Reached out to internal employee for referral. Interview got scheduled within a week. The interview process focused heavily on Python scripting, DevOps-style deployment questions, and low-level parameter tuning in models like XGBoost. Contrary to the job description, there were no system design or architecture questions, which are typically expected at this level. Candidates with a strong ML system design background should clarify upfront whether the focus aligns with their expertise, as the rounds were more execution-level and less strategic/architectural.