Here are some Azure Databricks interview questions tailored for someone with five years of experience, focusing on both conceptual understanding and practical application:

Conceptual Questions

• Architecture:
  • Describe the high-level architecture of Azure Databricks. How does it integrate with other Azure services?
  • Explain the difference between interactive clusters and job clusters. When would you use each?
  • What are the various components of the Databricks workspace, and how do they interact?
• Data Processing:
  • How does Databricks leverage Apache Spark for distributed data processing? What are the advantages?
  • Explain the concept of Delta Lake and its benefits for data reliability and performance.
  • What are the different ways to ingest data into Databricks? (e.g., Autoloader, notebooks, etc.)
• Security & Optimization:
  • Describe the security features in Azure Databricks. How do you manage access controls and secrets?
  • What are some performance optimization techniques you’ve used in Databricks? (e.g., caching, partitioning, etc.)
  • How can you monitor and troubleshoot Spark jobs running on Databricks?

Scenario-Based Questions

• Data Pipeline: You must build a data pipeline to ingest data from Azure Blob Storage, transform it using PySpark, and load the results into Azure Synapse Analytics. Describe your approach and the tools you would use.
• Real-Time Streaming: How would you design a real-time streaming solution using Databricks? What tools would you leverage for ingestion, processing, and storage?
• Machine Learning: You have a large dataset and want to train a machine learning model using Databricks. Walk through the steps involved, from data preparation to model deployment.
• Performance Issue: A Spark job is running very slowly. What are the steps you would take to diagnose and resolve the issue?

Additional Tips

• Showcase your experience: Be prepared to discuss real-world projects where you’ve used Databricks. Highlight the challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
• Stay updated: Azure Databricks is constantly evolving. Be familiar with the latest features and updates.
• Demonstrate depth: Don’t just answer questions at a surface level. Be able to dive deeper and explain the underlying concepts.
• Ask questions: Show your curiosity and interest by asking insightful questions about the company’s use of Databricks or upcoming projects.