Palantir Data Engineer Interview Questions (2026)

Landing a Data Engineer role at Palantir requires targeted preparation. Palantir interviews include multiple technical rounds with emphasis on algorithms, data structures, and system design. Coding interviews tend to be harder than average and require optimal solutions. Forward-deployed engineering roles also assess client communication and problem decomposition skills. The company values intellectual curiosity, mission alignment, and the ability to work on ambiguous, high-impact problems. This guide covers the most frequently asked questions and insider tips to help you succeed in your Palantir Data Engineer interview.

About the Palantir Interview Process

Palantir interviews are highly selective and test deep algorithmic thinking, system design skills, and alignment with their mission-driven culture.

Palantir interviews include multiple technical rounds with emphasis on algorithms, data structures, and system design. Coding interviews tend to be harder than average and require optimal solutions. Forward-deployed engineering roles also assess client communication and problem decomposition skills. The company values intellectual curiosity, mission alignment, and the ability to work on ambiguous, high-impact problems.

Why Palantir Data Engineer Interviews Are Different

Palantir Data Engineer interviews differ from standard Data Engineer interviews in several key ways. The company has a unique interview culture, specific evaluation criteria, and expects candidates to demonstrate alignment with their values and mission. Understanding these differences gives you a significant advantage over other candidates.

Top 10 Data Engineer Interview Questions at Palantir

1. Palantir interviewers often ask: Explain the difference between ETL and ELT.
2. A common Palantir interview question: How would you design a data pipeline for real-time analytics?
3. A common Palantir interview question: What is the difference between a data lake and a data warehouse?
4. Expect this at Palantir: Describe your experience with Apache Spark or similar frameworks.
5. At Palantir, you might be asked: How do you handle data quality and validation?
6. A common Palantir interview question: What is data partitioning and why is it important?
7. Expect this at Palantir: How do you optimize query performance on large datasets?
8. Expect this at Palantir: Describe a complex data pipeline you have built.
9. A common Palantir interview question: How do you handle schema evolution in data pipelines?
10. Expect this at Palantir: What tools do you use for data orchestration?

Palantir-Specific Preparation Tips for Data Engineer Candidates

• Practice hard coding problems focusing on dynamic programming, graphs, and optimization
• Study system design for data integration, analytics platforms, and security
• Research Palantir products like Foundry and Gotham and their use cases
• Prepare examples of solving ambiguous, open-ended problems from first principles
• Show genuine interest in government technology, defense, or enterprise data problems

General Data Engineer Interview Tips

• Be proficient in SQL and at least one programming language
• Understand distributed computing concepts
• Know common data modeling techniques
• Be ready to discuss data governance and compliance

Preparation Timeline for Palantir Data Engineer Interviews

• 4 weeks before: Research Palantir culture, recent news, and the specific team you are applying to.
• 2-3 weeks before: Practice technical questions daily and prepare behavioral stories using the STAR method.
• 1 week before: Do full mock interviews with HireFlow AI simulating Palantir interview style.
• Day before: Review your notes, prepare questions for the interviewer, and get a good night of rest.

Practice Palantir Data Engineer Interview with HireFlow AI — our AI adapts to Palantir's interview style and gives real-time feedback.