The Principal Software Engineer (Grade 14) interview at NCR is a rigorous process designed to assess deep technical expertise, leadership potential, and strategic thinking. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a strong command of software development principles, architectural design, and the ability to mentor and guide other engineers. The interview process typically involves multiple rounds, including technical assessments, system design challenges, and behavioral evaluations, with a focus on problem-solving, scalability, and impact.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~14d
Experience·8 - 15 yrs
Comp band·US$170000 - US$220000
Interview time·240 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Advanced DSA & CS Fundamentals. Practice LeetCode Hard.
Weeks 1-2: Deep dive into Data Structures and Algorithms. Focus on advanced topics like graph algorithms, dynamic programming, and complexity analysis. Practice problems on platforms like LeetCode (Hard level) and HackerRank. Review fundamental CS concepts like operating systems, databases, and networking.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: System Design. Focus on scalability & distributed systems.
Weeks 3-4: System Design. Study common design patterns, distributed systems concepts (e.g., CAP theorem, microservices, message queues), caching strategies, and database design. Work through system design case studies and practice drawing architecture diagrams. Focus on scalability, availability, and fault tolerance.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: Behavioral Prep. Use STAR method. Align with NCR values.
Week 5: Behavioral Preparation. Identify key leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving scenarios from your career. Prepare detailed examples using the STAR method. Understand NCR's values and how your experiences align.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Role-specific tech & NCR research. Prepare questions.
Week 6: Role-Specific and Company Research. Understand the specific technologies and challenges related to the Principal Software Engineer role at NCR. Research NCR's current projects, business strategy, and recent news. Prepare insightful questions for the interviewers.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 03 locations
01 / 03Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
Technical Interview - Coding · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer or Staff Engineer
This round focuses on assessing your fundamental computer science knowledge and your ability to translate requirements into efficient, well-written code. You will be presented with one or two complex coding problems, often involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will evaluate your approach to problem-solving, your coding style, your ability to handle edge cases, and your understanding of time and space complexity.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given a binary tree, find the lowest common ancestor of two given nodes in the tree.
Implement a function to find the k-th largest element in an unsorted array.
Design and implement a data structure that supports insertion, deletion, and getRandom O(1) time complexity.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 75 min · Staff Engineer or Principal Engineer
This round evaluates your ability to design complex, scalable, and reliable software systems. You will be given an open-ended problem, such as designing a specific service (e.g., a URL shortener, a social media feed) or improving an existing system. The focus is on your architectural thinking, your understanding of distributed systems, your ability to identify and manage trade-offs, and your consideration of non-functional requirements like scalability, availability, and maintainability.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a distributed caching system.
Design a system to count unique visitors to a website in real-time.
Design the backend for a ride-sharing service like Uber.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral And Leadership Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager or Senior Engineering Manager
This round focuses on your behavioral and leadership competencies. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, focusing on how you've handled challenging situations, led teams, collaborated with others, and demonstrated leadership qualities. The interviewer will use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to understand your approach and impact. This is also an opportunity to assess your cultural fit and motivation for joining NCR.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had to lead a team through a difficult technical challenge.
Describe a situation where you had to influence a stakeholder or team to adopt your technical vision.
How do you handle constructive criticism or feedback?
Tell me about a project that failed. What did you learn from it?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Managerial / Executive Interview · 60 min · Director of Engineering or VP of Engineering
This final round is typically with a senior leader, such as a Director or VP of Engineering. It focuses on your strategic thinking, your ability to influence at a higher level, and your vision for technology within the company. You might be asked about your leadership philosophy, how you approach technical strategy, and how you mentor and grow engineering talent. This is also a chance for you to ask high-level questions about the company's direction and engineering culture.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
How would you define the technical strategy for a new product line at NCR?
Describe your approach to building and scaling high-performing engineering teams.
What are the biggest technical challenges facing NCR today, and how would you address them?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on NCR loops
Other guides
