Scientific Research Software Engineer interview: CAPA panel

After applying online, I first spoke with a recruiter about the role and my background. That conversation was focused on fit and helped set expectations for what the hiring team cared about. Soon after, I had a panel-style interview that combined technical and situational discussion. Even when the topics became specific, the tone was conversational.

The technical discussion centered on my CAPA-style process experience, and I gave concrete examples of CAPAs I had worked on. They also asked about my current responsibilities, why I wanted to work there, why I was interested in relocating, and what I did outside work. It felt like they wanted to understand how I thought and communicated, not just whether I could answer isolated trivia.

The rest of the process had the usual onsite or team-panel feel, including meeting several people and seeing team dynamics, without becoming a heavy coding gauntlet. At times communication was smooth and organized; at others there were delays, slow scheduling, and long waits for a generic rejection. That left me with a sour view of professionalism and candidate respect, even though the interviewers themselves were interactive and approachable.

Location: Madison, WI. Overall feedback: positive. Offer status: no offer.