Cars.com Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Cars.com is a leading online destination for car buyers and sellers, connecting millions of users with information, tools, and services to help them navigate the automotive marketplace.

As a Software Engineer at Cars.com, you will be crucial in developing and enhancing the company's digital platforms. This role requires a blend of strong technical skills, creativity, and a passion for solving complex problems. Key responsibilities include designing, coding, and testing new features, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and contributing to the overall architecture of the software systems. Ideal candidates should possess proficiency in modern programming languages and frameworks, as well as experience with cloud technologies. A deep understanding of user experience and the ability to work in an agile development environment are also essential traits that align with Cars.com's commitment to innovation and user-centered design.

This guide aims to equip you with insights and strategies to excel in your interview, helping you to stand out as a candidate who not only understands the technical requirements but also embodies the company's values and mission.

The interview process for a Software Engineer at Cars.com is structured to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the team. It typically consists of several key stages:

1. Initial Phone Screen

The process begins with an initial phone screen, usually conducted by a recruiter or the hiring manager. This conversation lasts about 30 minutes and focuses on your background, experiences, and motivations for applying to Cars.com. The recruiter will also provide insights into the company culture and the specifics of the role, ensuring that you understand the expectations and opportunities available.

2. Technical Phone Interview

Following the initial screen, candidates typically participate in a technical phone interview with a senior developer. This interview delves deeper into your technical expertise, including coding skills and problem-solving abilities. Expect to discuss your previous projects and may be asked to solve coding challenges in real-time, demonstrating your thought process and technical acumen.

3. Take-Home Project

Candidates are often required to complete a take-home project after the technical interview. This project is designed to evaluate your coding skills and ability to work independently. It’s essential to approach this task seriously, as it reflects your technical capabilities and creativity. However, be aware that feedback on this project may vary, and some candidates have reported that their submissions were not thoroughly reviewed.

4. Onsite Interview

The final stage of the interview process is typically an onsite interview, which may include multiple rounds of interviews with various team members. During these sessions, you will engage in technical discussions, coding exercises, and behavioral interviews. This is an opportunity for you to showcase your skills in a collaborative environment and to assess how well you would fit within the team dynamics.

Throughout the process, it’s crucial to communicate clearly and demonstrate your passion for software engineering and the technologies used at Cars.com.

Now, let’s explore the types of questions you might encounter during these interviews.

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

Understand the Interview Process

Cars.com typically conducts a multi-step interview process that includes a phone screen, technical assessments, and possibly a take-home project. Familiarize yourself with each stage and prepare accordingly. Given the feedback from previous candidates, ensure you clarify the expectations for the take-home project and follow up if you don’t receive timely feedback. This proactive approach can help you gauge where you stand in the process.

Showcase Your Technical Skills

As a Software Engineer, you will likely be assessed on your coding abilities and familiarity with the tech stack, which includes Elixir, Phoenix, JavaScript, Elm, and AWS. Brush up on these technologies and be prepared to demonstrate your proficiency through coding tests. Practice common algorithms and data structures, and be ready to explain your thought process during coding challenges.

Prepare for Behavioral Questions

Expect questions that explore your background, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Cars.com values collaboration and innovation, so be ready to share examples of how you’ve worked effectively in teams and tackled challenges in previous projects. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, making it easier for interviewers to understand your contributions.

Emphasize Your Management Experience

If you have experience leading teams, be prepared to discuss your management style and how you foster collaboration and growth among team members. Cars.com is looking for candidates who can balance hands-on coding with leadership, so highlight any relevant experiences where you’ve successfully managed projects or mentored junior engineers.

Align with Company Culture

Cars.com values a culture of innovation and teamwork. Research the company’s mission and values, and think about how your personal values align with theirs. During the interview, express your enthusiasm for contributing to a collaborative environment and your commitment to building a robust platform that meets user needs.

Follow Up Thoughtfully

After your interview, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview. Use this as a chance to reiterate your interest in the role and briefly mention any key points from the interview that you found particularly engaging. This not only shows your professionalism but also keeps you top of mind as they make their decision.

By following these tips, you can present yourself as a well-prepared and enthusiastic candidate who is ready to contribute to the exciting projects at Cars.com. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a software engineering interview at Cars.com. The interview process will likely assess your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and experience with modern technologies, as well as your capacity to work collaboratively within a team.

Technical Skills

1. Can you explain the differences between Elixir and other programming languages you have used?

Understanding the unique features of Elixir is crucial, as it is part of the tech stack at Cars.com.

How to Answer

Discuss the functional programming paradigm of Elixir, its concurrency model, and how it handles fault tolerance compared to imperative languages.

Example

“Elixir is a functional programming language that runs on the Erlang VM, which allows for massive concurrency and fault tolerance. Unlike Java, which is object-oriented, Elixir promotes immutability and uses lightweight processes for handling multiple tasks simultaneously, making it ideal for scalable applications.”

2. Describe a challenging coding problem you faced and how you solved it.

This question assesses your problem-solving skills and your approach to debugging.

How to Answer

Choose a specific example that highlights your analytical skills and the steps you took to resolve the issue.

Example

“I once encountered a performance bottleneck in a web application. After profiling the code, I discovered that a specific database query was inefficient. I optimized it by adding appropriate indexes and restructuring the query, which improved the response time by over 50%.”

3. How do you ensure code quality and maintainability in your projects?

Cars.com values high-quality code, so demonstrating your commitment to best practices is essential.

How to Answer

Discuss your experience with code reviews, testing, and documentation practices.

Example

“I prioritize code quality by implementing a robust code review process where peers provide feedback. I also advocate for writing unit tests and using continuous integration tools to catch issues early. Additionally, I ensure that all code is well-documented to facilitate future maintenance.”

4. What is your experience with cloud services, particularly AWS?

Given the tech stack, familiarity with AWS is important for this role.

How to Answer

Share specific projects where you utilized AWS services and how they contributed to the project’s success.

Example

“In my previous role, I used AWS to deploy a microservices architecture. I leveraged services like EC2 for compute resources, S3 for storage, and RDS for database management. This setup allowed us to scale efficiently and reduced our operational costs significantly.”

5. Can you describe your experience with front-end technologies, particularly JavaScript and Elm?

Understanding front-end technologies is crucial for a full-stack role.

How to Answer

Highlight your experience with JavaScript frameworks and any projects where you used Elm.

Example

“I have extensive experience with JavaScript, particularly with frameworks like React and Vue.js. Recently, I worked on a project where we used Elm for building a highly interactive user interface. Elm’s strong type system helped us catch errors at compile time, leading to a more stable application.”

Team Collaboration

1. How do you handle conflicts within your team?

This question assesses your interpersonal skills and ability to maintain a positive team dynamic.

How to Answer

Provide an example of a conflict you resolved and the strategies you used to facilitate communication.

Example

“In a previous project, two team members disagreed on the implementation approach. I facilitated a meeting where each could present their perspective. By encouraging open dialogue and focusing on the project goals, we reached a consensus that combined the best aspects of both approaches.”

2. Describe a time when you had to mentor a junior developer. What approach did you take?

Mentoring is an important aspect of team leadership, and Cars.com values collaborative growth.

How to Answer

Discuss your mentoring style and the impact it had on the junior developer’s performance.

Example

“I mentored a junior developer who was struggling with understanding our codebase. I scheduled regular one-on-one sessions to walk through the code together and provided resources for self-study. Over time, they became more confident and even contributed to a major feature in our application.”

3. How do you prioritize tasks when managing multiple projects?

This question evaluates your organizational skills and ability to manage time effectively.

How to Answer

Explain your approach to prioritization and any tools or methodologies you use.

Example

“I use a combination of Agile methodologies and project management tools like Jira to prioritize tasks. I assess the urgency and impact of each task and communicate with stakeholders to ensure alignment on priorities. This approach helps me manage multiple projects without compromising quality.”

4. What strategies do you use to keep your team motivated?

Understanding how to foster a positive team environment is key for a leadership role.

How to Answer

Share specific strategies you’ve implemented to boost team morale and productivity.

Example

“I believe in recognizing individual contributions and celebrating team successes. I also encourage team members to take ownership of their projects and provide opportunities for professional development, such as attending workshops or conferences, which keeps the team engaged and motivated.”

5. How do you approach feedback, both giving and receiving?

This question assesses your communication skills and openness to improvement.

How to Answer

Discuss your philosophy on feedback and provide examples of how you’ve handled it in the past.

Example

“I view feedback as a vital part of growth. When giving feedback, I focus on being constructive and specific, ensuring it’s actionable. When receiving feedback, I listen actively and reflect on it, using it as an opportunity to improve my skills and performance.”