The hiring manager told me how “scary” the work was. He told me he liked me because I had relevant experience and he didn’t think I’d “get him fired on the first day.” He seemed very interested in telling me all about his (irrelevant to the conversation) PhD. My impression was he wouldn’t be someone I’d want to work for. He told me he wanted to move me forward in the interview process. I had contact a few times after with the recruiter who confirmed that. Then they ghosted me.