Cardlytics Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Cardlytics, Inc. is a leading purchase intelligence and incentives platform that enhances commerce by helping businesses attract, understand, and incentivize consumers through their banks' digital channels.

As a Software Engineer at Cardlytics, you will play a pivotal role in developing and enhancing software systems that support the company's various products and offerings. Your responsibilities will include designing, building, and maintaining scalable applications and integrations while collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with business objectives. You will work within a modern tech stack, leveraging cloud services and microservices architecture, primarily in AWS, to streamline processes that drive customer acquisition and improve revenue management.

Key responsibilities will involve working with backend APIs, full-stack applications, and data integration processes, with a focus on ensuring high performance and reliability. You will also be expected to contribute to the technical vision and strategy of the team, optimizing workflows, and supporting business initiatives through technology.

Ideal candidates will possess a strong foundation in software development, including proficiency in languages such as Java, Python, or TypeScript, alongside experience with SQL databases and cloud environments. The role demands not only technical skills but also a proactive mindset, the ability to adapt to changing priorities, and a commitment to quality and excellence in code.

This guide will help you prepare for your interview by highlighting the key areas of focus and the skills that Cardlytics values, ensuring you are well-equipped to demonstrate your qualifications and fit for the role.

The interview process for a Software Engineer at Cardlytics is designed to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the organization. It typically consists of several structured steps that help the company evaluate candidates thoroughly.

1. Initial Recruiter Call

The process begins with a brief phone call with a recruiter. This conversation usually lasts around 30 minutes and focuses on your background, skills, and motivations for applying to Cardlytics. The recruiter will also discuss the role in detail, including expectations and company culture, to ensure alignment.

2. Technical Assessment

Following the initial call, candidates are often required to complete a technical assessment. This may involve a coding challenge or a HackerRank test that evaluates your proficiency in programming languages relevant to the role, such as Java, Python, or SQL. The assessment is designed to gauge your problem-solving abilities and coding skills in a practical context.

3. Technical Interview

Candidates who perform well in the technical assessment will be invited to a technical interview, which is typically conducted via video conferencing. During this interview, you will engage with one or more engineers from the team. Expect to discuss your previous projects, technical challenges you've faced, and your approach to software design and architecture. This round may also include live coding exercises to assess your coding style and thought process in real-time.

4. Behavioral Interview

In addition to technical skills, Cardlytics places a strong emphasis on cultural fit. The behavioral interview focuses on your past experiences, teamwork, and how you align with the company's core values. You may be asked to provide examples of how you've handled challenges, collaborated with others, and contributed to team success. This round is crucial for demonstrating your interpersonal skills and alignment with the company's mission.

5. Final Interview

The final interview often involves meeting with senior leadership or cross-functional team members. This round may cover both technical and behavioral aspects, allowing you to showcase your overall fit for the role and the organization. It’s also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the company’s direction, team dynamics, and future projects.

6. Offer and Negotiation

If you successfully navigate the interview process, you will receive a job offer. The offer will include details about salary, benefits, and other perks. Be prepared to discuss your compensation expectations, as Cardlytics is open to negotiation based on your skills and experience.

As you prepare for your interview, consider the types of questions that may arise in each of these stages.

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

Emphasize Behavioral Competencies

Cardlytics places a strong emphasis on behavioral questions during the interview process. Prepare to discuss your past experiences in detail, particularly focusing on teamwork, problem-solving, and how you handle challenges. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, ensuring you highlight your contributions and the impact of your actions.

Prepare for a Fast-Paced Environment

Feedback from candidates indicates that the interview process can be chaotic and quick. Be ready to think on your feet and respond to questions succinctly. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently, as this will demonstrate your ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Showcase Technical Proficiency

Given the technical nature of the Software Engineer role, ensure you are well-versed in the required programming languages and tools, particularly Typescript, Node.js, and SQL. Be prepared to discuss your experience with backend APIs, cloud services (especially AWS), and CI/CD practices. If possible, bring examples of your work or projects that demonstrate your technical skills and problem-solving abilities.

Understand the Company Culture

Cardlytics values a customer and partner-first approach, urgency, integrity, accountability, and empowerment. Familiarize yourself with these core values and think of examples from your past experiences that align with them. This will not only help you answer questions more effectively but also show that you are a good cultural fit for the company.

Be Ready for a HackerRank Test

Candidates have reported completing a HackerRank test as part of the interview process. Brush up on your coding skills and practice common algorithms and data structures. Familiarize yourself with the types of problems typically presented in coding assessments, particularly those related to SQL and programming exercises.

Prepare Questions for Your Interviewers

Demonstrate your interest in the role and the company by preparing thoughtful questions for your interviewers. Inquire about the team dynamics, the challenges they face, and how success is measured in the role. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company aligns with your career goals.

Follow Up Professionally

After your 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 briefly mention any key points you may want to clarify or expand upon. A professional follow-up can leave a positive impression and keep you top of mind for the hiring team.

By following these tips, you can position yourself as a strong candidate for the Software Engineer role at Cardlytics. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Software Engineer interview at Cardlytics. The interview process is known to focus heavily on behavioral questions, as well as technical skills related to software development, cloud technologies, and data management. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their past experiences, technical knowledge, and how they align with the company's core values.

Behavioral Questions

1. What was your favorite project at your previous job, and why did you enjoy it?

This question aims to understand your passion for software engineering and your ability to work on projects that matter to you.

How to Answer

Discuss a project that had a significant impact, highlighting your role and the skills you utilized. Emphasize what you learned and how it contributed to your growth as an engineer.

Example

“One of my favorite projects was developing a real-time analytics dashboard for a retail client. I enjoyed it because it allowed me to work with various technologies, including AWS and React. The project not only improved the client's decision-making process but also enhanced my skills in data visualization and cloud architecture.”

2. Describe a time when you faced a significant challenge in a project. How did you handle it?

This question assesses your problem-solving skills and resilience in the face of adversity.

How to Answer

Choose a specific challenge, explain the context, and detail the steps you took to overcome it. Highlight the outcome and any lessons learned.

Example

“In a previous role, we faced a tight deadline for a product launch due to unexpected technical issues. I organized daily stand-up meetings to track progress and reallocated resources to critical tasks. We managed to launch on time, and the experience taught me the importance of agile methodologies and team communication.”

Technical Questions

3. Can you explain the differences between SQL and NoSQL databases? When would you use one over the other?

This question tests your understanding of database technologies and their appropriate applications.

How to Answer

Discuss the fundamental differences, such as structure, scalability, and use cases. Provide examples of scenarios where each type would be preferable.

Example

“SQL databases are structured and use a predefined schema, making them ideal for complex queries and transactions. NoSQL databases, on the other hand, are more flexible and can handle unstructured data, which is useful for applications requiring scalability and rapid development. I would use SQL for a financial application needing strict data integrity, while NoSQL would be better for a social media platform with varying data types.”

4. Describe your experience with cloud services, particularly AWS. What services have you used?

This question evaluates your familiarity with cloud computing and specific AWS services.

How to Answer

Mention the AWS services you have worked with, your role in using them, and how they contributed to project success.

Example

“I have extensive experience with AWS, particularly with services like EC2 for computing, S3 for storage, and RDS for database management. In my last project, I utilized AWS Lambda to create serverless functions that processed data in real-time, significantly reducing our infrastructure costs and improving scalability.”

Software Development Practices

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

This question assesses your approach to software quality and testing.

How to Answer

Discuss your practices for writing clean code, conducting code reviews, and implementing testing strategies.

Example

“I prioritize writing clean, maintainable code by following best practices and design patterns. I also implement unit tests and conduct peer code reviews to catch issues early. Additionally, I use CI/CD pipelines to automate testing and deployment, ensuring that only high-quality code reaches production.”

6. Can you explain the concept of microservices and their advantages?

This question tests your understanding of modern software architecture.

How to Answer

Define microservices and discuss their benefits, such as scalability, flexibility, and ease of deployment.

Example

“Microservices are an architectural style that structures an application as a collection of loosely coupled services. This approach allows for independent deployment, scaling, and development of each service. The main advantages include improved fault isolation, easier updates, and the ability to use different technologies for different services, which enhances overall system resilience.”

Data Management

7. What strategies do you use for optimizing database performance?

This question evaluates your knowledge of database management and optimization techniques.

How to Answer

Discuss specific strategies you have implemented, such as indexing, query optimization, and caching.

Example

“To optimize database performance, I focus on indexing frequently queried columns, analyzing query execution plans, and using caching mechanisms like Redis to reduce database load. In a recent project, these strategies improved our query response time by over 50%, significantly enhancing user experience.”

8. How do you approach debugging a complex issue in your code?

This question assesses your problem-solving and analytical skills.

How to Answer

Outline your debugging process, including tools and techniques you use to identify and resolve issues.

Example

“When debugging complex issues, I start by reproducing the problem and gathering relevant logs. I use debugging tools like breakpoints and stack traces to trace the flow of execution. Once I identify the root cause, I implement a fix and write tests to ensure the issue doesn’t recur. This systematic approach has helped me resolve issues efficiently in past projects.”