Technical screening questions
Ask for one example per question and listen for specifics.
- How do you build an incremental load? A good answer: Watermark columns or change tracking.
- Pipeline or mapping data flow? A good answer: Orchestration versus visual transformation at scale.
- How do you handle secrets? A good answer: Key Vault linked services.
- How do you promote between environments? A good answer: Git integration, ARM or CI/CD with parameters.
- How do you monitor failures? A good answer: Alerts, retries and logging.
Quick screening questions
Use these when you have only a few minutes.
- How do you design an incremental load in Data Factory?
- How do you handle pipeline failures and retries?
- How do you promote pipelines between environments?
What separates the levels
Match the level to the requirement before you submit.
- Junior: builds simple pipelines.
- Mid: owns pipelines and deployment.
- Senior: designs integration architecture.
Red flags
Any of these is a reason to probe further.
- Only copy activities.
- No CI/CD experience.
- Cannot explain triggers.
Tools you should hear mentioned
An Azure data Factory developer with real experience usually names several of these without prompting.
- Azure Data Factory
- Azure SQL or Synapse
- Mapping data flows
- Azure DevOps
- Key Vault
- SQL
Run the call well
Ask for the last project first, then dig into the second or third question. Take notes on versions, team size and outcomes, and record them with the submission so the vendor’s later technical interview does not surprise you.
Frequently asked questions
How long should an Azure data Factory developer screening call take?
Fifteen to twenty minutes is enough to cover the project, three technical questions and availability, rate and work authorization.
Do recruiters need to know the technology?
Working vocabulary is enough. Use the sourcing guide for the role and listen for specifics instead of judging technical depth yourself.