demonstrate your analytical thinking by discussing specific challenges you faced in previous projects and how you overcame them. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, focusing on your thought process and the impact of your solutions.

Highlight Team Collaboration

CHS values teamwork and communication, so be prepared to discuss your experiences working in collaborative environments. Share examples of how you have contributed to team projects, resolved conflicts, or facilitated discussions to achieve common goals. This will help interviewers gauge your fit within their team-oriented culture.

Be Authentic and Honest

Interviewers appreciate candidates who are genuine. When discussing your past experiences, be honest about your contributions and the outcomes. If you encounter a question about a skill or experience you lack, express your willingness to learn and adapt. This approach will resonate well with the interviewers and demonstrate your commitment to personal and professional growth.

Familiarize Yourself with Company Culture

Understanding CHS's mission and values will give you an edge in the interview. Research their recent initiatives and how they align with your professional goals. Be prepared to articulate why you want to work for CHS specifically and how you can contribute to their mission of empowering agriculture.

Prepare for Behavioral Questions

Expect behavioral questions that assess your past experiences and how they relate to the role. Reflect on your previous projects and think about times when you had to adapt to change, lead a project, or innovate a solution. Use these experiences to illustrate your capabilities and how they align with the expectations of a Data Engineer at CHS.

Practice Remote Interview Etiquette

If your interview is conducted remotely, ensure you are comfortable with the technology being used, such as Microsoft Teams. Test your equipment beforehand, choose a quiet location, and dress professionally. Being well-prepared for the remote format will help you present yourself confidently and make a positive impression.

By following these tailored tips, you will be well-equipped to navigate the interview process at CHS and demonstrate your qualifications for the Data Engineer role. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Data Engineer interview at CHS. The interview process will likely assess your technical skills in data integration, modeling, and ETL/ELT processes, as well as your problem-solving abilities and teamwork experience. Be prepared to discuss your past projects and how you have applied your technical knowledge in real-world scenarios.

Technical Skills

1. Can you describe your experience with SQL and how you have used it in your previous projects?

This question aims to gauge your proficiency in SQL, which is crucial for data manipulation and querying in data engineering roles.

How to Answer

Discuss specific SQL queries you have written, the complexity of the data you worked with, and how your SQL skills contributed to the success of your projects.

Example

“In my last role, I developed complex SQL queries to extract and transform data from multiple sources into a centralized database. This involved using joins, subqueries, and window functions to ensure data integrity and accuracy, which ultimately improved our reporting capabilities.”

2. Describe a time when you had to clean and preprocess a large dataset. What steps did you take?

This question assesses your data cleaning and preprocessing skills, which are essential for ensuring data quality.

How to Answer

Outline the specific techniques you used for data cleaning, such as handling missing values, outlier detection, and normalization, and explain the impact of your work.

Example

“I worked on a project where I had to clean a dataset with over a million records. I identified and removed duplicates, filled in missing values using interpolation, and standardized the data formats. This preprocessing step was critical for the accuracy of our subsequent analysis.”

3. What data modeling techniques are you familiar with, and how have you applied them?

This question evaluates your understanding of data modeling, which is vital for structuring data effectively.

How to Answer

Discuss the data modeling techniques you have used, such as star schema, snowflake schema, or normalization, and provide examples of how they improved data accessibility.

Example

“I have experience with both star and snowflake schemas. In a recent project, I implemented a star schema to optimize query performance for our reporting team, which significantly reduced the time taken to generate reports.”

4. Can you explain the ETL/ELT process and your experience with it?

This question tests your knowledge of ETL/ELT processes, which are fundamental in data engineering.

How to Answer

Define ETL/ELT and describe your hands-on experience with these processes, including the tools you used and the challenges you faced.

Example

“I have implemented ETL processes using tools like Apache NiFi and Talend. I designed workflows to extract data from various sources, transform it according to business rules, and load it into our data warehouse. This experience taught me the importance of automation and monitoring in ETL processes.”

Problem-Solving and Analytical Skills

5. Describe a challenging data engineering problem you faced and how you resolved it.

This question assesses your problem-solving skills and ability to handle complex data issues.

How to Answer

Provide a specific example of a challenge, the steps you took to analyze the problem, and the solution you implemented.

Example

“I encountered a performance issue with our data pipeline that was causing delays in data availability. I conducted a thorough analysis and identified bottlenecks in the transformation phase. By optimizing the queries and implementing parallel processing, I was able to reduce the processing time by 50%.”

Teamwork and Communication

6. How do you ensure effective communication with team members and stakeholders during a project?

This question evaluates your communication skills, which are essential for collaboration in data engineering.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to communication, including regular updates, documentation, and feedback mechanisms.

Example

“I believe in maintaining open lines of communication throughout a project. I schedule regular check-ins with my team and stakeholders to provide updates and gather feedback. Additionally, I document all processes and decisions to ensure everyone is aligned and informed.”

7. Can you give an example of a time you went above and beyond in a team project?

This question assesses your commitment to teamwork and your ability to contribute positively to group efforts.

How to Answer

Share a specific instance where you took initiative or provided support that exceeded expectations.

Example

“During a critical project deadline, I noticed that a teammate was struggling with their tasks. I offered to help them with data analysis and visualization, which not only helped us meet our deadline but also strengthened our team’s collaboration and morale.”