To succeed in the Thorson Baker & Associates interview process, you must prepare to showcase a blend of software engineering logic and physical engineering awareness. Interviewers are not just looking for syntax experts; they want engineers who understand why a calculation is being made.

Role-Related Knowledge – You must demonstrate proficiency in software development (such as C#, Python, or C++) alongside a solid grasp of foundational engineering principles. Be ready to discuss how software interfaces with CAD/BIM platforms and how physical math translates to code.

Problem-Solving & Rationale – We place a strong emphasis on your engineering rationale. When asked a technical question, walk your interviewers through your step-by-step thinking process, showing how you structure a problem before writing a single line of code.

Consulting & Collaboration Mindset – Working at TBA means serving internal and external stakeholders. You need to show that you can communicate complex software concepts to structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers who may not have a computer science background.

Culture & Initiative – We highly value candidates who take the initiative to research our firm, our past projects, and our market presence. Showing a genuine interest in building systems and consulting engineering is a major differentiator.

The interview process at Thorson Baker & Associates is straightforward, conversational, and highly focused on practical capability. We value direct interaction and aim to move candidates through the pipeline efficiently, often extending offers within a week of the final interview.

Your journey typically begins with a brief phone screen or a direct invitation to our office following a resume review. The core of our evaluation is a comprehensive, on-site interview. This session is conducted in a collaborative conference room setting and is almost always led by two or three senior engineers or founding principals of the firm. This panel structure ensures that you get to meet key decision-makers immediately and gain a clear understanding of our leadership style.

The on-site interview is conversational but rigorous. It balances a deep dive into your resume with a discussion of physical engineering design rationale. Following the verbal interview, you will complete a brief, hands-on technical assessment focused on engineering fundamentals. To conclude your visit, we will take you on a tour of the company floor, giving you a first-hand look at how our different engineering departments are situated and how our teams collaborate daily.

The timeline above outlines the typical progression from your initial application to the final decision. Candidates should use this timeline to pace their preparation, ensuring they are ready for both the conversational panel and the technical engineering assessment on the same day. While the process moves quickly, maintaining high energy and thorough preparation for the on-site day is critical.

To help you target your preparation, we have broken down the primary areas where candidates are evaluated during the Thorson Baker & Associates interview.

Fundamental Engineering & Design Rationale

This evaluation area is unique to TBA. Because our software tools are used to design safe, real-world structures and systems, our software engineers must understand the basic physics and mechanics of engineering.

Be ready to go over:

• Structural Mechanics – Basic concepts of load paths, tributary areas, and stress-strain relationships.
• Diagrammatic Analysis – Drawing and interpreting shear-moment diagrams for simple beams.
• Component Design – Understanding how individual building components (beams, columns, slabs) interact within a larger system.
• Advanced concepts (less common) – Finite element analysis (FEA) basics and dynamic loading principles.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Given a simple beam with a uniform dead load, how would you write a function to calculate the maximum bending moment?"
• "Explain how tributary area calculations change when moving from a one-way slab system to a two-way slab system."

Systems & Technology Integration

Our software must integrate seamlessly with industry-standard design tools. You will be evaluated on your ability to build software that interacts with complex engineering databases and design suites.

Be ready to go over:

• BIM & CAD APIs – Experience or familiarity with Revit API, AutoCAD ObjectARX, or similar design software development kits.
• Data Modeling – How to structure relational data representing physical objects and spatial coordinates.
• Automation Scripting – Writing scripts to automate repetitive drafting, design, or calculation tasks.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "How would you design an interface to extract structural geometry data from a BIM model and feed it into an external calculation engine?"
• "Describe your approach to handling data validation when importing external engineering spreadsheets into our core database."

Behavioral & Consulting Fit

Consulting engineering is a fast-paced, deadline-driven industry. We assess how you handle pressure, collaborate across disciplines, and align with the professional culture of our firm.

Be ready to go over:

• Multidisciplinary Communication – How you explain software limitations or capabilities to non-technical stakeholders.
• Handling Ambiguity – Your approach when engineering requirements are incomplete or subject to change.
• Prioritization – Managing multiple software requests from different engineering departments simultaneously.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Tell me about a time you had to deliver a tool on a tight deadline. What trade-offs did you make to ensure reliability?"
• "How would you handle a situation where a structural principal requests a software feature that violates standard software development security practices?"

As a Software Engineer at Thorson Baker & Associates, your daily responsibilities will center on creating technology solutions that empower our design teams. You will not write code in a vacuum; you will work directly alongside practicing structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers.

• Develop Custom Engineering Tools – Write, test, and maintain proprietary software applications and plugins that automate structural calculations, MEP system layouts, and electrical load distributions.
• Integrate BIM and CAD Workflows – Develop custom add-ins and APIs for platforms like Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD to streamline the transfer of design data between drafting environments and calculation engines.
• Collaborate Across Departments – Walk the company floor to gather requirements from structural, mechanical, and electrical design engineers, translating their physical design methodologies into functional software specifications.
• Maintain and Optimize Databases – Manage internal databases containing building component specifications, material properties, and engineering standards to ensure fast, reliable access for design applications.
• Ensure Code Quality and Accuracy – Perform rigorous testing of calculation algorithms to guarantee that software outputs align perfectly with building codes and engineering physics.