Nordstrom Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2024

Nordstrom, a leading fashion retailer in the U.S., has a rich history dating back to its founding 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle. Today, Nordstrom boasts 258 locations, including full-line stores, Nordstrom Rack, and local service hubs. The company’s commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience is mirrored in its technological innovations, which are driven by a dedicated Nordstrom Technology team.

In this guide, Interview Query will walk you through the comprehensive interview process, providing insights into the types of Nordstrom software engineer interview questions you can expect, and tips to help you succeed. Let’s dive in!

The interview process usually depends on the role and seniority, however, you can expect the following on a Nordstrom software engineer interview:

Initial Online Assessment

After your application is accepted, you will likely be invited for a simple coding assessment on a platform like HireVue. This assessment typically consists of a straightforward coding task that you can complete in a programming language of your choice. You might also encounter behavioral questions in this initial assessment.

HR Screening Call

If you pass the initial coding assessment, the next step is an HR screening call that usually lasts about an hour. This call involves going over your resume, discussing the specifics of the role, and clarifying salary expectations. The HR representative will also answer any questions you may have about the position.

Hiring Manager and Coding Interview

The subsequent step is a two-part interview with the hiring manager and a member of the engineering team. Each interview is around 30 minutes, making a total of one hour. The interview consists of both behavioral questions and a medium-difficulty coding task. Expect questions that explore your cultural fit and technical skills. There will also be time at the end for a Q&A session.

Virtual Onsite Interview Rounds

Passing the initial interviews will earn you an invitation to a virtual onsite interview comprising multiple rounds. Here’s what to expect:

1. Architecture and Design: This one-hour session will focus on system design questions, where you will need to ask clarifying questions, discuss trade-offs, and draw diagrams.

2. Quality and Instrumentation: A one-hour interview focusing on testing and quality assurance-related questions. Be prepared to discuss past projects and how you tested them.

3. Engineering Practices: This round includes about 15 minutes of questions on how you handle engineering practices in your current role, followed by a 45-minute coding challenge.

4. Nordstrom Fit/Technical: An interview focusing on soft skills and how you fit into Nordstrom’s work culture. It will involve questions about handling various work situations and the best software practices, ending with a brief technical coding challenge if time allows.

5. Senior Hiring Manager: In this 1:1 discussion, you will go over past experiences and answer behavioral questions. The senior hiring manager will be keen to understand your teamwork skills, conflict resolution strategies, and career aspirations.

Final Steps

After the onsite interviews, if you’re selected, you will receive a final call to discuss the offer details and next steps.

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

1. How would you set up an A/B test to optimize button color and position for higher click-through rates?

A team wants to A/B test multiple changes in a sign-up funnel. For instance, they want to test if changing a button from red to blue and/or moving it from the top to the bottom of the page will increase click-through rates. How would you design this test?

2. Create a function recurring_char to find the first recurring character in a string.

Given a string, write a function recurring_char to find its first recurring character. Return None if there is no recurring character. Treat upper and lower case letters as distinct characters. Assume the input string includes no spaces.

3. Write a query to get the average order value by gender.

Given three tables representing customer transactions and customer attributes, write a query to get the average order value by gender. Round your answer to two decimal places.

4. Identify first-time and repeat purchases within product categories.

Analyze a user’s purchases to identify which purchases represent the first time the user has bought a product from its category and which represent repeat purchases. Output a table that includes every purchase with a boolean column indicating if it’s a repeat purchase.

5. Parse the most frequent words used in poems.

Given a list of strings called sentences, return a dictionary of the frequency of words used in the poem. Process all words as lowercase and ignore punctuation marks.

6. Write a SQL query to select the 2nd highest salary in the engineering department.

Write a SQL query to select the 2nd highest salary in the engineering department. If more than one person shares the highest salary, select the next highest salary.

7. How does random forest generate the forest and why use it over logistic regression?

Explain the process of generating a forest in random forest and discuss the advantages of using it over logistic regression.

8. How would you justify using a neural network model and explain its predictions to non-technical stakeholders?

Describe how you would justify the complexity of a neural network model for solving a business problem and how you would explain its predictions to non-technical stakeholders.

9. How would you interpret coefficients of logistic regression for categorical and boolean variables?

Explain the interpretation of logistic regression coefficients for categorical and boolean variables.

10. Which model would perform better for predicting Airbnb booking prices: linear regression or random forest regression?

Compare the performance of linear regression and random forest regression for predicting booking prices on Airbnb and explain which model would perform better and why.

11. What are the assumptions of linear regression?

List and explain the assumptions underlying linear regression.

12. What is the difference between covariance and correlation? Provide an example.

Describe the difference between covariance and correlation, and provide an example to illustrate the distinction.

13. What are time series models? Why do we need them when we have less complicated regression models?

Explain what time series models are and why they are necessary despite the availability of simpler regression models.

14. How would you determine if the difference between this month and the previous month in a time series dataset is significant?

Given a time series dataset grouped monthly for the past five years, describe how you would assess whether the difference between this month and the previous month is significant.

15. How would you address a manager’s complaint about a packet filling machine not functioning correctly?

A manager reports that a machine that weighs and attempts to pack 25 packets into a box is malfunctioning. Customers are complaining about incorrect packet counts. Describe how you would investigate and resolve this issue.

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 Nordstrom software engineer interview include:

• Prepare for System Design: Nordstrom places a strong emphasis on systems and architecture design. Revise key design principles and be ready to discuss event-driven systems, trade-offs, and scaling.
• Behavioral and Cultural Fit: Nordstrom values employees who can thrive in a collaborative and inclusive environment. Prepare examples that demonstrate your teamwork, leadership, and how you’ve handled conflicts in the past.
• LeetCode Practice: Many technical interviews include coding challenges of varying difficulty. Practice LeetCode easy to medium problems, and focus on dynamic programming and sliding window problems as these are frequently asked.

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

What kinds of technical skills are required for a Software Engineer at Nordstrom?

You should have a solid foundation in programming languages like Java, Python, and frameworks such as Spring Boot and React. Experience with cloud technologies (AWS), containerization (Kubernetes), RESTful architecture, microservices, and CI/CD is also highly valued. Familiarity with relational and NoSQL databases and proficiency in CSS and TypeScript are essential. Having additional knowledge in real-time data processing with Kafka can be a plus.

How does Nordstrom support the professional growth of its Software Engineers?

Nordstrom provides a collaborative and agile work environment where engineers can work on multidimensional projects and gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies. The company values continuous learning and knowledge sharing, often engaging engineers in mentoring roles and encouraging participation in high-impact projects that drive innovation.

What is the culture like at Nordstrom, especially for tech teams?

Nordstrom has a unique company culture that values diversity, collaboration, and innovation. The tech teams are involved in reshaping customer experiences both online and offline, and there’s a strong emphasis on teamwork, creative problem-solving, and inclusion. The company also places a high priority on work-life balance and employee well-being, reflected in their comprehensive benefits package.

Why should I choose to work at Nordstrom as a Software Engineer?

Working at Nordstrom offers the opportunity to be part of a leading fashion retailer known for its commitment to quality and customer service. You’ll get to work on impactful projects that drive the company’s technology forward, collaborate with passionate and talented colleagues, and enjoy a supportive work environment with excellent benefits. If you’re looking to combine your passion for technology with a love for fashion, Nordstrom is an ideal place to grow your career.

As Nordstrom continues to lead as a premier fashion retailer, they are on the lookout for dynamic and innovative Software Engineers to help propel their technological evolution. From crafting cutting-edge solutions that enhance customer experiences to contributing to the scalable, cloud-based infrastructures, Nordstrom is dedicated to fostering an environment that melds fashion with technology.

If you want more insights about the company, check out our main Nordstrom Interview Guide, where we have covered many interview questions that could be asked. Additionally, explore our interview guides for other roles such as data engineer and data analyst to learn more about Nordstrom’s interview process for different positions.

Good luck with your interview!