Nielsen Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2024

Nielsen is a global leader in audience measurement, data, and analytics that shapes the future of media. Operating in over 55 countries, Nielsen measures behavior across all channels and platforms to discover what audiences love. By empowering clients with trusted intelligence that fuels action, Nielsen plays a crucial role in the media industry.

In this guide, we will walk you through the interview process, commonly asked Nielsen software engineer interview questions, and valuable tips to help you excel. Let’s get started!

The interview process usually depends on the role and seniority. However, you can expect the following on a Nielsen software engineer interview:

Recruiter/Hiring Manager Call Screening

Once your CV is shortlisted, a recruiter from Nielsen’s Talent Acquisition Team will reach out to verify critical details concerning your experience and skill levels. This initial call may also include some behavioral questions. The hiring manager may occasionally join the call to discuss the role and the company. Expect this process to last approximately 30 minutes.

Technical Virtual Interview

After successfully passing the initial screening, you will be invited to a virtual technical interview. This interview lasts about an hour and focuses on your technical skills related to Nielsen’s requirements. Questions may cover:

• Background in software backend development (Jira, GitHub, DevOps).
• Proficiency in Java and Spring Boot.
• Knowledge of big data tools like Apache Airflow.
• Basic data structures and algorithms (e.g., HashMap, Linked List).
• System design skills through scenario-based questions.
• JavaScript web app development.

A take-home assessment may require demonstrating your coding and system design skills in a real-world scenario.

Onsite Interview Rounds

You’ll be invited to onsite interview rounds if you advance past the virtual interview. These could involve several technical and behavioral interviews to test your programming, system design, and problem-solving capabilities. You may also be asked to present the take-home assignment.

Typically, interviews at Nielsen vary by role and team, but commonly Software Engineer interviews follow a fairly standardized process across these question topics.

1. How would you ensure data quality across different ETL platforms for PayPal’s Southern African market research?

PayPal is conducting market research in Southern Africa, requiring survey data to be stored within each country’s borders. The data includes pre-quantified and text data in various languages, necessitating translation for cohesive analysis. As a consulting engineer, how would you ensure data quality across ETL pipelines connecting PayPal’s data marts, transactional data stores, and the survey platform’s data warehouses, including translation modules?

2. How would you explain what a p-value is to someone who is not technical?

Explain the concept of a p-value in simple terms to a non-technical person, focusing on its role in determining the significance of results in experiments or studies.

3. What is the probability that a red marble was pulled from Bucket #1?

Given two buckets with different distributions of red and black marbles, calculate the probability that a red marble shown to you was pulled from Bucket #1.

4. What is the probability that Amy wins the game by rolling a six first?

Amy and Brad take turns rolling a fair six-sided die, with Amy starting first. Calculate the probability that Amy wins by rolling a six before Brad does.

5. How would you write a function to return all prime numbers up to N?

Given an integer N, write a function that returns a list of all prime numbers up to N. If there are no prime numbers less than or equal to N, return an empty list.

6. Write a function combinational_dice_rolls to dump all possible combinations of dice rolls.

Given n dice each with m faces, write a function combinational_dice_rolls to dump all possible combinations of dice rolls. Bonus: Can you do it recursively?

7. Create a function is_subsequence to determine if one string is a subsequence of another.

Given two strings, string1 and string2, write a function is_subsequence to find out if string1 is a subsequence of string2.

8. Create a function to add the frequency of each character in a string after each character.

Given a string sentence, return the same string with an addendum after each character of the number of occurrences a character appeared in the sentence. Do not treat spaces as characters and exclude characters in the discard_list.

9. Write a function sorting to sort a list of strings in ascending alphabetical order from scratch.

Given a list of strings, write a function sorting to sort the list in ascending alphabetical order without using the built-in sorted function. Return the new sorted list rather than modifying the list in-place.

10. What is the difference between XGBoost and random forest algorithms, and when would you use one over the other?

Explain the key differences between XGBoost and random forest algorithms. Provide an example scenario where one algorithm would be preferred over the other.

You should plan to brush up on any technical skills and try as many practice interview questions and mock interviews as possible. A few tips for acing your Nielsen software engineer interview include:

• Showcase Technical Proficiency: Be sure to highlight your experience with Java, Spring Boot, and big data tools like Apache Airflow. These are key areas where your technical skills will be scrutinized.
• System Design Skills: Nielsen places importance on system design and the ability to handle scenario-based questions. Make sure to brush up on designing scalable systems and common architecture patterns.
• Prepare Real-Life Examples: Be ready to discuss your previous projects, tools you’ve used, and any challenges you overcame. Real-life examples can help demonstrate your practical experience and problem-solving abilities.

What is the average salary for a Software Engineer at Nielsen?

According to Glassdoor, Software Engineer at Nielsen earn between $99K to $148K per year, with an average of $121K per year.

What technical skills does Nielsen look for in a Software Engineer?

Nielsen seeks candidates with strong skills in backend development, including knowledge of C#, .NET Core, React, SQL, and cloud technologies such as AWS. Additionally, experience in API development, database design and optimization, and familiarity with DevOps practices are highly desirable.

What is the company culture like at Nielsen?

Nielsen fosters a collaborative and innovative work environment. They value diversity and encourage employees to take ownership of their career growth. You will find a supportive community focused on continuous improvement and development. The company also offers opportunities to work on cutting-edge technologies and industry-leading projects.

What can I expect in terms of career growth and development at Nielsen?

At Nielsen, career growth is seen as a partnership. You will have access to various opportunities to develop your skills and advance in your career. The company supports your professional growth through continuous learning, mentorship, and challenging projects that allow you to push your boundaries and explore new technologies.

Preparing for a Software Engineer position at Nielsen can be both exciting and challenging, given the variety of technical and behavioral elements involved in their interview process. From backend development and API design to discussions about past experiences and knowledge in data structures, each step tests your readiness to tackle real-world problems.

For comprehensive resources that can help you prepare, check out our main Nielsen Interview Guide, where we cover a plethora of interview questions you might face. Dive deeper into specific roles such as software engineer and data analyst, and gain insights into Nielsen’s interview processes across various positions.

Good luck with your interview!