Microsoft DevOps Engineer Interview Questions (2026)

Landing a DevOps Engineer role at Microsoft requires targeted preparation. Microsoft interviews typically include a phone screen followed by a full-day on-site loop with four to five interviewers. Each round focuses on different competencies including coding, system design, and behavioral assessment. The final round is often an As-Appropriate interview with a senior leader who makes the hiring decision. This guide covers the most frequently asked questions and insider tips to help you succeed in your Microsoft DevOps Engineer interview.

About the Microsoft Interview Process

Microsoft interviews focus on coding ability, system design, and a growth mindset culture that values learning and collaboration.

Microsoft interviews typically include a phone screen followed by a full-day on-site loop with four to five interviewers. Each round focuses on different competencies including coding, system design, and behavioral assessment. The final round is often an As-Appropriate interview with a senior leader who makes the hiring decision.

Why Microsoft DevOps Engineer Interviews Are Different

Microsoft DevOps Engineer interviews differ from standard DevOps 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 DevOps Engineer Interview Questions at Microsoft

1. Microsoft candidates should prepare for: Explain the CI/CD pipeline you would set up for a new project.
2. A common Microsoft interview question: What is Infrastructure as Code and what tools have you used?
3. Microsoft candidates should prepare for: How do you monitor and alert on production systems?
4. At Microsoft, you might be asked: Describe the difference between Docker and Kubernetes.
5. Microsoft interviewers often ask: How would you handle a zero-downtime deployment?
6. A common Microsoft interview question: What is your approach to secret management?
7. Expect this at Microsoft: Explain blue-green deployments vs canary deployments.
8. Expect this at Microsoft: How do you manage infrastructure costs in the cloud?
9. Microsoft interviewers often ask: Describe a time you resolved a major production incident.
10. Microsoft interviewers often ask: What logging and observability tools do you prefer?

Microsoft-Specific Preparation Tips for DevOps Engineer Candidates

• Practice coding in your preferred language with emphasis on clean, readable code
• Study object-oriented design patterns and SOLID principles
• Prepare examples demonstrating a growth mindset and willingness to learn
• Be ready to discuss how you handle feedback and iterate on your work
• Research the specific team and product you are interviewing for

General DevOps Engineer Interview Tips

• Have hands-on experience with at least one major cloud provider
• Understand containerization and orchestration concepts
• Be ready to discuss incident management processes
• Know how to write infrastructure automation scripts

Preparation Timeline for Microsoft DevOps Engineer Interviews

• 4 weeks before: Research Microsoft 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 Microsoft interview style.
• Day before: Review your notes, prepare questions for the interviewer, and get a good night of rest.

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