84.51° Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

84.51° is a retail data science, insights, and media company dedicated to creating personalized and valuable shopping experiences through advanced analytics and innovative technology solutions.

As a Software Engineer at 84.51°, you will be instrumental in driving the design, development, and implementation of software solutions that leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance business operations and customer experiences. Key responsibilities include collaborating with cross-functional teams to understand business requirements, developing scalable applications primarily using Java and modern frameworks like Spring Boot and Angular, and ensuring high-quality code through unit and integration testing. A successful candidate will possess strong problem-solving skills, a deep understanding of software development methodologies, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment that values continuous improvement and innovation. Familiarity with cloud computing, CI/CD practices, and data engineering concepts will further enhance your contribution to the team.

This guide aims to equip you with insights and preparation strategies for your upcoming interview, enabling you to showcase your technical expertise and alignment with 84.51°’s values.

The interview process for a Software Engineer at 84.51° is designed to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the company. It typically consists of several stages, each focusing on different aspects of the candidate's qualifications and experiences.

1. Initial Screening

The process begins with an initial screening, which is usually conducted via a phone call with a recruiter. This conversation lasts about 30 minutes and focuses on understanding your background, interest in the role, and alignment with the company culture. The recruiter may ask about your resume, your motivations for applying, and your general experience in software engineering.

2. Technical Assessment

Following the initial screening, candidates typically undergo a technical assessment. This may take place over a video call and involves solving coding problems in real-time. Expect to encounter questions related to Java, SQL, and possibly other programming languages or frameworks relevant to the role. The interviewers are interested in your problem-solving approach and how you articulate your thought process rather than just the final answer.

3. Behavioral Interview

After the technical assessment, candidates usually participate in a behavioral interview. This round often involves discussions about past experiences, teamwork, and how you handle challenges. Interviewers may use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to gauge your responses. They are looking for insights into your interpersonal skills and how you align with the company's values.

4. Onsite or Final Interview

The final stage of the interview process may involve an onsite interview or a series of back-to-back video interviews. This round typically includes multiple interviewers, including senior engineers and possibly team leads. You can expect a mix of technical questions, case studies, and discussions about your previous projects. Interviewers will assess your technical expertise, ability to work collaboratively, and how you approach complex problems.

5. Offer and Feedback

If you successfully navigate the interview rounds, you may receive an offer shortly after the final interview. The company is known for its relatively quick turnaround in communicating decisions, so be prepared for a prompt response.

As you prepare for your interview, consider the specific skills and experiences that will be relevant to the questions you may encounter. Next, let's delve into the types of questions that candidates have faced during the interview process.

Here are some tips to help you excel in your interview.

Emphasize Your Problem-Solving Skills

During the interview, you may encounter case questions that require you to think critically and demonstrate your problem-solving abilities. Be prepared to discuss how you would approach real-world scenarios, such as designing a REST endpoint or analyzing a dataset. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, showcasing your thought process and the steps you would take to arrive at a solution.

Showcase Your Technical Proficiency

Given the emphasis on algorithms and programming languages like Java and Python, ensure you are well-versed in these areas. Brush up on your knowledge of data structures, algorithms, and coding best practices. Be ready to solve coding problems on the spot, as interviewers are interested in how you approach coding challenges rather than just the final answer. Practice coding exercises that involve SQL and Java, as these are commonly referenced in interviews.

Prepare for Behavioral Questions

Expect a mix of technical and behavioral questions. Interviewers at 84.51° are known for their friendly demeanor, so treat the interview as a conversation rather than an interrogation. Be prepared to discuss your past experiences, how you work in teams, and your motivations for wanting to join the company. Highlight your adaptability and willingness to learn, as these traits are valued in their collaborative environment.

Understand the Company Culture

84.51° values innovation and collaboration, so demonstrate your ability to work well in a team and your enthusiasm for contributing to a culture of continuous improvement. Familiarize yourself with the company's mission and recent projects, and be ready to discuss how your skills and experiences align with their goals. Showing genuine interest in the company and its work will set you apart from other candidates.

Be Ready for Technical Discussions

You may be asked to explain complex technical concepts in simple terms, such as the difference between linear and logistic regression. Practice articulating your knowledge in a way that is accessible to non-technical stakeholders. This will not only demonstrate your expertise but also your ability to communicate effectively within cross-functional teams.

Ask Insightful Questions

Prepare thoughtful questions to ask your interviewers about the team dynamics, ongoing projects, and the technologies they use. This shows your interest in the role and helps you gauge if the company is the right fit for you. Questions about their approach to AI integration or how they foster innovation within teams can lead to engaging discussions.

Follow Up with Gratitude

After the interview, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview. This is a chance to reiterate your interest in the position and reflect on any key points discussed during the interview. A thoughtful follow-up can leave a lasting impression and reinforce your enthusiasm for the role.

By focusing on these areas, you can present yourself as a well-rounded candidate who is not only technically proficient but also a great cultural fit for 84.51°. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Software Engineer interview at 84.51°. Candidates should focus on demonstrating their technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of software development principles, particularly in relation to cloud technologies, algorithms, and programming languages.

Technical Skills

1. Can you explain the difference between REST and SOAP APIs?

Understanding the distinctions between these two types of APIs is crucial for a software engineer, especially in a role that involves building and integrating services.

How to Answer

Discuss the architectural styles, the protocols used, and the scenarios where one might be preferred over the other.

Example

"REST is an architectural style that uses standard HTTP methods and is stateless, making it lightweight and easy to use. SOAP, on the other hand, is a protocol that relies on XML and has built-in error handling and security features, making it suitable for enterprise-level applications where security is a priority."

2. Describe a time you had to debug a complex issue in your code. What was your approach?

This question assesses your problem-solving skills and your ability to work through challenges.

How to Answer

Outline the steps you took to identify the issue, the tools you used, and how you resolved it.

Example

"I encountered a memory leak in a Java application. I used profiling tools to monitor memory usage and identified that certain objects were not being garbage collected. I traced the issue back to a static reference that was holding onto the objects longer than necessary. After refactoring the code to remove the static reference, the memory usage stabilized."

3. How do you ensure the quality of your code?

Quality assurance is vital in software development, and this question evaluates your practices.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to testing, code reviews, and adherence to coding standards.

Example

"I follow a test-driven development approach, writing unit tests before implementing features. I also participate in code reviews to ensure adherence to best practices and to catch potential issues early. Additionally, I use CI/CD pipelines to automate testing and deployment, ensuring that only high-quality code is released."

4. What is your experience with cloud services, and how have you utilized them in your projects?

Given the emphasis on cloud technologies in the job description, this question is essential.

How to Answer

Share specific examples of cloud services you've used and how they benefited your projects.

Example

"I have extensive experience with AWS and Azure. In my last project, I used AWS Lambda to create serverless functions that processed data in real-time, which significantly reduced our infrastructure costs and improved scalability. I also utilized Azure Data Factory for ETL processes, allowing us to efficiently move and transform data across various sources."

5. Can you walk us through a project where you implemented a new technology?

This question assesses your adaptability and willingness to learn.

How to Answer

Describe the project, the technology you implemented, and the impact it had.

Example

"In a recent project, I introduced Docker for containerization. This allowed us to create a consistent development environment across the team, reducing 'it works on my machine' issues. The deployment process became much smoother, and we were able to scale our application more effectively."

Algorithms and Data Structures

1. How would you approach solving a problem that requires sorting a large dataset?

This question tests your understanding of algorithms and their efficiency.

How to Answer

Discuss the sorting algorithms you would consider and why, including their time and space complexities.

Example

"I would evaluate the dataset's characteristics first. If it's mostly sorted, I might use insertion sort for its efficiency in such cases. For larger datasets, I would likely implement quicksort or mergesort due to their average-case time complexity of O(n log n). Additionally, I would consider using external sorting techniques if the dataset exceeds memory limits."

2. Explain how you would implement a binary search algorithm.

This question assesses your knowledge of algorithms and coding skills.

How to Answer

Provide a brief explanation of the binary search algorithm and then describe how you would implement it.

Example

"Binary search works on sorted arrays by repeatedly dividing the search interval in half. I would implement it recursively or iteratively, checking the middle element and adjusting the search range based on whether the target is greater or less than the middle value."

3. What data structure would you use to implement a LRU cache and why?

This question evaluates your understanding of data structures and their applications.

How to Answer

Discuss the characteristics of the LRU cache and the data structures that would be suitable for its implementation.

Example

"I would use a combination of a hash map and a doubly linked list. The hash map provides O(1) access to cache items, while the doubly linked list maintains the order of usage, allowing for O(1) removal of the least recently used item when the cache exceeds its capacity."

4. Can you describe a situation where you optimized an algorithm?

This question assesses your ability to improve existing solutions.

How to Answer

Share the context of the algorithm, the inefficiencies you identified, and the optimizations you implemented.

Example

"I was working on a data processing application that used a nested loop to compare records, resulting in O(n^2) complexity. I optimized it by using a hash map to store previously seen records, reducing the complexity to O(n) and significantly improving performance."

5. How do you approach learning a new programming language or technology?

This question evaluates your learning process and adaptability.

How to Answer

Discuss your strategies for learning and applying new technologies.

Example

"I start by reviewing the official documentation and tutorials to understand the fundamentals. Then, I build small projects to apply what I've learned. I also engage with the community through forums and GitHub to learn from others' experiences and best practices."