Technical Fundamentals & Core Skills Topics
Core technical concepts including algorithms, data structures, statistics, cryptography, and hardware-software integration. Covers foundational knowledge required for technical roles and advanced technical depth.
Cryptography Basics
Conceptual understanding of cryptographic primitives and their correct use in systems. Candidates should understand symmetric encryption and block ciphers, asymmetric encryption and public key pairs, cryptographic hash functions, message authentication mechanisms, digital signatures, and basic key exchange ideas. They should be able to explain appropriate use cases for each primitive, describe high level key management concerns such as secure storage and rotation, discuss the importance of secure random numbers, and articulate why using well tested libraries and standard protocols is critical.
Mathematical Modeling and Formal Verification of Algorithms
Ability to build mathematical models of cryptographic algorithms, understand formal verification techniques and their applicability. Knowledge of what can be proven formally vs. what requires empirical validation. Experience using or understanding formal methods tools for cryptographic analysis.
Common Cryptographic Standards and Algorithms
Covers core cryptographic primitives and the reasons they are widely used or retired. Candidates should know symmetric algorithms such as the Advanced Encryption Standard and its typical key sizes and modes, asymmetric algorithms such as RSA and elliptic curve cryptography with their security and performance tradeoffs, hash functions such as Secure Hash Algorithm two hundred fifty six, and key exchange primitives such as Diffie Hellman. The topic includes understanding authenticated encryption, signature schemes, key sizes and parameter selection, performance and implementation concerns, and awareness of obsolete algorithms such as the Data Encryption Standard and MD five and why they are no longer considered secure.
Problem Solving and Analytical Thinking
Evaluates a candidate's systematic and logical approach to unfamiliar, ambiguous, or complex problems across technical, product, business, security, and operational contexts. Candidates should be able to clarify objectives and constraints, ask effective clarifying questions, decompose problems into smaller components, identify root causes, form and test hypotheses, and enumerate and compare multiple solution options. Interviewers look for clear reasoning about trade offs and edge cases, avoidance of premature conclusions, use of repeatable frameworks or methodologies, prioritization of investigations, design of safe experiments and measurement of outcomes, iteration based on feedback, validation of fixes, documentation of results, and conversion of lessons learned into process improvements. Responses should clearly communicate the thought process, justify choices, surface assumptions and failure modes, and demonstrate learning from prior problem solving experiences.
Cryptography and Encryption Fundamentals
Comprehensive understanding of modern cryptography and encryption principles used to build secure systems. Candidates should be able to explain the differences between symmetric and asymmetric encryption, appropriate use cases for each, and common algorithms by full name such as Advanced Encryption Standard and Data Encryption Standard for symmetric ciphers and Rivest Shamir Adleman and elliptic curve based algorithms such as Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm and Elliptic Curve Diffie Hellman for public key operations. Describe hybrid encryption patterns in which asymmetric cryptography is used to protect a symmetric session key, and discuss block cipher modes of operation including cipher block chaining and authenticated encryption modes such as Galois Counter Mode, as well as the role of initialization vectors and nonces. Cover hash functions and integrity checks with properties such as collision resistance and preimage resistance, message authentication codes, authenticated encryption, and digital signatures for authentication and nonrepudiation. Include high level Public Key Infrastructure concepts including certificates and certificate authorities and how certificates are used to establish trust, together with foundational Transport Layer Security and Secure Sockets Layer principles without requiring deep certificate lifecycle management knowledge. Emphasize key management and operational concerns including secure key generation, secure storage, rotation and compromise handling, randomness and entropy sources, recommended key lengths and algorithm lifecycle considerations, and performance and scalability trade offs. Be prepared to discuss common implementation pitfalls and failures such as weak key sizes, poor random number generation, improper key reuse, and lack of authenticated encryption, plus threat models and practical applications including encrypting data at rest and in transit, secure channels, and signing and verification. Avoid deep mathematical proofs unless specifically requested, but be ready to reason about practical trade offs, algorithm selection, and secure implementation patterns.