Here’s a guide with sample answers, phrased as if you were speaking during the

interview:

1. Technical Leadership & Program Management

Q: “Tell me about a time you led a technical team to deliver a complex project.”

A: “Sure. In my current role at Tata Advanced Systems, I led the team responsible
for delivering the Boeing B737 Fancowl program. This was a large, cross-functional
project involving multiple teams. I ensured that all project requirements were
clearly defined from the start, and I worked closely with engineering to finalize
the technical solutions. Throughout the project, I regularly communicated with
stakeholders to provide status updates and ensure alignment. One of the challenges
was a delay caused by a supply chain issue. I mitigated this by reallocating
resources to focus on parts that were immediately available, keeping the project on
track. We delivered the project successfully, on time, and within budget.”

Q: “How do you handle multiple projects with competing deadlines?”

A: “I use a prioritization framework to assess the criticality of each project

based on its impact on the business. For example, if one project has a higher
business value or tighter deadline, I’ll focus more resources there, while ensuring
that the others are progressing. I use tools like JIRA to manage workflows and
monitor the progress of each project. Communication is also key—I ensure that
stakeholders are aware of timelines and any potential delays. In cases where
deadlines overlap, I set clear expectations early on, so that we can mitigate the
risks proactively.”

2. Agile & Scrum Practices

Q: “How do you ensure that the Agile process is followed by your team?”

A: “I’ve implemented Agile practices in multiple teams. I make sure the team
understands the importance of each ceremony—daily standups, sprint planning, and
retrospectives. I facilitate these ceremonies to ensure we stay on track. For
example, I introduced daily standups in my current role, which improved
communication and helped us identify blockers early. I also use JIRA for tracking
the sprint progress, ensuring that the team remains focused on our sprint goals.”

Q: “What’s your process for backlog grooming?”

A: “Backlog grooming is crucial to ensure that the team is always working on high-
priority tasks. I regularly meet with the product owner to review the backlog,
prioritize items based on business needs, and ensure that stories are well-defined
before they reach the sprint planning stage. I encourage the team to provide input
during these sessions so that we have a clear understanding of what can be
realistically delivered in the next sprint.”

3. Stakeholder Management & Communication

Q: “How do you tailor your communication when dealing with both technical and non-
technical stakeholders?”

A: “I always adjust my communication based on the audience. For technical

stakeholders, I focus on specific challenges and technical details, like
architecture or integration issues. For non-technical stakeholders, such as product
or business teams, I frame discussions around the impact on business goals,
timelines, and deliverables. For instance, when I was managing the B787 Door
Surround program, I had to explain a technical delay to the leadership team.
Instead of diving into engineering details, I focused on the business impact and
how we were mitigating the delay to meet the project goals.”

Q: “Tell us about a time when you had to manage conflicting stakeholder

expectations.”

A: “In one project, our engineering team wanted to delay a release to fix a minor
technical issue, but the business team needed the release to go out for a client
demo. I mediated by proposing a compromise: we went ahead with the release for the
demo, and I allocated resources for a post-demo patch to address the technical
issue. This ensured that both teams’ needs were met without compromising the
project’s success.”

4. Risk Management

Q: “Can you give an example of a project that encountered major risks? How did you
mitigate those risks?”

A: “One example that comes to mind is when we were working on the Boeing B737
program, and we faced a delay due to a vendor’s supply chain issues. I quickly
assembled a risk management plan. I communicated the issue to the leadership team
and collaborated with our procurement department to identify alternative suppliers.
At the same time, I re-prioritized internal tasks to minimize downtime. This
proactive approach ensured that we mitigated the risk and still met our delivery
timeline.”

5. Behavioral Questions

Q: “Describe a time when you had to deal with ambiguity in a project.”

A: “There was a project where the requirements were not fully defined at the start,
and we were working with multiple stakeholders with conflicting priorities. To
manage this ambiguity, I made sure we broke the project into smaller deliverables.
I set up regular check-ins with stakeholders to clarify the requirements as we
moved along, which allowed us to keep the project progressing even though
everything wasn’t fully defined at the beginning. Over time, as things became
clearer, we adjusted the project plan and successfully delivered it.”

Q: “Tell me about a time you faced a challenging situation with a team member. How
did you resolve it?”

A: “I had a situation where one of the engineers was struggling with their
workload, which was causing delays in our project. Instead of escalating the issue,
I had a one-on-one conversation with them to understand their challenges. We
discussed possible solutions, including redistributing some of their tasks and
providing additional support where needed. By addressing the issue early, we were
able to get the project back on track without affecting team morale.”

6. Cultural Fit

Q: “Why do you want to work at PayU?”

A: “I’m really excited about the fintech space, and PayU’s mission to create
financial accessibility resonates with me. I’m particularly drawn to PayU because
of its impact in high-growth markets and the opportunity to work on innovative
products at scale. I also appreciate that PayU encourages continuous learning and
professional growth. The idea of working in a dynamic, evolving environment with a
focus on cutting-edge technology is something I thrive in.”

Q: “How do you handle changes in project scope or direction?”

A: “I understand that change is a constant in dynamic environments, and I’m

comfortable with it. Whenever there’s a scope change, I first assess the impact on
timelines, resources, and deliverables. Then, I communicate these changes clearly
to the team and stakeholders to manage expectations. I ensure that any changes are
documented and that we adjust our roadmap and sprint plans accordingly. At Tata
Advanced Systems, I managed multiple instances of scope changes by being proactive,
staying flexible, and ensuring that the team remained aligned with the new
direction.”

7. Technical Knowledge

Q: “Explain the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and how you’ve managed
projects across different phases.”

A: “The SDLC involves several phases: requirement gathering, design, development,

testing, deployment, and maintenance. I’ve managed projects across these phases by
ensuring that each stage is clearly defined, with deliverables and timelines agreed
upon. For example, in one of the aerospace programs I led, we followed a similar
structured process, with regular design reviews, testing cycles, and deployment
checkpoints. Using tools like JIRA, I tracked progress at each phase and ensured
that the team met our milestones.”

Q: “How do you ensure product quality and align it with the team’s release
process?”

A: “I believe that quality should be built into the process, not something that’s
added at the end. I work closely with both the QA team and developers to ensure
that testing happens throughout the development process. I also make sure that we
have proper documentation and that test cases are aligned with the product
requirements. For release management, I ensure that the product is deployed in a
controlled environment, with detailed release notes and a rollback plan in place if
needed.”

By preparing answers like these, you’ll be ready to showcase your skills and
experience in a confident, clear, and relevant way during your interview at PayU.