Data Science Hiring Process at Fujitsu India

The Exact Interview is published at Analytics India Magazine

You can read it here as well with some deviation.

Fujitsu’s journey, rooted in the resilience and innovation that followed the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, has evolved into a global technology leader. Established in 1935, initially focusing on telephone equipment, Fujitsu’s transformative path began with Japan’s first computer, the FACOM 100, marking our entry into the computer industry and reinforcing our commitment to societal progress.

Through the decades, we have led advancements in Computing, from developing successive FACOM computers in the 1950s to embracing international standardization in the 1970s, enhancing our global presence. The launch of the FMV series during the 1980s personal computing era and the shift to software and services in the 1990s aligned with global ICT transformations. The new millennium saw us leading in the Internet era, and the 2010s focused on cloud computing, AI, IoT, and cybersecurity. Our current focus lies in key areas: Computing, network, AI, data & security, and convergent technologies, with significant developments like Computing as a Service (CaaS), the Kozuchi AI Platform, and the 1FINITY Ultra Optical System.

Our supercomputing prowess is highlighted by the development of the world’s fastest supercomputers, K in 2011 and Fugaku in 2020. Fujitsu’s resilience and decades-long hardware and software development expertise distinguish us in technology. Our digital transformation leadership spans sustainable manufacturing, consumer experiences, healthy living, and Hybrid IT.

Fujitsu’s commitment extends beyond technology, focusing on sustainability and social responsibility, ingrained in our long-held values and Japanese heritage principles of Kaizen and Ikigai. We remain dedicated to innovation, leveraging our technological expertise to address societal challenges and enrich human well-being, positioning Fujitsu as a leading partner in progress in a rapidly evolving digital world.

Inside Fujitsu’s Data Science Team

Fujitsu Ltd. is a leader in sustainable innovation, spanning its technology and solutions from the ocean to space. It is dedicated to harnessing AI technology to develop diverse, secure, and universally accessible solutions. Our global deployment of over 6,000 AI solutions underlines our commitment to making AI an essential and ubiquitous part of daily life. The team consists of experts of all levels and diverse backgrounds.

Our industry prominence stems from our ability to deliver comprehensive end-to-end AI solutions. We work closely with clients to turn AI proofs of concept into practical business applications, as demonstrated by our Kozuchi AI platform. This platform, which includes AI Innovation Components for pre-packaged technologies and AI Core Engines, enables rapid validation and implementation of AI across various business scenarios.

We are accelerating cancer research, particularly drug resistance, where we have significantly reduced timeframe. Furthermore, our Fujitsu AutoML and fairness technology exemplify our dedication to democratizing AI. This technology is open-source and hosted on the Linux Foundation. Our initiatives extend to enhancing road and river safety, showcasing our commitment to fostering a smarter, safer, and more efficient society through AI.

In our pursuit of transparency in AI, we offer solutions like WideLearning and Deep Tensor that support explainable AI. As a founding member of AI4People, an organization dedicated to AI ethics, we aim to develop ethical AI that eliminates bias and discrimination. In fact, Fujitsu had established AI Ethics and Governance Office to eensure the safe and secure deployment of AI and leading-edge technologies in Society.

We developed the Diversity tool; one example is the communication Tool LiveTalk for diversity and inclusion, which features multilingual speech recognition and an AI-equipped translation engine. This tool underscores our commitment to creating inclusive technologies catering to diverse users.

As generative AI is a hot topic, let me tell, we have multiple solutions addressing various sectors in the field. We developed technology to predict protein structural changes in drug discovery to reduce development time and costs. In finance, our AI streamlines development and system maintenance operations. Our AI modules generate avatars and customized content based on consumer behaviour data in retail, enhancing customer and business engagement.

We announced a collaboration in May 2023 with Tokyo Tech, Tohoku University, and RIKEN to develop distributed training for Large Language Models (LLMs), intending to enhance Japan’s AI research capabilities and utilize Fugaku in academic and industrial fields.

Fujitsu has also addressed the issue of hallucination in conversational AI, launching new technologies to protect these systems from hallucinations and adversarial attacks. This demonstrates our ongoing commitment to advancing AI technology while ensuring its safety and reliability. You can read about all these and more in the Fujitsu press release.

Our data science team includes developers, Data Annotators and Engineers, and associate data scientists to Senior Data Scientists. Based on their defined responsibilities, lead data scientists, managers, and senior managers- each specializing in technical, operational, and strategic domains- provide horizontal leadership. The Head of AI drives and executes AI projects and related strategic growth initiatives.

Interview Process

Specifically, At Fujitsu India, our interview process for AI roles is meticulously designed to identify and onboard the most qualified and suitable candidates. This process reflects our commitment to maintaining high standards of expertise and professionalism in our teams.

The journey begins with our specialized recruitment team, which is adept in sourcing talent for niche areas such as AI. They thoroughly understand the requirements of our project teams and, accordingly, reach out to candidates who align with the specific scope and needs of the projects. This initial screening is crucial in considering only the most fitting profiles.

Once the candidates are shortlisted, the project team engages in a further round of evaluation. This two-tier filtering process is instrumental in maintaining the quality and relevance of the candidates to the roles we are looking to fill. During this phase, the candidates emerge as potential fits for our AI team.

Candidates who successfully navigate these initial stages are invited to participate in a dynamic interview session. This begins with a challenging yet accessible 15-minute live programming assignment designed to test their practical problem-solving skills. Next, they undergo an in-depth technical interview that lasts 45 minutes to an hour. During this interview, candidates are asked scenario-based questions to assess their practical experience and understanding of AI. Depending on the role’s complexity and nature, this round might include different kinds of skills and multiple panelists for comprehensive evaluation.

In the next round, A project manager or senior manager, or sometimes I for senior Data Science roles that we are hiring, then assess the candidates who stand out in the technical interview. This stage of the interview process expands to include a broader range of skills, assessing the candidate’s technical knowledge in AI, business understanding, and interpersonal abilities. This holistic approach ensures we select technically proficient candidates who fit well within our organizational culture. Besides technology and business understanding, knowing an additional language like Japanese is a plus.

Finally, successful candidates proceed to the last phase, involving HR discussions. This stage is tailored to align the candidate’s career aspirations with Fujitsu India’s goals and values. It is an opportunity for both parties to understand each other better, ensuring a mutually beneficial decision.

We recruit candidates with Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees, tailoring our selection to the job’s complexity and required skill set. Our operations span Data Annotation, optimization, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and other cutting-edge fields for customer work and R&D. Ideal candidates should possess a strong foundation in algorithm, domain, and programming and the ability to adapt to customer needs swiftly.

Our comprehensive and engaging interview process is tailored for each role within the AI team. It reflects our dedication to attracting and nurturing top-tier talent, ensuring each new member is a technical fit and resonates with Fujitsu India’s values and culture.

Empowering Growth and Innovation in a Sustainable Workplace

Fujitsu’s work culture harmoniously blends sustainability, innovation, and core values — aspiration, Trust, and Empathy. We champion purpose-driven management, motivating employees to align their personal goals with our broader mission. Continuous learning and transforming our team into dynamic digital transformation (DX) experts skilled in digital technology, adaptive mindsets, and cultural agility are central to our culture.

Our pioneering Work Life Shift initiative, encompassing Smart Working, Borderless Office, and Culture Change, is designed to boost autonomy, well-being, and work-life balance. This approach underpins our commitment to career growth in a trust-centric environment, fueling innovative solutions for societal advancement.

We are steadfast in prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion. We aim to cultivate an environment where everyone is celebrated for their uniqueness and empowered to contribute fully, fostering a truly inclusive culture with a lasting, sustainable impact.

Environmental responsibility is a cornerstone of our ethos. Guided by our Global Responsible Business framework, we address critical human rights and well-being issues. This commitment extends beyond our organization as we strive to create a significant social impact, ensure long-term contributions to society, and provide ample opportunities for our employees’ growth and development.

Connect me at Amitkumar Shrivastava, Head of AI, Global Fuijtsu Distinguished Engineer & Fuijtsu Fellow