NCR Corporation Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

NCR Corporation (NYSE: VYX) is a global leader in digital commerce solutions for the retail, restaurant, and banking industries, dedicated to transforming consumer interactions through innovative technology.

The Software Engineer role at NCR involves working as part of an Agile team to design, develop, and implement software solutions that meet business needs. Key responsibilities include participating in sprint activities, conducting code reviews, and ensuring high-quality coding practices are followed. Ideal candidates will possess strong experience in full-stack development, particularly with React and JavaScript, as well as a solid understanding of object-oriented programming, design patterns, and data structures. Familiarity with cloud technologies (AWS, GCP, Azure) and RESTful APIs is essential, while experience with CI/CD processes and Agile methodologies is preferred. The role emphasizes collaboration, problem-solving, and a commitment to delivering exceptional software solutions that enhance customer experiences.

This guide will help you prepare for your interview by providing insights into the role's expectations, the skills you need to highlight, and the company's culture, allowing you to stand out as a candidate.

The interview process for a Software Engineer at NCR Corporation is structured and thorough, designed to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the organization. Here’s a breakdown of the typical steps involved:

1. Initial Screening

The process begins with an initial screening, usually conducted by a recruiter. This is a brief phone interview lasting around 30 minutes, where the recruiter will discuss your background, experience, and motivations for applying. They will also provide insights into the company culture and the specifics of the role.

2. Technical Assessment

Following the initial screening, candidates typically undergo a technical assessment. This may take place online or in person and often includes a coding challenge or a written test. The assessment focuses on fundamental programming concepts, data structures, algorithms, and may include multiple-choice questions related to languages such as C++, Java, or JavaScript. Candidates are expected to demonstrate their problem-solving abilities and coding proficiency.

3. Technical Interviews

Candidates who pass the technical assessment will be invited to participate in one or more technical interviews. These interviews are usually conducted by senior developers or team leads and can last between 30 to 60 minutes each. During these sessions, candidates will be asked to solve coding problems in real-time, discuss their previous projects, and answer questions related to software design principles, object-oriented programming, and system architecture. Expect to encounter questions on design patterns, REST APIs, and cloud technologies.

4. Managerial Round

After the technical interviews, candidates may have a managerial round. This interview focuses on assessing the candidate's fit within the team and their ability to work collaboratively. Questions may revolve around leadership experiences, conflict resolution, and how you handle project management tasks. This round is crucial for understanding how you align with the company's values and team dynamics.

5. HR Interview

The final step in the interview process is typically an HR interview. This session is more conversational and focuses on your career aspirations, salary expectations, and overall fit within the company culture. HR representatives may also discuss the benefits and opportunities for growth within NCR Corporation.

6. Background Check

Once a candidate successfully completes all interview rounds, a background check is conducted. This process may take a few weeks and is standard for all potential hires.

As you prepare for your interview, it’s essential to be ready for a variety of questions that will test your technical knowledge and interpersonal skills. Here are some of the types of questions you might encounter during the interview process.

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

Understand the Interview Process

NCR Corporation's interview process typically involves multiple rounds, including a pre-interview test, technical interviews, and HR discussions. Familiarize yourself with the structure of these rounds, as candidates have reported a mix of coding challenges, design pattern questions, and behavioral assessments. Being prepared for a variety of question types will help you navigate the process smoothly.

Brush Up on Core Technical Skills

As a Software Engineer, you will be expected to demonstrate strong proficiency in programming languages such as C++, Java, and JavaScript, as well as frameworks like React. Review key concepts in object-oriented programming, data structures, algorithms, and design patterns. Candidates have noted that questions often focus on practical coding problems, so practice coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to sharpen your skills.

Prepare for Behavioral Questions

NCR values candidates who can communicate effectively and work well in teams. Be ready to discuss your past experiences, particularly how you've handled challenges, collaborated with others, and contributed to team success. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, ensuring you convey your thought process clearly.

Showcase Your Problem-Solving Abilities

During technical interviews, you may be asked to solve coding problems or design systems. Focus on articulating your thought process as you work through problems. Interviewers appreciate candidates who can explain their reasoning and approach, even if they don't arrive at the correct solution. Practice explaining your code and design decisions out loud to build this skill.

Emphasize Quality and Best Practices

NCR places a strong emphasis on quality development and best practices. Be prepared to discuss your experience with code reviews, unit testing, and agile methodologies. Highlight any experience you have with test-driven development (TDD) or behavior-driven development (BDD), as these practices align with the company's focus on delivering high-quality software.

Familiarize Yourself with Company Culture

NCR Corporation values diversity, collaboration, and a customer-centric approach. Research the company's mission, values, and recent projects to understand how you can align your skills and experiences with their goals. Demonstrating knowledge of the company and its culture during your interview will show your genuine interest in the role.

Ask Insightful Questions

Prepare thoughtful questions to ask your interviewers about the team dynamics, project challenges, and the technologies they use. This not only shows your interest in the position but also helps you assess if the company is the right fit for you. Questions about the company's approach to innovation or how they support employee growth can provide valuable insights.

Follow Up After the Interview

After your interview, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview. Reiterate your interest in the position and briefly mention a key point from your discussion that resonated with you. This small gesture can leave a positive impression and keep you top of mind as they make their decision.

By following these tips and preparing thoroughly, you can position yourself as a strong candidate for the Software Engineer role at NCR Corporation. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Software Engineer interview at NCR Corporation. The interview process will likely focus on your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of software development principles, particularly in relation to Agile methodologies, object-oriented programming, and cloud technologies.

Technical Skills

1. Can you explain the SOLID principles of object-oriented design?

Understanding SOLID principles is crucial for software design and development.

How to Answer

Discuss each principle briefly, providing examples of how you have applied them in your previous work.

Example

“The SOLID principles are a set of design principles that help create more understandable, flexible, and maintainable software. For instance, the Single Responsibility Principle states that a class should have only one reason to change. In my last project, I ensured that each class was focused on a single task, which made it easier to test and maintain.”

2. Describe your experience with RESTful APIs.

APIs are essential for modern software applications, and understanding how to work with them is key.

How to Answer

Share specific examples of projects where you designed or consumed RESTful APIs, highlighting any challenges you faced.

Example

“I have developed several RESTful APIs using Node.js and Express. One challenge I faced was ensuring proper authentication and authorization. I implemented OAuth2, which allowed secure access to the API while maintaining user privacy.”

3. What is your approach to debugging complex systems?

Debugging is a critical skill for any software engineer.

How to Answer

Explain your systematic approach to identifying and resolving issues, including tools and techniques you use.

Example

“When debugging complex systems, I start by reproducing the issue in a controlled environment. I use logging and monitoring tools to gather data, and then I analyze the stack trace to pinpoint the source of the problem. For instance, in a recent project, I used Sentry to track errors in real-time, which significantly reduced the time to resolution.”

4. How do you ensure code quality in your projects?

Quality assurance is vital in software development.

How to Answer

Discuss your practices for maintaining high code quality, including code reviews, testing, and adherence to coding standards.

Example

“I advocate for test-driven development (TDD) and conduct regular code reviews with my team. By writing unit tests before the actual code, I ensure that the functionality is correct from the start. Additionally, I use tools like SonarQube to analyze code quality and identify potential issues early.”

5. Can you explain the concept of microservices and their benefits?

Microservices architecture is increasingly popular in software development.

How to Answer

Define microservices and discuss their advantages, particularly in terms of scalability and maintainability.

Example

“Microservices are an architectural style that structures an application as a collection of loosely coupled services. This approach allows for independent deployment and scaling of services. For example, in a recent project, we used microservices to separate the user authentication service from the main application, which improved our deployment speed and reduced downtime.”

Data Structures and Algorithms

1. How would you reverse a linked list?

This is a common data structure question that tests your understanding of algorithms.

How to Answer

Explain your thought process and provide a brief overview of the algorithm.

Example

“To reverse a linked list, I would use an iterative approach. I would maintain three pointers: previous, current, and next. As I traverse the list, I would change the next pointer of the current node to point to the previous node, effectively reversing the links.”

2. What is the difference between a stack and a queue?

Understanding basic data structures is fundamental for any software engineer.

How to Answer

Define both data structures and explain their use cases.

Example

“A stack is a Last In First Out (LIFO) data structure, while a queue is a First In First Out (FIFO) structure. Stacks are often used for function call management, whereas queues are used in scenarios like task scheduling.”

3. Can you explain the concept of Big O notation?

Big O notation is essential for analyzing the efficiency of algorithms.

How to Answer

Discuss how Big O notation is used to describe the performance of an algorithm in terms of time and space complexity.

Example

“Big O notation provides a high-level understanding of an algorithm's efficiency. For instance, an algorithm with O(n) complexity means that the time taken grows linearly with the input size. This helps in comparing the efficiency of different algorithms.”

4. How would you find the kth largest element in an array?

This question tests your problem-solving skills with arrays.

How to Answer

Outline your approach, whether it’s using sorting or a more efficient method like a heap.

Example

“I would use a min-heap to keep track of the k largest elements. By iterating through the array and maintaining the size of the heap to k, I can efficiently find the kth largest element in O(n log k) time.”

5. Describe a time when you optimized an algorithm.

This question assesses your ability to improve existing solutions.

How to Answer

Provide a specific example, detailing the original algorithm, the changes you made, and the impact of those changes.

Example

“In a project, I optimized a sorting algorithm from O(n^2) to O(n log n) by switching from bubble sort to quicksort. This change significantly improved the performance of our application, especially with larger datasets.”

Behavioral Questions

1. Describe a challenging project you worked on and how you overcame obstacles.

This question evaluates your problem-solving and teamwork skills.

How to Answer

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your response.

Example

“In my last project, we faced a tight deadline to deliver a new feature. I organized daily stand-ups to ensure clear communication and quickly identified blockers. By reallocating resources and prioritizing tasks, we successfully delivered the feature on time.”

2. How do you handle conflicts within a team?

Conflict resolution is an important skill in collaborative environments.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to resolving conflicts and maintaining a positive team dynamic.

Example

“When conflicts arise, I believe in addressing them directly and respectfully. I encourage open dialogue to understand different perspectives and work towards a compromise. For instance, during a project, two team members disagreed on the implementation approach. I facilitated a meeting where we discussed the pros and cons of each approach, leading to a consensus.”

3. What motivates you as a software engineer?

Understanding your motivations can help assess cultural fit.

How to Answer

Share what drives you in your work, whether it’s problem-solving, learning new technologies, or contributing to impactful projects.

Example

“I am motivated by the challenge of solving complex problems and the opportunity to learn new technologies. I find great satisfaction in seeing my code positively impact users and improve their experiences.”

4. How do you prioritize your tasks when working on multiple projects?

Time management is crucial in a fast-paced environment.

How to Answer

Explain your method for prioritizing tasks, such as using tools or frameworks.

Example

“I use a combination of Agile methodologies and task management tools like Jira to prioritize my work. I assess the urgency and importance of each task and adjust my focus based on project deadlines and team needs.”

5. Can you give an example of how you mentored a junior developer?

Mentorship is an important aspect of team dynamics.

How to Answer

Share a specific instance where you provided guidance and support to a junior team member.

Example

“I mentored a junior developer who was struggling with understanding design patterns. I organized a series of one-on-one sessions where we discussed various patterns and worked on practical examples together. Over time, I saw significant improvement in their understanding and application of these concepts in their work.”