Research Scientist (Entry Level) - FAANG-Standard Interview Preparation Guide

The Research Scientist interview process at FAANG companies is rigorous and multi-stage, designed to assess both fundamental research thinking and practical technical capabilities. For entry-level positions, the process typically spans 4-6 weeks and includes recruiter screening, technical phone screens focused on algorithms and ML fundamentals, and an onsite loop comprising research-oriented assessments, algorithm design challenges, coding evaluations, and behavioral interviews. Research Scientists are evaluated on their ability to formulate research questions, design experiments, implement solutions through code, and demonstrate domain expertise in areas like machine learning, AI, NLP, or computer vision. The research talk or problem-solving discussion is a critical differentiator where candidates present their thinking on research challenges.