BH Flashcards
Tell me about a time you had to learn something new for a project.
Situation: I led the Panther Labs Correlation Rules project from ideation to deployment. As the project lead, I was tasked with deciding on the architecture and implementation of the correlation rules. One of the key decisions involved determining the best approach for handling complex pattern matching: either using the Match Recognize feature in Snowflake or building an in-house finite state machine.
Task: My responsibility was to evaluate these two options and choose the best solution. This required me to quickly learn about Snowflake’s Match Recognize functionality and understand how it could be integrated into our architecture. I also had to weigh this option against the possibility of developing a custom solution from scratch.
Action: I explored the documentation and examples for Snowflake, specifically the Match Recognize feature. I tested different use cases, focusing on pattern matching criteria, and compared the benefits of using Match Recognize versus building a finite state machine. After evaluating both options, I concluded that Snowflake’s solution would be more scalable and efficient for our needs, given the complexity and scale of the data we were working with.
Result: As a result, I implemented the Match Recognize feature, which was integral to meeting 90% of our use cases. The decision to use Snowflake’s functionality allowed the project to proceed more efficiently, without the overhead of developing a custom finite state machine, and supported the project’s successful deployment.
Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a coworker or manager.
Situation: During the Panther Labs Correlation Rules project, there was a disagreement with my manager about the best approach to meet customer requirements for handling complex pattern matching. My manager proposed building an in-house finite state machine, while I suggested leveraging Snowflake’s Match Recognize feature.
Task: I needed to address this disagreement and determine the most effective solution that would meet the customer’s needs while being efficient and scalable.
Action: To resolve the conflict, I conducted customer demos to gain a clearer understanding of their actual requirements. Through these discussions, it became clear that the use cases my manager was concerned about hadn’t been raised by the customers. I then explained to my manager how using Snowflake’s Match Recognize would allow us to offload the computational work to Snowflake, reducing the need for additional complexity and maintenance on our side.
Result: Ultimately, we chose to use Snowflake, which provided a more scalable and efficient solution. This decision not only met the customer requirements but also simplified the long-term maintenance of the system, leading to a successful deployment.
Tell me about a time you did something impactful
Share one experience you’re proud of
Situation: During the Panther Labs Correlation Rules project, I saw an opportunity to improve our ability to detect complex attack behaviors across log data. I took the initiative to pitch the idea and design the system, which I believed would significantly enhance security monitoring.
Task: Although I wasn’t directly tasked with this, I decided to move forward with the project. I pitched the concept through a Request for Comments (RFC), collaborated with the product manager to create the product specification, and wrote a comprehensive technical specification detailing the tech stack, architecture design, security considerations, milestones, and deployment plan.
Action: After developing the correlation rules system, I demoed it to customers, gathering feedback on its intuitiveness and ease of use. The positive feedback and enthusiasm from customers, including their eagerness to participate in the closed beta, confirmed its value. Additionally, part of my demo efforts involved engaging with our largest customers to secure renewals and also helped bring in new clients.
Result: The system was successfully deployed, showcasing its value at Black Hat earlier this year. It improved real-time security monitoring, and customer feedback validated its impact. The demos also played a critical role in retaining large customers and securing new ones, strengthening the company’s customer base and relationships.
Tell me about a time you had to drop everything to pick up an urgent task.
Tell me about a time when priorities were shifted.
Tell me about a time you had conflicting priorities and how you solved it.
Situation:
After creating the Request for Comments (RFC) for the Correlation Rules project, I was focused on extending our alert delivery system to add more integrations and enhance its resilience. I anticipated that it would take some time before we received feedback on the Correlation Rules project.
Task:
Unexpectedly, the Correlation Rules project gained significant attention from the CTO, CEO, and the broader company due to its value. At the same time, we had several large customers up for renewal, and they were threatening not to renew. To help retain these customers, I was asked to quickly build a proof of concept (POC) for the Correlation Rules project and demo it to them.
Action:
I dropped my ongoing work on the alert delivery system and focused on developing the POC for the Correlation Rules project. I demoed the POC to the customers, and their positive feedback secured their renewals. Following the demos, I was shifted to fully build out the Correlation Rules project, which involved writing the technical and product specifications, handling implementation, and overseeing deployment.
Result:
The POC and subsequent work on the Correlation Rules project not only helped secure customer renewals but also brought more visibility to the project. It contributed to the success of the Correlation Rules project, which was deployed and later showcased at Black Hat.
Why C1?
I’m excited about the opportunity to join Capital One for several reasons. First, after working remotely for some time, I’m looking for a hybrid or in-office opportunity to collaborate more closely with teams and contribute in a dynamic environment. Capital One’s culture of innovation and the use of modern technologies aligns perfectly with my skills and interests. I’m particularly drawn to the company’s work with high volumes of data, as it presents both unique challenges and opportunities to leverage cutting-edge tools and strategies to solve complex problems. Additionally, Capital One’s commitment to driving positive customer experiences through technology is something I deeply admire. I believe my experience in designing and implementing impactful technical solutions would allow me to contribute meaningfully to your teams, especially as the company continues to expand its data-driven initiatives.
Tell me about a time you made a mistake and what you learned from it?
Situation:
In a previous project, I was responsible for overseeing the integration of a new feature into our alerting system. During the development, I made an assumption about the timeline and the complexity of a third-party integration that turned out to be more involved than I initially thought.
Task:
I was tasked with ensuring the feature was integrated smoothly and on time, but I didn’t factor in enough time to handle the additional complexity of the integration.
Action:
When it became clear that the integration would not meet the initial deadline, I took immediate action to adjust our plans. I communicated openly with my team and stakeholders, explained the challenge, and worked to adjust the timeline and re-prioritize tasks. I also sought guidance from a more experienced colleague to explore alternative approaches to streamline the integration.
Result:
We successfully completed the integration, though it required additional time. The key takeaway was the importance of more thoroughly vetting assumptions and accounting for potential challenges. I also learned to be more proactive in seeking input from others early in the process and to build in more buffer time for unforeseen complexities. Since then, I’ve taken extra steps to validate the scope and timeline of integrations before making assumptions, which has helped improve my project planning and communication skills.
