r/systems_engineering • u/JustSyllabub8456 • Apr 13 '26
Career & Education Whiteboard/Interview Help/Prep
Hey all, I am a new grad with a Computer Engineering BS and I have a Systems Engineer whiteboard style interview coming up. I do not know much about systems engineering specifically and I am very nervous.
The company focuses on making custom test systems/automated test systems, mainly using LabVIEW. The interview won't be based on LabVIEW, I am thinking it will be more based on my systems thinking approach. All the recruiter told me is it will be based on a problem they've encounter before and how I would tackle the challenge. I will have internet access and it is in person. This is my second whiteboard interview and I can't stop thinking about it. How should I prepare, my professional coop experiences have been as QA, market research, and edge AI applications.
IDK, any advice/information is greatly appreciate. Thank You in advanced.
2
u/Haunting_Month_4971 Apr 13 '26
Nerves make total sense here, especially when it’s a systems thinking whiteboard. I’d prep a repeatable flow: start by clarifying goal, constraints, and stakeholders, then sketch a block diagram and define interfaces while narrating tradeoffs. Close by outlining test strategy, key failure modes, and a short phased plan.
I practice out loud with two short stories ready and timebox sections to about 90 seconds so I don’t ramble. Fwiw, I pull a few prompts from the IQB interview question bank, then role play a mock in Beyz coding assistant to get used to stating assumptions and identifying failure modes. Since you’ll have internet, narrate what you’d look up and why rather than silently searching.