# Software Engineer **Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** Software Engineer II **Company:** [Nordstrom](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/nordstrom) **Difficulty:** Medium **Salary:** US$95000 - US$130000 **Experience:** 2 - 5 **Timeline:** ~14 days The Software Engineer II interview at Nordstrom is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. It typically involves multiple rounds, including technical assessments, behavioral interviews, and a final discussion with a hiring manager. Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/nordstrom/software-engineer-ii-software-engineer --- ## Overall evaluation - Technical Skills - Behavioral and Cultural Fit ## Questions 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. - Design a URL shortening service. - Tell me about a time you disagreed with a team member and how you resolved it. - How would you optimize the performance of a web application? - What are your strengths and weaknesses? - Describe a challenging technical problem you faced and how you solved it. ## Preparation tips ### lists - Review fundamental data structures and algorithms. - Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank. - Understand Nordstrom's business, values, and recent news. - Prepare examples for common behavioral questions using the STAR method. - Brush up on system design principles if applicable to the role. - Be ready to discuss your resume and past projects in detail. ### studyPlan - {"title":"Data Structures and Algorithms","longDescription":"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 in your preferred language. Review Big O notation for time and space complexity.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice coding."} - {"title":"System Design","longDescription":"Week 3: Concentrate on system design concepts. Study topics like scalability, availability, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), caching, load balancing, and API design. Work through common system design interview questions.","shortDescription":"Week 3: System Design concepts. Scalability, databases, caching."} - {"title":"Behavioral Preparation","longDescription":"Week 4: Prepare for behavioral questions. Reflect on your past experiences and identify examples that demonstrate key competencies such as teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and handling challenges. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. Research Nordstrom's values and mission.","shortDescription":"Week 4: Behavioral questions preparation. STAR method. Nordstrom values."} ## Location differences - {"location":"Seattle, WA","differences":{"tips":["Research Nordstrom's presence and initiatives in the specific region.","Be prepared to discuss how your skills align with the local team's needs."],"interviewFocus":["Understanding of local market trends and customer base.","Adaptability to regional work culture and practices."],"commonQuestions":["Describe a time you had to deal with a difficult stakeholder.","How do you handle conflicting priorities?","Tell me about a project you are particularly proud of and why."]}} - {"location":"San Francisco, CA","differences":{"tips":["Highlight experience with technologies commonly used in the Bay Area tech scene.","Be ready to discuss scalability and performance optimization strategies."],"interviewFocus":["Proficiency in specific technologies relevant to the local tech ecosystem.","Experience with large-scale e-commerce platforms."],"commonQuestions":["How do you approach debugging complex issues in a distributed system?","Describe your experience with cloud platforms like AWS or Azure.","Walk me through a system design problem you've solved."]}} ## Round 1: Technical Coding Round **Type:** Technical Screening · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min Coding challenge focusing on data structures and algorithms. This initial technical screening round focuses on assessing your foundational programming skills. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will evaluate your ability to write clean, efficient, and correct code, as well as your approach to problem-solving and your communication of your thought process. **Interviewers look for:** Logical thinking; Ability to translate requirements into code; Understanding of fundamental algorithms and data structures **Evaluation criteria:** Correctness of the solution; Efficiency of the solution (time and space complexity); Code quality and readability; Problem-solving approach **Common rejection reasons:** Inability to articulate thought process clearly.; Incorrect or inefficient algorithmic solutions.; Poor coding practices (e.g., unreadable code, lack of error handling). ## Questions - Given a binary tree, find its inorder traversal. - Implement a function to find the kth smallest element in an unsorted array. ## Preparation tips - Practice coding on a whiteboard or shared editor. - Clearly explain your approach before coding. - Test your code with edge cases. - Be prepared to discuss time and space complexity. ## Round 2: System Design Round **Type:** System Design · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 60 min Design a scalable system. Focus on architecture and trade-offs. This round evaluates your ability to design scalable and robust software systems. You will be presented with a high-level problem and asked to design a system to solve it. This involves discussing components, data models, APIs, trade-offs, and potential bottlenecks. The focus is on your architectural thinking and ability to handle complexity. **Interviewers look for:** Ability to design complex systems; Understanding of distributed systems concepts; Knowledge of various architectural patterns; Ability to make reasoned design decisions **Evaluation criteria:** Scalability of the design; Availability and reliability; Performance considerations; Trade-off analysis; Clarity of the design **Common rejection reasons:** Lack of understanding of system design principles.; Inability to handle scale and performance considerations.; Poor trade-off analysis.; Not considering failure scenarios. ## Questions - Design a system like Instagram. - Design a rate limiter. ## Preparation tips - Study common system design patterns. - Understand concepts like load balancing, caching, databases, and microservices. - Practice designing familiar systems (e.g., Twitter feed, URL shortener). - Be prepared to justify your design choices. ## Round 3: Behavioral and Cultural Fit Round **Type:** Behavioral Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min Assess past experiences, teamwork, and cultural fit. This round focuses on your past experiences, behavioral competencies, and how well you align with Nordstrom's culture and values. You'll be asked questions about your career, how you handle specific situations, and your motivations. Using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is highly recommended for structuring your answers. **Interviewers look for:** Evidence of collaboration and teamwork; Problem-solving approach in real-world scenarios; Adaptability and resilience; Alignment with Nordstrom's core values **Evaluation criteria:** Behavioral competencies (teamwork, leadership, problem-solving); Past experiences and achievements; Cultural fit with Nordstrom; Motivation and career aspirations **Common rejection reasons:** Lack of self-awareness.; Inability to provide specific examples.; Poor communication of past experiences.; Not aligning with Nordstrom's values.; Negative attitude towards past employers or colleagues. ## Questions - Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it. - Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult team member. - Why are you interested in Nordstrom? ## Preparation tips - Prepare specific examples using the STAR method. - Research Nordstrom's mission, vision, and values. - Be ready to discuss your career goals and why you're interested in Nordstrom. - Be positive and enthusiastic. ## Round 4: Hiring Manager Round **Type:** Hiring Manager Discussion · **Difficulty:** Easy · **Duration:** 30 min Final discussion with the hiring manager about fit and expectations. This is typically the final round where you meet with the hiring manager. It's an opportunity to discuss your fit for the team, your career aspirations, and for you to ask any remaining questions about the role, team, or company. The hiring manager will assess your overall suitability and alignment with the team's goals. **Interviewers look for:** Enthusiasm for the role and company; Clarity on career aspirations; Professionalism and engagement; Fit within the team dynamics **Evaluation criteria:** Mutual understanding of the role and expectations; Candidate's interest and enthusiasm; Alignment on compensation and benefits; Opportunity for candidate to ask questions **Common rejection reasons:** Lack of alignment on expectations.; Unrealistic salary expectations.; Poor communication regarding role responsibilities.; Not asking clarifying questions. ## Questions - What are your salary expectations? - Do you have any questions for me? - What are your long-term career goals? ## Preparation tips - Prepare thoughtful questions about the team, projects, and culture. - Reiterate your interest and key qualifications. - Discuss your career goals and how this role fits into them. - Be prepared to discuss salary expectations if prompted.