1. What is a Software Engineer at MSD?

MSD (known as Merck & Co. in the U.S. and Canada) is a global healthcare leader with a mission to save and improve lives. As a Software Engineer here, you are not just building generic applications; you are creating the digital infrastructure that accelerates drug discovery, streamlines clinical trials, and optimizes global supply chains. The technology organization at MSD is pivotal in transforming how healthcare solutions are developed and delivered to patients.

In this role, you will work on complex, data-intensive systems that require high reliability and compliance. You might be developing platforms that help scientists analyze genomic data, building patient-facing mobile applications, or modernizing legacy systems to leverage cloud architectures. The work is impactful and tangible—your code contributes directly to the efficiency of getting life-saving medicines to the market.

This position requires a balance of technical excellence and domain curiosity. MSD values engineers who can navigate highly regulated environments (GxP) while pushing for innovation. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including data scientists, researchers, and product managers, making communication and a collaborative mindset just as critical as your coding ability.

2. Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparing for an interview at MSD requires a shift in mindset. Unlike pure tech companies that may focus exclusively on algorithmic puzzles, MSD places significant weight on your ability to apply technology to real-world problems and your alignment with their mission.

Key Evaluation Criteria:

Company & Product Knowledge – This is a critical differentiator at MSD. Interviewers frequently test whether you have done your homework. You must understand what MSD does, be familiar with their flagship products (such as Keytruda or Gardasil), and articulate why you want to work in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry specifically.

System Design & Trade-offs – Particularly for mid-to-senior roles, the ability to discuss system architecture is paramount. You will be evaluated on how you structure applications, select technologies, and—most importantly—how you analyze trade-offs between different approaches. Expect discussions rather than just whiteboard coding.

Communication & Presentation – The Software Engineer role often involves explaining technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Some interview processes even include a requirement to present a slide deck about yourself or a technical topic. You are evaluated on clarity, structure, and your ability to engage an audience.

Resume Deep Dive – Expect a forensic examination of your past projects. Interviewers will ask detailed questions about the "why" and "how" of the technologies you listed. You need to demonstrate mastery of the tools you claim to know and be able to discuss challenges you faced in previous roles.

3. Interview Process Overview

The interview process for a Software Engineer at MSD is generally described as positive, conversational, and structured. While the exact steps can vary by location (e.g., some regions hold "walk-in" assessment days while others follow a standard scheduled path), the philosophy remains consistent: MSD wants to know the person behind the code.

Typically, the process begins with an online application, often followed by a preliminary online assessment. This coding test is generally described as accessible (not "Hard" LeetCode) and is used as a basic filter. Following this, you will likely encounter an HR screening call to discuss your background, availability, and interest in the company.

The core of the evaluation happens during the technical rounds, which may be a series of 1-on-1 interviews or a panel format. In these sessions, you will meet with Tech Leads and Senior Developers. The atmosphere is collaborative; interviewers are often described as "great personalities to connect with." Unlike high-stress interrogation styles, MSD interviews often feel like peer-to-peer discussions regarding architecture, code quality, and situational judgment.

The timeline above illustrates a typical flow, though candidates in hubs like Hyderabad or Singapore might experience compressed timelines or assessment centers. Use this visual to pace your preparation; ensure you have your "Tell me about yourself" pitch polished for the early stages and your system design concepts ready for the final panel.

4. Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

To succeed, you must prepare for a mix of technical competency checks and behavioral assessments. Based on candidate data, the following areas are heavily emphasized.

System Design and Architecture

For many candidates, especially those with some experience, this is the most significant part of the onsite interview. You may not be asked to write raw code on a whiteboard; instead, you will sit down with Tech Leads to architect a solution.

Be ready to go over:

• Trade-off analysis – Why choose SQL over NoSQL for a specific patient data set? Why Microservices vs. Monolithic for a legacy migration?
• Scalability – How does your design handle increased data loads during a global clinical trial?
• Data Integrity – How do you ensure data consistency, which is critical in healthcare?

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Design a system to track pharmaceutical inventory across multiple warehouses."
• "Discuss the trade-offs between two different architectural approaches you have used in the past."
• "How would you modernize a legacy application without disrupting current users?"

Resume and Technical Experience

MSD interviewers rely heavily on your resume as a roadmap for the interview. They want to verify that you truly understand the technologies you have listed.

Be ready to go over:

• Project ownership – Specific contributions you made to the projects listed on your CV.
• Problem resolution – Technical hurdles you encountered and exactly how you solved them.
• Technology choices – Justification for the languages and frameworks you used.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Tell me about the most challenging bug you faced in your last project and how you fixed it."
• "Walk us through the architecture of the application you are currently working on."
• "You listed [Technology X] on your resume; explain how you used it to solve [Problem Y]."

Behavioral and Company Fit

Cultural alignment is not a buzzword at MSD; it is a requirement. You will face "character-building" questions designed to test your resilience, ethics, and ability to work in a team.

Be ready to go over:

• Situational judgment – How you react to deadlines, conflict, or ambiguity.
• Company research – Demonstrating knowledge of MSD's business units and products.
• Self-presentation – In some locations (e.g., Ireland), candidates have been asked to give a PowerPoint presentation about themselves.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "What do you know about MSD and our products?"
• "Describe a time you had a conflict with a team member. How did you resolve it?"
• "If you were given a task with unclear requirements, how would you proceed?"

5. Key Responsibilities

As a Software Engineer at MSD, your daily work revolves around solving complex problems that span across science and technology. You will be responsible for the full software development lifecycle (SDLC), from concept and design to testing and deployment. Because MSD operates in a regulated industry, you will also spend time ensuring your code meets strict compliance and documentation standards.

Collaboration is a major part of the role. You will frequently partner with Product Owners to understand business requirements—often translating scientific needs into technical specifications. You may work in Agile teams, participating in stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives.

Beyond coding, you are expected to contribute to architectural decisions. Whether you are working on cloud-native applications on AWS/Azure or maintaining critical enterprise systems, you will be assessing tools and patterns that ensure long-term maintainability. You will also be expected to mentor junior developers and participate in code reviews to maintain high quality across the codebase.

6. Role Requirements & Qualifications

Candidates who succeed at MSD typically possess a strong foundation in computer science principles combined with a professional maturity that fits a corporate healthcare environment.

• Technical Skills – Proficiency in modern programming languages is essential. Java, Python, and .NET/C# are commonly used depending on the specific team. Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) is highly valued as the company continues its digital transformation.
• Experience Level – While entry-level roles exist, many positions look for candidates who can demonstrate past experience with system design and project delivery. You should be comfortable discussing the "why" behind your code, not just the syntax.
• Soft Skills – Excellent verbal and written communication skills are non-negotiable. You must be able to articulate complex technical ideas to non-technical colleagues. A collaborative, ego-free attitude is required.
• Nice-to-have Skills – Experience in the healthcare, biotech, or pharmaceutical industry is a massive plus but not always required. Familiarity with GxP (Good Practice) regulations or data privacy laws (GDPR, HIPAA) will set you apart.

7. Common Interview Questions

The following questions are representative of what candidates have reported in recent interviews. While you should not memorize answers, you should use these to identify the types of discussions MSD values. Note the balance between technical knowledge and company awareness.

Company & Behavioral

• "What do you know about this company and what we do?"
• "Can you name some of MSD's key products?"
• "Tell me about yourself. (Sometimes done via a prepared presentation)"
• "Describe a situation where you had to learn a new technology quickly."
• "How do you handle disagreement with a senior stakeholder?"

Technical & Experience-Based

• "Walk me through the most complex project listed on your resume."
• "What were the technical challenges you faced in your last role?"
• "How do you ensure code quality in a fast-paced environment?"
• "Explain a time you had to optimize a slow-running query or function."

System Design & Architecture

• "How would you design a system that handles sensitive patient data?"
• "Let's discuss the trade-offs between Monolithic and Microservices architectures."
• "How would you approach migrating a legacy on-premise application to the cloud?"
• "Design a notification system for a healthcare app."

These questions are based on real interview experiences from candidates who interviewed at this company. You can practice answering them interactively on Dataford to better prepare for your interview.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How difficult is the coding test? Most candidates report that the initial coding test (if administered) is of "Easy" to "Medium" difficulty. It is generally not as intense as FAANG-style algorithmic competitions. The focus is on clean, correct code rather than obscure optimization tricks.

Q: Do I need a background in biology or pharma? No, you do not need to be a scientist. However, you must show a genuine interest in the domain. Understanding the high-level mission of the company and showing curiosity about how software aids drug discovery is expected.

Q: What is the "Self-Presentation" mentioned in some reviews? In certain locations (e.g., Ireland or specific global hubs), candidates have been asked to prepare a short PowerPoint presentation about their background, projects, and interests. If asked to do this, treat it seriously—it tests your communication skills and ability to synthesize information.

Q: Is the work remote or onsite? MSD generally operates on a hybrid model, though this varies by team and location. Some roles are based in major hubs like Rahway, NJ, Singapore, or Prague. Be prepared to discuss your ability to work effectively in a hybrid setup.

Q: How long does the process take? The timeline can vary. Some candidates experience a streamlined process taking only a few weeks, while others (especially in mass hiring events or "walk-ins") might move very quickly from presentation to offer. Standard processing time is typically 2–4 weeks.

9. Other General Tips

Know the Products It cannot be overstated: know what MSD sells. You don't need to know the chemical formula of Keytruda, but you should know it's an oncology drug. Being unable to name a single product is often an immediate red flag for interviewers who take pride in their work.

Prepare for the "Casual" Technical Chat Many technical rounds at MSD are described as "conversational." Do not let this lower your guard. They are assessing your technical depth through dialogue. When they ask "What do you think about X?", give a structured, technical answer, not just a casual opinion.

Review Your Resume Like an Examiner Since interviewers often stick closely to your resume, ensure you can explain every single bullet point. If you listed a tool you used three years ago and can't remember it, remove it or brush up on it immediately.

Showcase Adaptability MSD is a large, historic enterprise undergoing digital transformation. Show that you are adaptable—someone who respects legacy systems while being excited to introduce new technologies. Avoid sounding dogmatic about "only" using the newest tech stack.

10. Summary & Next Steps

Securing a Software Engineer role at MSD is an opportunity to apply your technical skills to challenges that truly matter. You will be joining a supportive, global team where your code has the potential to impact patient health on a massive scale. The interview process is designed to find well-rounded engineers who are technically competent, articulate, and mission-driven.

To succeed, focus your preparation on three pillars: Company Knowledge (know the products and mission), System Design (understand trade-offs and architecture), and Communication (be ready to present your story clearly). If you approach the interview with curiosity and a collaborative spirit, you will find the experience positive and engaging.

The salary data above provides a baseline for the role. Compensation at MSD is competitive and typically includes a mix of base salary, annual bonus, and comprehensive benefits. Keep in mind that specific offers will vary based on location (e.g., cost of living adjustments) and your level of experience.

You have the roadmap—now it is time to prepare. Good luck!