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Adobe·Data Scientist·Technical Phone Screen·Senior

Senior
Jun 2026

Summary

Adobe DS interview with a product analytics case built around Adobe Express. One meaty scenario question that spiraled into a bunch of sub-topics. Felt like a structured case more than a pure technical screen.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

Adobe Express is seeing around 1 million downloads per day, but daily active users aren't growing. How would you investigate this gap, and what analyses, hypotheses, and experiments would you run?

Product Analytics & MetricsRoot Cause AnalysisA/B Testing & Experimentation
Author's notes

This one sprawled more than I expected.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by validating the data and defining the metrics precisely, then segment the user base to identify where the gap between downloads and DAU occurs. Formulate hypotheses about potential causes, prioritize them, and design experiments to test the most impactful ones.

Pro tip: Focus on the quality of downloads and early user experience—many apps see high installs but low retention due to onboarding friction or mismatched expectations. Highlight the importance of cohort analysis and retention curves to uncover the real story.

1. Validate and Define Metrics

Ensure downloads and DAU are measured consistently and accurately. Clarify what constitutes a 'download' (e.g., new installs vs. re-installs) and an 'active user' (e.g., opens app, performs key action).

2. Segment and Cohort Analysis

Break down users by acquisition channel, geography, device, and time. Analyze retention curves and cohort behavior to see if certain groups have low engagement or churn quickly.

3. Formulate Hypotheses

Generate hypotheses for why DAU isn't growing despite high downloads, such as poor onboarding, lack of compelling features, or seasonal effects. Prioritize based on potential impact and ease of testing.

4. Design and Run Experiments

Test hypotheses through A/B tests or multivariate experiments. For example, test onboarding improvements, push notification strategies, or feature enhancements to see impact on retention and DAU.

5. Monitor and Iterate

Continuously track key metrics post-experiment, learn from results, and iterate. Use findings to inform product roadmap and marketing strategies.

Key Points to Mention

  • Cohort analysis and retention curves to understand user behavior over time
  • Segmentation by acquisition channel, geography, and device to identify disparities
  • Funnel analysis from download to activation to retention
  • Hypotheses around onboarding friction, feature adoption, and notification effectiveness
  • A/B testing framework and statistical significance
  • Potential data quality issues or metric definition misalignment

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