United Technologies & Information Services Data Engineer interview questions & guide 2026

The questions below represent the core technical and professional competencies required for the Data Engineer position at United Technologies & Information Services. While individual interviews may vary based on the specific project needs, you should expect a focus on your ability to handle complex migrations and your proficiency with the Microsoft data stack.

Technical Competency

These questions assess your depth of knowledge in SSIS and your ability to translate that logic into Microsoft Fabric and PySpark.

• How would you approach parsing and documenting complex SSIS .dtsx files to identify dependencies?
• Explain your strategy for converting SSIS Script Tasks (C# or VB.NET) into Python-based logic within a notebook.

Success at United Technologies & Information Services requires a balance of deep technical mastery and the ability to operate independently in a consulting capacity. Prepare to demonstrate not just your ability to code, but your ability to architect scalable solutions.

Role-Related Knowledge – You must demonstrate deep expertise in SQL Server architecture and SSIS internals. Interviewers will look for evidence that you understand the "why" behind legacy patterns, which allows you to effectively map them to modern Microsoft Fabric equivalents.

Technical Agility – UTIS values engineers who can learn and deploy new tools quickly. You should be prepared to discuss how you integrate AI tools into your workflow to reduce repetitive manual labor and increase code quality.

Communication & Consulting Presence – Because you will be working with U.S.-based client stakeholders, your ability to articulate complex technical migrations in clear, fluent English is critical. Demonstrate your reliability by providing concrete examples of how you have maintained transparency in previous projects.

The interview process at United Technologies & Information Services is designed to be efficient and highly focused on your practical experience. You can expect a direct approach where the interviewers—often including leadership—aim to quickly determine if your technical background aligns with the specific requirements of their ongoing client projects.

The process typically begins with an online application, followed by a recruiter screen or an email-based pre-screening form. If you progress, you will likely interview with a program director. The conversation will be highly technical and role-specific, centered on your ability to execute the required migration tasks. Because this is a boutique firm, the process moves quickly, and you should be prepared to discuss your availability and alignment with the role immediately.

The timeline above highlights the streamlined nature of the UTIS hiring process. Candidates should interpret this as a signal that the company is looking for "plug-and-play" expertise. Ensure your resume and talking points are heavily weighted toward your SSIS-to-cloud migration experience to make the most of these short, high-impact interactions.

SSIS and SQL Server Mastery

This is the baseline for the role. You must prove you can navigate legacy environments.

• Data Flow and Control Flow design – Be ready to explain how you manage complex package dependencies.
• SSISDB Catalog management – Understand the deployment and environment variable mapping process.
• T-SQL Proficiency – Focus on indexed views, stored procedures, and complex data transformations.

Example scenarios:

• "Walk me through how you would document a portfolio of 100+ legacy packages."
• "How do you handle transaction-scoped logic when migrating from an on-premise environment?"

Modernization to Microsoft Fabric

This area tests your ability to bridge the gap between legacy and modern cloud platforms.

• PySpark and Python – Proficiency in data transformation using .join(), .withColumn(), and .filter().
• Fabric Architecture – Understanding how to use Lakehouses and Warehouses as a destination for migrated data.
• Reconciliation Frameworks – How you validate row counts and data types between source and target.

Example scenarios:

• "How do you map a complex SSIS Lookup transform into a PySpark operation?"
• "What is your approach to handling CDC patterns in a Fabric-based architecture?"

Agentic AI Development

UTIS is committed to AI-assisted workflows; showing comfort here differentiates you from other candidates.

• AI-Augmented Coding – Ability to write effective prompts or rulesets for tools like Claude Code.
• Automation Frameworks – Designing repeatable pipelines that can handle batch processing.

Example scenarios:

• "How do you structure a rules file for an AI agent to ensure consistent coding standards?"
• "How do you validate the output generated by an AI-assisted migration agent?"

Your primary mandate is the conversion of legacy SSIS packages to Microsoft Fabric. This is a hands-on technical role where you will be expected to produce results starting in your first few weeks. You will move from inventorying existing packages to building an "agentic migration accelerator" that automates the conversion process.

Once the framework is operational, you will shift to executing the migration of approximately 100 packages. You will be responsible for triaging these packages based on complexity, handling the manual conversion of custom logic, and ensuring that all migrated pipelines meet production standards. Beyond the technical execution, you will serve as a key point of contact for U.S.-based stakeholders, providing clear documentation and participating in regular sync calls to ensure project alignment.

To be competitive for this Senior Data Engineer position, you must demonstrate a mix of deep legacy knowledge and modern cloud proficiency.

• Must-have skills:

  • 5+ years of hands-on SSIS development.
  • Strong T-SQL proficiency and SQL Server architecture knowledge.
  • Working proficiency in Python and PySpark.
  • Experience with Microsoft Fabric, Azure Data Factory, or Azure Databricks.
  • Fluent English communication for daily client collaboration.

• Nice-to-have skills:

  • Hands-on experience with AI-assisted coding tools like Claude Code or Cursor.
  • Prior experience with an SSIS-to-cloud migration project.
  • Microsoft certifications such as DP-600 or DP-203.

Q: How difficult is the interview process? A: The process is generally straightforward but requires a high degree of technical specificity. Because UTIS is a boutique firm, they value direct, clear communication about your technical capabilities over lengthy, abstract theoretical rounds.

Q: What differentiates successful candidates? A: Successful candidates demonstrate a clear understanding of the "migration journey." They don't just know SSIS or Fabric in isolation; they understand how to map the logic from one to the other while maintaining data integrity.

Q: Will I be expected to manage people? A: No, this is a strictly hands-on technical role. Your success is measured by your ability to build migration frameworks and deliver converted, validated pipelines.

Q: How long is the typical interview process? A: It is quite rapid. You should expect the process to move from application to decision within a few weeks.

• Own your experience: When asked how your experience fits the role, be specific about your SSIS migration history. Don't just list technologies; explain the complexity of the environments you have managed.
• Embrace the AI-first mindset: If you have used AI tools for coding, highlight this early. Even if your experience is limited, express enthusiasm for using Claude Code to accelerate your development speed.
• Focus on the "Why": When discussing code, explain why you chose a specific transformation method. This demonstrates the architectural thinking necessary for a senior role.
• Prepare for the schedule: Since the role requires working during U.S. hours, demonstrate that you have a plan to maintain a healthy work-life balance while accommodating the time zone overlap.

The Senior Data Engineer role at United Technologies & Information Services offers a unique opportunity to lead a critical modernization project for Fortune 500 clients. By combining your deep knowledge of SQL Server and SSIS with the latest in AI-augmented development, you will play a pivotal role in shaping how UTIS delivers enterprise analytics.

Preparation is the key to success. Focus on articulating your past migration experiences, your comfort with the Microsoft data stack, and your readiness to use AI tools to drive efficiency. Candidates can explore additional interview insights, practice questions, and preparation resources on Dataford to further refine their approach. With focused, structured preparation, you are well-positioned to demonstrate the expertise UTIS is looking for.

The salary data provided represents the broad range for this position, which reflects the high level of seniority and specialized expertise required for this boutique consulting role. Candidates should interpret these figures as a guide for market expectations, keeping in mind that total compensation may vary based on your specific years of experience, depth of SSIS-to-cloud migration success, and the specific client projects you are slated to support.