Systems Design & Infrastructure Architecture

This area assesses your ability to design scalable, secure, and highly available infrastructure platforms. You will be asked to architect systems that can handle enterprise-scale workloads while maintaining strict security boundaries.

Be ready to go over:

• Scalability and Availability – Designing systems with no single points of failure, using load balancers, auto-scaling groups, and multi-region deployments.
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC) – Modularizing infrastructure using tools like Terraform to ensure consistent, repeatable deployments.
• Containerization and Orchestration – Managing containerized workloads at scale using Kubernetes, including service meshes, ingress controllers, and storage classes.
• Advanced concepts – Zero Trust security patterns, automated disaster recovery orchestration, and designing for strict data compliance standards.

Example scenarios:

• Architect a secure, multi-tenant Kubernetes platform that isolates workloads from different business units while sharing underlying compute resources.
• Design a continuous deployment pipeline that can safely roll out updates to a stateful database service with zero user downtime.
• Describe how you would set up an end-to-end observability stack to monitor a distributed microservices application across hybrid cloud environments.

As a DevOps Engineer at Rubrik, your daily work will center on building and maintaining the foundational platforms that enable the company's product teams to deliver secure, high-quality software at scale. You will work at the intersection of software development, security, and systems engineering.

Your primary responsibilities will include:

• Infrastructure Automation – Designing, building, and maintaining robust infrastructure-as-code configurations to provision and manage global cloud resources.
• CI/CD Pipeline Management – Optimizing and securing continuous integration and deployment pipelines to ensure rapid, reliable, and compliant software delivery.
• Platform Reliability and Performance – Monitoring system health, proactively identifying bottlenecks, and optimizing infrastructure to guarantee high availability and low latency.
• Security and Compliance – Implementing Zero Trust security principles across all infrastructure layers, ensuring secure access controls, data encryption, and continuous vulnerability scanning.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration – Partnering closely with software engineering, product management, and security teams to architect infrastructure solutions that support new product features and business initiatives.

To be competitive for a DevOps Engineer position at Rubrik, you must demonstrate a strong technical foundation and a proven track record of managing complex, large-scale infrastructure systems.

Technical Skills

• Programming & Scripting – Proficiency in at least one major programming language such as Python, Go, or Java, along with strong shell scripting skills (Bash).
• Cloud Platforms – Deep expertise in managing infrastructure within major public clouds, particularly AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
• Containerization – Hands-on experience with Docker and Kubernetes, including managing production clusters, writing Helm charts, and configuring network policies.
• Infrastructure as Code – Strong proficiency with Terraform, CloudFormation, or Ansible to manage infrastructure state and configuration.
• CI/CD Tools – Experience building and maintaining pipelines using platforms like Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, or Spinnaker.

Professional Experience & Soft Skills

• Experience Level – Typically 3+ years of professional experience in a DevOps, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), or Systems Engineering role supporting production environments.
• Problem-Solving – A analytical approach to debugging complex system issues, performance bottlenecks, and network anomalies.
• Communication – The ability to articulate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Nice-to-Have Qualifications – Experience with security compliance frameworks (such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, or FedRAMP), contributions to open-source infrastructure projects, or advanced certifications in Kubernetes (CKA/CKAD) or cloud architecture.

Q: What is the technical difficulty level of the DevOps interview at Rubrik? A: The interview process is highly rigorous and is widely considered average-to-difficult. Rubrik maintains high engineering standards, expecting DevOps candidates to possess strong coding skills comparable to software engineers, in addition to deep systems knowledge.

Q: How much coding should I expect in the DevOps interview? A: You should expect at least one dedicated systems coding round, along with coding elements in other technical rounds. The focus is on writing functional, clean code to solve practical systems problems, parse data, or implement basic algorithms.

Q: What is the typical timeline from the initial application to an offer? A: The entire process generally takes between three to six weeks. This timeline can vary depending on candidate availability, team alignment, and scheduling coordination across multiple interviewers.

Q: Does Rubrik support remote work for DevOps roles? A: Rubrik offers a mix of remote, hybrid, and in-office opportunities depending on the specific team, role level, and geographic location. You should clarify current location and hybrid expectations with your recruiter during the initial screen.

To maximize your chances of success during the Rubrik interview process, keep these practical tips in mind:

• Clarify ambiguous requirements: If an interviewer presents a vague coding prompt or system design scenario, do not jump straight into writing code or drawing diagrams. Take a moment to ask clarifying questions about inputs, scale, constraints, and expected outputs.
• Brush up on core CS fundamentals: Do not neglect basic algorithms, data structures, and system resources. Rubrik interviewers frequently test foundational computer science concepts alongside practical DevOps tools.
• Communicate your thought process: Throughout your technical rounds, explain your reasoning out loud. Let the interviewer know why you are choosing a specific tool, algorithm, or architectural pattern, and discuss any trade-offs you are making.

• Align with Rubrik's values: During behavioral rounds, structure your answers using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and highlight how your past experiences align with Rubrik's emphasis on velocity, excellence, and teamwork.

Securing a DevOps Engineer role at Rubrik is an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of the data security industry. The position offers the chance to solve complex, high-scale infrastructure challenges that directly impact the safety and resilience of enterprise data worldwide. By focusing your preparation on systems coding, robust architectural design, and clear technical communication, you can position yourself as a standout candidate.

As you prepare, remember to balance your deep knowledge of containerization and cloud orchestration with strong algorithmic problem-solving skills. Approach every interview round with a collaborative, problem-solving mindset, and do not hesitate to ask questions to clarify ambiguous scenarios.

The compensation data above represents the typical salary bands for this position. When evaluating an offer, remember that Rubrik's total compensation packages often include base salary, performance bonuses, and equity components. Seniority, specialized skills, and location will influence where a candidate falls within these ranges.

To continue your preparation and access more detailed interview insights, practice questions, and peer reviews, explore the comprehensive resources available on Dataford. With focused preparation and a structured approach, you can navigate the Rubrik interview loop with confidence and land your next role.