Steampunk Interview Guide

Interview difficulty 4.1 / 10Based on 50 interview reportsUpdated weekly

Everything we know about interviewing at Steampunk: what each round tests and compensation by level.

Software EngineerData EngineerProject ManagerQA EngineerData Scientist

01Skills

What Steampunk evaluates

How often each skill shows up across reported interview loops.

Data Engineering100%Project Management100%Software Engineering100%Salesforce QA100%Cloud Engineering97%ETL (Extract, Transform, Load)96%Salesforce Testing (CRM workflows)96%MuleSoft (Integration Platform)94%Data Warehousing93%Data Transformation54%Data Validation51%Scalability32%

02Role guides

Interview guides by role

Each guide has the questions Steampunk interviewers actually ask, the loop structure, and total compensation by level.

5roles

Data Engineer

What is a Data Engineer at Steampunk? At Steampunk, a Data Engineer plays a pivotal role in designing, building, and optimizing the data architectures that power critical federal IT systems. Working at the intersection of human-centered design and robust DevSecOps, you will transform massive, complex government data streams into clean,...

$125k–$164kView

Data Scientist

What is a Data Scientist at Steampunk? At Steampunk, Data Scientists are at the forefront of driving innovation for public sector and enterprise clients. You are not just building models in a vacuum; you are solving highly complex, mission-critical problems that impact government operations, citizen services, and large-scale digital transformations....

$40k–$950kView

Project Manager

What is a Project Manager at Steampunk? At Steampunk, a Project Manager (which frequently encompasses roles like Scrum Master, Business Analyst, and Program Manager) is not just a task-tracker or a schedule-keeper. You are a strategic facilitator who bridges the gap between complex federal agency missions and modern, human-centered technology...

$75k–$200kView

QA Engineer

What is a QA Engineer at Steampunk? At Steampunk, a QA Engineer (often hiring under specialized titles such as Salesforce Tester/QA or Business Analyst/QA Tester) plays a critical role in bridging the gap between complex federal requirements and high-quality software delivery. Steampunk is a human-centered design agency and IT contractor...

$75k–$140kView

Software Engineer

What is a Software Engineer at Steampunk? At Steampunk, a Software Engineer is more than just a coder; you are a digital architect and a change agent for some of the most critical sectors of our nation's infrastructure. Operating at the intersection of human-centered design and cutting-edge technology, our engineering...

$82k–$175kView

03Compensation

What Steampunk pays, by level

Estimated total compensation: base salary plus stock and annual cash bonus.

Median $133k

LevelBaseStockBonus / yrTotal comp

All levels$79k–$200k——$75k–$200k

Ranges blend verified compensation data points · base + stock + annual bonus shown. Estimates only.

04FAQ

Steampunk interview FAQ

Answered from real candidate and workplace data, marked up for rich results.

How hard is the Steampunk interview?

Candidates most commonly rate Steampunk interviews as medium, based on 50 reported interviews.

How much does Steampunk pay for data roles?

Reported total comp for data roles at Steampunk ranges from roughly $75k to $200k per year, varying by level, team, and location.

What topics does Steampunk test in interviews?

Steampunk interviews most often cover Data Transformation, Data Validation, Scalability, Data Engineering, and Project Management. The exact emphasis depends on the specific role you apply for.

What roles can I prepare for at Steampunk?

Dataford has interview guides for 5 roles at Steampunk, including Data Engineer, Data Scientist, Project Manager, and QA Engineer, and more.

Where is Steampunk headquartered?

Steampunk is headquartered in McLean, VA.

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