Scale Engineer

Software Engineer

Software EngineerSoftware Engineer IMedium

The Software Engineer I interview at Nordstrom is designed to assess a candidate's foundational programming skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. It typically involves a mix of technical and behavioral questions to evaluate a candidate's potential to contribute to Nordstrom's technology initiatives.

Rounds·3

Timeline·~14d

Experience·0 - 2 yrs

Comp band·US$75000 - US$95000

Interview time·150 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Technical proficiency in core programming languages.
  • Ability to write clean, efficient, and maintainable code.
  • Problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • Understanding of data structures and algorithms.
  • Communication skills.
  • Teamwork and collaboration abilities.
  • Cultural fit with Nordstrom's values.

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental computer science concepts, including data structures and algorithms.
  2. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank, focusing on medium-difficulty problems.
  3. Prepare to discuss your past projects in detail, highlighting your role and contributions.
  4. Research Nordstrom's mission, values, and recent news.
  5. Prepare answers to common behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  6. Understand basic software development principles like version control (Git) and testing.
  7. Be ready to articulate why you are interested in Nordstrom and this specific role.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 03 phases

01 / 03
01

Phase 01 of 03

Data Structures and Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice 20-30 medium problems.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming, recursion). Practice implementing these from scratch and analyze their time and space complexity. Solve 10-15 medium-level problems per week.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Write a function to reverse a linked list.
  • Given an array of integers, find the two numbers that add up to a specific target.
  • Explain the difference between a process and a thread.
  • Describe a time you disagreed with a teammate and how you resolved it.
  • How would you design a URL shortening service?
  • What are the principles of RESTful API design?
  • Tell me about a time you made a mistake and how you handled it.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Seattle

Interview focus

Adaptability to new technologiesTeamwork and collaborationUnderstanding of core software development principles

Common questions

  • Tell me about a challenging project you worked on.
  • How do you handle conflicting priorities?
  • Describe a time you had to learn a new technology quickly.

Tips

  • Research Nordstrom's recent tech projects.
  • Be prepared to discuss your contributions to team projects.
  • Highlight any experience with e-commerce platforms.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at Nordstrom.

Frequently reported on Nordstrom loops

View all at Nordstrom

Other guides

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