When Senior Engineer Interviews Feel Like AI-Generated Trivia Instead of Real Engineering

I recently sat through an interview for a Senior Software Engineer role.

The strange part?

The questions had almost nothing to do with software engineering.

There was no discussion about system design. No deep dive into architecture decisions. No conversations about scalability, reliability, or real-world trade-offs. No meaningful problem-solving exercises.

Instead, the interview was filled with generic AI-related questions and buzzwords that could have been asked to virtually anyone, regardless of their profession.

Honestly, it felt like the interviewer had searched for "top tech interview questions" ten minutes before the call and simply read through the list.

And unfortunately, this doesn't seem like an isolated experience anymore.

The Growing Problem with AI-Generated Interviews

AI tools have made it incredibly easy to generate interview questions in seconds.

The problem isn't the technology itself.

The problem is when hiring teams rely on AI-generated content without applying their own judgment and expertise.

Too often, interviewers forget to ask:

• What does this role actually require?
• What challenges will this person face in the first 90 days?
• What skills separate a Senior Engineer from a Mid-Level Engineer?
• Do these questions truly evaluate engineering ability?

A list of generic questions may fill an interview slot, but it rarely helps identify great engineers.

What Senior Engineer Interviews Should Focus On

If you're hiring Senior Software Engineers, the interview should reflect the realities of the role.

Instead of asking about the latest buzzwords, ask candidates about experiences that reveal how they think and make decisions.

Trade-offs They've Made

• Tell me about a difficult technical decision you made.
• What options did you consider?
• Why did you choose one approach over another?

Systems They've Built

• What's the most complex system you've designed?
• What were the biggest challenges?
• How did you ensure reliability and scalability?

Mistakes and Lessons Learned

• Describe a production incident you were involved in.
• What went wrong?
• What would you do differently today?

Leadership and Ownership

• How do you handle technical disagreements?
• How do you mentor junior engineers?
• How do you balance delivery speed with long-term maintainability?

These conversations reveal far more about a candidate's capabilities than asking them to define the latest AI terminology.

AI Is a Tool, Not a Substitute for Thought

AI can absolutely help interviewers prepare.

It can generate ideas, suggest question frameworks, and help structure an interview process.

But it cannot replace understanding:

• The role you're hiring for.
• The problems your team is facing.
• The skills that actually matter for success.

Great interviews require context, judgment, and curiosity.

Those are things no prompt can fully automate.

The Cost of Poor Interviews

When interviews become generic, companies risk:

• Rejecting strong candidates for the wrong reasons.
• Hiring candidates who interview well but struggle with real engineering work.
• Creating a frustrating candidate experience.
• Damaging their employer brand.

The best engineers often want to discuss real technical challenges—not recite definitions or buzzwords.

Is This the New Normal?

Maybe.

But it shouldn't be.

Senior engineering interviews should evaluate engineering.

They should explore decision-making, architecture, trade-offs, leadership, and lessons learned from real-world experience.

That's where the most valuable insights come from.

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What Has Your Experience Been?

Have you experienced something similar recently?

Have you noticed interviews becoming more generic or AI-generated?

Or have you had interviewers who still focus on meaningful engineering discussions?

Share your experience in the comments. I'd love to hear how tech interviews are evolving across different companies and industries.