Mid-Level Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Interview Preparation Guide - FAANG Standards
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Mid Level
7 rounds
Updated 2/22/2026
CTO interviews at FAANG companies typically follow a rigorous multi-stage process designed to assess strategic technology thinking, technical depth, leadership capability, and organizational impact. For mid-level CTOs, the process emphasizes both hands-on technical expertise and emerging leadership qualities, with particular focus on technology strategy, architectural decision-making, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration. Expect a combination of technical assessments, system design discussions, behavioral interviews focused on leadership scenarios, and strategic case studies.
Interview Rounds
1
Recruiter Screening
30 min4 focus topicsphone|initial screen
2
Technical Phone Screen - Architecture and Strategy
60 min5 focus topicstechnical|phone
3
Technical Phone Screen - System Design and Scalability
60 min5 focus topicstechnical|system design|phone
4
Onsite Round 1 - Behavioral and Leadership
60 min5 focus topicsbehavioral|leadership
5
Onsite Round 2 - Strategic Technology Assessment
60 min5 focus topicstechnical|strategy|case study
6
Onsite Round 3 - Cross-functional Collaboration and Execution
60 min5 focus topicsbehavioral|case study|cross_functional
7
Onsite Round 4 - Security, Operations, and Organizational Challenges
60 min5 focus topicstechnical|systems operations|security