Scale Engineer

Software Engineer I

Software EngineerGrade 9Medium

This interview process is designed to assess candidates for the Software Engineer I (Grade 9) position at NCR. It evaluates technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit within the organization.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~7d

Experience·1 - 3 yrs

Comp band·US$75000 - US$95000

Interview time·135 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Technical skills (coding, algorithms, data structures)
  • Problem-solving abilities
  • Communication skills
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Cultural fit and alignment with NCR values

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental data structures and algorithms.
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank.
  3. Understand common software design patterns.
  4. Prepare examples for behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  5. Research NCR's products, services, and company culture.
  6. Be ready to discuss your resume and past projects in detail.
  7. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the role, team, and company.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 03 phases

01 / 03
01

Phase 01 of 03

Data Structures and Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms (Arrays, Lists, Trees, Graphs, Sorting, Searching, Recursion, DP, Big O).

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables) and their common operations. Practice algorithms like sorting, searching, recursion, and dynamic programming. Understand time and space complexity analysis (Big O notation).

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Write a function to reverse a linked list.
  • Explain the difference between a process and a thread.
  • Describe a time you had to debug a complex issue.
  • How would you design a URL shortening service?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Why are you interested in NCR?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 03 locations

01 / 03

Location

North America

Interview focus

Adaptability to local market demandsUnderstanding of regional technology trends

Common questions

  • Tell me about a challenging project you worked on.
  • How do you handle tight deadlines?
  • Describe a time you disagreed with a team member.

Tips

  • Research NCR's presence and projects in this specific region.
  • Be prepared to discuss how your skills align with local industry needs.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.

Med

Technical Interview - Coding · 45 min · Software Engineer / Technical Lead

This round focuses on assessing your core programming skills. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will observe your thought process, how you approach the problem, your coding style, and your ability to explain your solution.

What they look for

Ability to translate requirements into working code.Logical thinking and systematic approach to problem-solving.Understanding of algorithmic concepts.

Evaluation

  • Correctness of code
  • Efficiency of solution (time and space complexity)
  • Code readability and style
  • Problem-solving approach

Sample questions

  • Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.

    ArrayDynamic ProgrammingAlgorithm

  • Implement a function to check if a binary tree is a Binary Search Tree (BST).

    TreeRecursionAlgorithm

Prep for this round

  1. 01Practice coding on a whiteboard or a shared editor.
  2. 02Think out loud and explain your approach before coding.
  3. 03Test your code with edge cases.
  4. 04Be prepared to discuss the time and space complexity of your solution.

Common rejection reasons

  • ×Inability to solve basic coding problems.
  • ×Poor understanding of fundamental data structures.
  • ×Lack of clear communication during problem-solving.

DSA

Coding questions at NCR.

Frequently reported on NCR loops

View all at NCR

Other guides

More at NCR.