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Netflix·Software Engineer·Technical Phone Screen·Senior

Senior
May 2026

Summary

Netflix data science interview with a single open-ended product question about series renewal. No frills, just a big ambiguous prompt and you figure out where to take it.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

You're a data scientist at Netflix. Walk through how you'd use data to determine whether a TV series should be renewed for another season.

Product Analytics & MetricsA/B Testing & ExperimentationProduct Strategy
Author's notes

This is the kind of question where you can go in fifteen different directions and none of them feel wrong, which is somehow worse than a hard constraint.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by clarifying the business goal—renewal decisions balance engagement, cost, and strategic value. Then outline a data-driven framework that combines viewership metrics, retention analysis, and predictive modeling, while acknowledging the limitations of observational data and the need for experimentation.

Pro tip: Emphasize that renewal decisions are not purely data-driven; they also depend on strategic factors like content portfolio balance and talent relationships. Showing awareness of these nuances demonstrates maturity and business acumen.

1. Define Success Metrics

Identify key metrics that indicate a show's value, such as total viewership, completion rate, and retention impact. Also consider cost per viewer and strategic importance.

2. Analyze Viewership and Engagement

Examine viewership trends over time, including season-over-season growth, binge behavior, and demographic breakdowns. Compare against benchmarks and similar shows.

3. Measure Impact on Retention and Acquisition

Use causal inference methods (e.g., propensity score matching, difference-in-differences) to estimate how the show affects subscriber retention and acquisition. Consider A/B testing if feasible.

4. Predict Future Performance

Build predictive models to forecast viewership for a potential next season, incorporating factors like decay curves, marketing spend, and competitive landscape.

5. Synthesize and Recommend

Combine quantitative findings with qualitative factors (e.g., critical acclaim, cultural impact) to make a recommendation. Present trade-offs and uncertainties.

Key Points to Mention

  • Viewership metrics: total hours viewed, completion rate, and unique viewers.
  • Retention and acquisition impact: how the show affects subscriber churn and new sign-ups.
  • Cost considerations: production costs, marketing expenses, and opportunity cost.
  • Causal inference: methods to isolate the show's effect from other factors.
  • Predictive modeling: forecasting future viewership and ROI.
  • Strategic factors: portfolio balance, brand value, and talent relationships.

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.