Introduction
Epic Systems is the largest electronic health record (EHR) company in the US, headquartered on a large campus in Verona, Wisconsin, near Madison. Its software runs a large share of US hospitals and academic medical centres, and its products include Hyperspace (the clinical workspace), MyChart (the patient portal and app used by well over a hundred million patients), Cosmos (a de-identified dataset covering about 320 million patients), and a fast-growing set of AI features under the names Art, Emmie and Penny.
Epic is unusual for PM candidates: it does not use the "product manager" title in the way tech companies do. Product work is spread across several roles that hire large numbers of new graduates each year:
- Software Developers design and build features end to end, including writing the design specification, talking to customers and deciding how the feature works.
- Quality Managers (QMs) test software against real clinical workflows and act as the voice of the user before release.
- Project Managers (implementation) lead customers through installing and optimising Epic, and feed customer needs back into development.
- Technical Solutions Engineers, UX designers and Customer Success staff complete the picture.
Students who want "product" experience in healthcare often target these roles. This guide explains how product work is done at Epic, how the hiring process works and how to prepare.
| Hiring Metric | Value (estimate) |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Verona, Wisconsin (on-campus work culture) |
| Main entry roles with product scope | Software Developer, Quality Manager, Project Manager |
| Primary hiring source | New graduates and early-career candidates from many majors |
| Key screening step | Online skills assessment (logic, math, programming-style puzzles) |
| Typical time from application to offer | 3–8 weeks |
Candidates consistently report that the skills assessment carries a lot of weight. One reviewer called it "heavily relied upon" in deciding offers; others describe logic and math questions plus a made-up programming language you learn during the test.
PM Role
At Epic, "product management" is distributed. Software developers own the design of the features they build, quality managers own whether those features work in real workflows, and project managers own customers' success with the software. Senior developers and team leads set direction for an application area, such as MyChart, Cosmos or inpatient nursing.
How product decisions happen:
- Customer input: Ideas come from customer requests, user group meetings (UGM in August, XGM in spring), advisory councils and site visits.
- Developer-led design: A developer writes a design document describing the problem, workflow and solution, reviews it with team leads and sometimes customers, then builds it.
- Quality management: QMs test features with realistic clinical scenarios and catch workflow gaps.
- Release: Epic now ships releases roughly every three months, so features reach customers faster than under the old 18-month cycle.
- Adoption: Implementation and technical services teams help customers turn features on; Epic tracks this through its "Gold Stars" programme.
Responsibilities by role:
| Role | Product-related responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | Feature design, coding, customer conversations, design reviews, supporting go-lives |
| Quality Manager | Test planning, workflow testing, usability feedback, release readiness |
| Project Manager | Implementation planning, customer workflow decisions, training, optimisation, travel to customer sites |
| Technical Solutions Engineer | Integrations, system performance, customer technical support |
Job Requirements
| Requirement | Software Developer | Quality Manager | Project Manager |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree | Bachelor's or higher, often CS or related, but other majors accepted | Any major | Any major |
| Technical skills | Programming experience helpful; Epic teaches its tools | No coding required | No coding required |
| Key strengths | Problem solving, logic, design thinking | Attention to detail, empathy for users | Communication, organisation, leadership |
| Location | Verona, Wisconsin | Verona, Wisconsin | Verona, Wisconsin, with customer travel |
| Work authorisation | Epic sponsors some roles; check postings | Varies | Varies |
Traits Epic looks for:
- Strong academic record and quantitative reasoning.
- Curiosity and willingness to learn healthcare.
- Comfort with relocating to the Madison area and working on campus.
- Customer focus; Epic's culture emphasises doing what's right for patients and customers.
Candidates sometimes talk about "managing products" in abstract tech terms. Epic interviewers prefer concrete examples of solving problems, learning quickly and caring about users.
Learn the basics of healthcare workflows: what nurses do at shift change, how orders flow, what a patient portal does. Even simple familiarity makes your answers stand out.
Interview Process Breakdown
| Stage | Format | Duration | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online application | Epic careers site | n/a | Resume, transcript, GPA, test scores sometimes requested |
| Role introduction / screen | Phone or video | 20–30 min | Interest in role, relocation, logistics |
| Skills assessment | Online, timed | 2–3 hours | Logic, math, reading comprehension, programming-style puzzles |
| Personality or situational questionnaire | Online | 30–45 min | Work style, stress handling (reported for some roles) |
| Interview day | Virtual or on campus in Verona | Half day | Behavioural interviews, problem solving, role-specific exercises |
| Offer | Recruiter call | n/a | Salary, start date, relocation |
Detailed breakdown:
Candidates describe logic puzzles, math word problems and a section where you learn a made-up programming language and answer questions using its rules. No prior coding is required for non-developer roles. Many candidates call it hard and say practice on SAT or ACT style math and logic helps.
Additional programming questions or exercises; interviewers look for clear problem solving more than knowledge of a specific language.
Interviews test attention to detail, logical thinking and how you'd test a workflow. Some candidates mention questions on handling stressful situations and time management.
Scenario questions about leading meetings, handling difficult customers, organising competing tasks and communicating clearly.
Several conversations with Epic staff, often including a tour of the campus when on site. Expect questions such as "Tell me about a time you solved a hard problem" and "How would you explain a technical concept to a non-technical person?"
Timeline expectations: Three to eight weeks from application to offer, with the skills assessment usually within a week or two of applying.
Product Manager Compensation & Levels at Epic Systems
Epic doesn't publish levels in the way big tech companies do. Pay grows through annual raises and promotions within each role. Estimates for 2026:
| Role | Starting base (USD) | Mid-career total (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $120,000–140,000 | $150,000–200,000 |
| Quality Manager | $80,000–95,000 | $100,000–130,000 |
| Project Manager | $70,000–85,000 | $90,000–120,000 |
| Technical Solutions Engineer | $80,000–95,000 | $100,000–130,000 |
Compensation includes base salary, an annual bonus, retirement plan contributions and benefits such as a paid sabbatical after five years. See the salary guide for detail. Figures are estimates based on PayScale, Levels.fyi, Glassdoor and candidate reports.
How to Prepare
- Practise the skills assessment: Logic puzzles, math word problems and pattern recognition. Time yourself.
- Learn Epic's products: MyChart, Hyperspace, Haiku and Rover mobile apps, Cosmos, and AI assistants Art, Emmie and Penny.
- Understand healthcare basics: EHRs, patient portals, clinical workflows, billing and interoperability.
- Prepare behavioural stories: Problem solving, learning quickly, teamwork, handling pressure, helping users.
- Practise product questions: Even though Epic doesn't run formal PM case interviews, product sense helps in design discussions and project manager scenarios. Practise improving MyChart features or designing tools for nurses.
- Think about relocation: Be ready to explain why you want to live and work in the Madison area.
FAQs
Does Epic Systems hire product managers?
Epic rarely uses the product manager title. Product responsibilities are shared by software developers (who design features), quality managers (who ensure features work for users) and project managers (who help customers implement and use the software). Students targeting PM careers often treat these roles as product-adjacent entry points.
How hard is the Epic skills assessment?
Candidates describe it as challenging and long, up to around three hours, with logic, math and a made-up programming language. It is heavily weighted in hiring decisions. Practice with timed logic and math problems is the best preparation.
Do I need a computer science degree to work at Epic?
No. Software developer roles prefer technical backgrounds but accept other majors with strong problem-solving ability. Quality manager and project manager roles welcome any major.
Can I work remotely at Epic?
Epic has a strong on-campus culture in Verona. Most roles require relocating to the Madison area, and project managers travel to customer sites. Remote options are limited.
How do Epic roles prepare you for a product career?
Developers own feature design and customer conversations, which builds product sense. Quality managers learn user workflows deeply, and project managers gain customer and stakeholder management skills. Many people later move into product roles at health tech companies.
Related Guides Section
📖 Epic Systems Product Strategy Guide – Epic's strategy across MyChart, Cosmos, AI agents and international growth.
📖 Epic Systems Product Manager Salary Guide – Pay for developer, QM and project manager roles in USD.
📖 Epic Systems Product Teardown Guide – Deep dive into MyChart.
Disclaimer: This guide is created for product management interview preparation purposes only. It is based on public information and candidate reports, and figures are estimates.
