Palantir: A call to service
Working at Palantir requires elite technical talent, dedication, and versatility, but above all, it requires a passion for meeting hard problems head on. At Palantir, making a difference is not something we aspire to; it’s what we expect from ourselves each day. Palantir has taken on some of the most critical analytical challenges we face, spanning the fields of national security, global finance, cyber defense, regulation & oversight, public health, and disease control, and we welcome many more. If you are willing to make the commitment – to meeting your highest standards, to your teammates, and to making a positive impact – we look forward to hearing from you.
Coming from a large company?
Here are some basic questions you should be prepared to respond to:
- What drives you to leave the stability of your job and enter the fast-paced world of a Silicon Valley startup?
- What mission were you hired to fulfill at your current job, what mission are you actually fulfilling?
- What is the long-term vision of our company and what does that mean to you?
- What part of working late, tirelessly competing against DC insiders, and taking on Fortune 500s on their own turf appeals to you?
- What makes you different from your peers at your current company?
Joining our team
Less than 3% of candidates who receive a phone interview will receive an offer. The strongest candidates, beyond their abilities, are actually quite prepared for interacting with the Palantir team. Here are some simple things you can do to shine through:
Be prepared
We expect candidates to spend time learning about Palantir, our culture, our environment, and our products. There is a wealth of information on the web that you can browse before your phone interview. Check out the following items:
- Read the two most recent entries on the Palantir Finance and Palantir Government analysis blogs
- Watch the Palantir White Videos – technical introductions to the platform in video form
- Learn what people outside the company are saying – read the media section. You should read the Wall Street Journal article in particular to better understand the culture, work ethic, and mission of the company.
Use the products!
Get hands-on experience with Palantir Government as an analyst would – in Operation Tradestop (complete all five taskings)
Analyze data from Data.gov in AnalyzeThe.US and send us some interesting vignettes you discover for bonus points
Take Palantir Finance for a JoyRide – the strongest candidates will send us their original analysis
Use the Palantir API to extend and customize the platform using our step-by-step starter kits.
The steps
Across all our teams, the interview process starts with 1-2 phone interviews. Phone interviews are typically 20-45 minutes and depending on the team, will include a conversation about your prior experiences and technical questions. We try to leave time in every phone interview for candidates to ask questions of the interviewer.
If the phone interview process goes well, the next step is an onsite interview. We usually hold onsite interviews on Fridays at our office in Palo Alto, CA. For fly-in candidates, we coordinate all the logistics of your trip out to California.