I applied online. The process took 4 months. I interviewed at InstaDeep (France) in June 2025
Interview
I applied for a Reinforcement Learning research role. There were 4 rounds of interviews, the first three ones were technical (2 hours each):
- 1: mainly RL/ML questions
- 2: live coding
- 3: system design (RL oriented)
- 4: HR
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Describe how several RL algorithms work (DQN, PPO ...)
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and feedback. We’re glad to hear you had a positive overall impression and found the process engaging.
At InstaDeep, we design our interviews to mirror the real-world challenges our teams work on every day combining deep technical discussions, hands-on problem solving, and system design. This helps us assess not only technical knowledge but also creativity and structured thinking in complex scenarios.
We know the process can be demanding, and we truly appreciate the time and effort candidates invest at every stage.
We’re delighted to have you on board and look forward to seeing the impact you’ll make as part of the team!
The interview process consists of multiple stages, starting with a screening interview to assess basic qualifications and fit for the role. After this, candidates are given a technical take-home assignment, which they are required to complete and submit. Once the assignment is submitted, it is reviewed in detail during a follow-up discussion with two research engineers, where the candidate's approach and technical reasoning are evaluated. Finally, the interview process culminates in a design interview, where the candidate is asked to showcase their problem-solving and system design skills, demonstrating their ability to think critically and innovate in real-world scenarios.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with us. We’re glad the interview process gave you the chance to engage with different aspects of the role. We put a lot of thought into creating a process that feels fair, meaningful, and gives candidates a real sense of the work we do. Thanks again for your time and interest, and we wish you all the best in what’s next for your career!
a fun take home assessment, then some follow-on technical interviews -- initially fundamental knowledge questions and then moved to more applied. overall, a fun interview process with engaging interviewers. would happily go through it again
InstaDeep response
1y
Thanks for sharing your experience with us! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the interview process and found it engaging. Our aim is to create a positive welcoming environment where candidates can show their skills and connect with our team in a meaningful way. Thanks again for your interest, and we wish you all the best!