1. What is a Software Engineer at Avery Dennison?

As a Software Engineer at Avery Dennison, you are stepping into a critical role at the intersection of physical materials and digital innovation. Avery Dennison is a global leader in materials science, branding, and RFID technology. Software engineering here is not just about building isolated applications; it is about creating intelligent, connected systems that power global supply chains, smart labeling, and digital media solutions.

Your work will directly impact how products are tracked, authenticated, and engaged with across the globe. Whether you are developing software for RFID New Product Development, optimizing digital media platforms, or building internal tools that streamline manufacturing operations, your code will operate at a massive scale. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, bridging the gap between hardware engineering, quality assurance, and plant operations.

This role requires a unique blend of technical execution and operational awareness. You will be expected to write robust, scalable code while understanding the real-world manufacturing and business environments where your software is deployed. If you are passionate about building solutions that bridge the physical and digital worlds, a software engineering career at Avery Dennison offers unparalleled opportunities for global impact.

2. Common Interview Questions

The questions you face will heavily depend on your specific background and the team you are interviewing with. However, reviewing these representative questions will help you identify the patterns and themes that Avery Dennison consistently evaluates.

Behavioral and Problem Solving

These questions test your resilience, teamwork, and overall approach to workplace challenges. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.

• Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult or uncooperative team member.
• How do you handle situations where you are given a project with highly ambiguous requirements?
• Describe a time when you had to learn a new technology completely from scratch to complete a task.
• Give an example of how you prioritize multiple urgent tasks competing for your time.
• Why are you interested in joining Avery Dennison, and why are you looking to leave your current role?

Past Experience and Resume Validation

Expect interviewers to pick specific bullet points from your resume and ask you to expand on them in great detail.

• Walk me through the architecture of the system you built at your last job.
• What was your specific contribution to the project listed here, and what technologies did you personally write code for?
• Tell me about a project that failed or did not meet its initial goals. What did you learn?
• How did your previous internship prepare you for a full-time software engineering role in a corporate environment?
• Explain a time when you had to present technical project results to a non-technical audience.

Technical and Domain-Specific

These questions ensure you have the hard skills required to contribute immediately to the team's codebase.

• How do you ensure your code is scalable and maintainable?
• Explain the differences between object-oriented and functional programming paradigms using examples from your past work.
• If we asked you to design a system to track thousands of physical products in real-time, what database structure would you choose?
• Can you explain how you write and manage unit tests for your applications?
• What is your experience with continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines?

3. Getting Ready for Your Interviews

To succeed in the Avery Dennison interview process, you must prepare strategically. The hiring teams evaluate candidates across a blend of technical competence, practical problem-solving, and strong behavioral traits.

Technical and Domain Expertise – You are expected to demonstrate proficiency in core programming languages (such as Java and JavaScript) and system design. Interviewers will assess your ability to write clean code and adapt to specialized technologies relevant to the team, such as RFID integration or numerical analysis.

Practical Problem-Solving – Avery Dennison values engineers who can navigate ambiguity and solve real-world operational challenges. You will be evaluated on how you structure your approach to complex problems, especially those that impact manufacturing or supply chain processes.

Cross-Functional Communication – Because you will frequently interact with non-technical stakeholders, including plant managers and operations teams, your ability to explain technical concepts clearly is critical. Interviewers will look for evidence that you can collaborate effectively across different business units.

Culture Fit and Leadership – The company looks for proactive individuals who take ownership of their projects. You will be assessed on your past behaviors, your ability to overcome team conflicts, and your alignment with the company’s core values of integrity, courage, and teamwork.

4. Interview Process Overview

The interview process for a Software Engineer at Avery Dennison is generally structured, thorough, and highly focused on your past experiences. You will typically begin with a phone screen led by a recruiter, followed by a deeper technical and behavioral discussion with the hiring manager. This initial phase is designed to validate your resume and gauge your genuine interest in the company.

If you advance, you will be invited to a panel interview, which may be conducted virtually or on-site. These panels often consist of multiple rounds in a single day, where you will meet with a diverse group of stakeholders. It is common to interview not just with senior engineers, but also with Quality Assurance (QA) engineers, plant managers, and operations leaders. For early-career or specific regional roles, the process may also include an aptitude test covering logical reasoning and basic math, or a brief take-home technical task.

Throughout the process, the environment is generally described as professional and conversational. The hiring teams lean heavily into behavioral questions and resume deep-dives rather than aggressive algorithmic whiteboard sessions. They want to see how your past work translates to their current business needs.

The visual timeline above outlines the typical progression from the initial recruiter screen to the final cross-functional panel. Use this to anticipate the pacing of your interviews and prepare for the shift from high-level behavioral screening to deeper technical and operational discussions in the final rounds.

5. Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

To perform exceptionally well, you need to understand exactly what the interviewers are looking for in each phase of the evaluation. Below are the primary areas of focus during your interviews.

Past Project Experience and Resume Deep-Dive

Interviewers at Avery Dennison will heavily scrutinize your resume. They want to ensure that the experiences you listed are genuine and that you can articulate your specific contributions to team projects. Strong candidates do not just describe what a system did; they explain how they built it, the challenges they faced, and the business impact it delivered.

• Architecture and Design Decisions – Explaining why you chose a specific technology stack or framework for a past project.
• Individual Contribution – Distinguishing your specific coding and design work from the broader team's output.
• Lessons Learned – Discussing what you would do differently if you had to rebuild a past project today.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk me through the most complex project on your resume. What was your specific role in its development?"
• "I see you used Java on this project. Can you explain how you optimized the application's performance?"
• "Tell me about a time you realized a project was heading in the wrong direction. How did you pivot?"

Behavioral and Leadership Competencies

Because Avery Dennison operates highly collaborative, cross-functional environments, your interpersonal skills are just as important as your coding abilities. Interviewers will use behavioral questions to see how you handle conflict, manage uncooperative team members, and drive projects forward.

• Conflict Resolution – Navigating disagreements with peers or stakeholders professionally.
• Adaptability – Handling sudden changes in project scope or organizational restructuring.
• Initiative – Going beyond your basic job description to solve a lingering problem or improve a process.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Name a time when a group member was not participating to their full extent. How did you overcome it?"
• "How do you like to overcome unexpected problems? Give me a specific example from your past work."
• "Besides what we see on your resume, what makes you an ideal candidate for this team?"

Core Technical and Domain Knowledge

While you may not face grueling competitive-programming style interviews, you must prove your technical competence. This area tests your foundational knowledge of relevant languages, troubleshooting skills, and sometimes your understanding of the physical manufacturing or product domain.

• Core Languages – Deep knowledge of Java, JavaScript, or other stack-specific languages mentioned in the job description.
• System Integration – Understanding how software interfaces with hardware, databases, or third-party APIs.
• Domain Context – Familiarity with manufacturing processes, RFID, or digital media, depending on the specific team.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Explain how you would troubleshoot a critical bug in a production environment."
• "We use JavaScript heavily on our front-end. Can you explain how you manage state in a complex web application?"
• "Given a scenario where a software update impacts a physical labeling machine, how would you ensure zero downtime?"

6. Key Responsibilities

As a Software Engineer at Avery Dennison, your day-to-day work will revolve around building, deploying, and maintaining software that supports the company's massive operational footprint. You will be responsible for writing clean, testable code that aligns with strict industry standards and internal quality metrics.

A significant portion of your role will involve collaborating with non-software teams. You will regularly interface with plant managers, maintenance teams, and QA engineers to gather requirements and ensure that your software solutions integrate smoothly into existing workflows. Whether you are developing customer-facing digital media platforms or internal systems for tracking RFID tags, you must balance technical excellence with practical usability.

Additionally, you will be expected to participate in code reviews, contribute to technical documentation, and help troubleshoot high-priority production issues. The role requires a proactive mindset; you will often need to identify bottlenecks in current processes and propose automated, software-driven solutions to improve efficiency across the manufacturing floor or supply chain.

7. Role Requirements & Qualifications

To be a competitive candidate for this role, you must bring a solid mix of technical proficiency and professional maturity. Avery Dennison looks for engineers who are not only skilled coders but also effective communicators.

• Must-have technical skills – Strong proficiency in modern programming languages (e.g., Java, JavaScript, C++, or Python, depending on the specific team). Experience with version control, database management, and software development life cycles (SDLC).
• Must-have soft skills – Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal. The ability to translate complex technical constraints into plain language for business and operations leaders. Strong analytical and logical reasoning abilities.
• Experience level – Typically requires a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. Mid-level roles generally expect 3–5 years of hands-on software development experience, while principal roles require significant architectural experience.
• Nice-to-have skills – Background in manufacturing, supply chain software, or RFID technology. Project management certifications (like a PMP) or experience working in cross-functional industrial environments can be a strong differentiator.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How difficult are the technical interviews compared to big tech companies? The technical interviews at Avery Dennison are generally considered average to easy in difficulty. They focus more on practical application, past project experience, and logical reasoning rather than highly complex, abstract algorithmic puzzles.

Q: How long does the interview process typically take? The timeline can vary significantly. Some candidates complete the process and receive an offer within three weeks, while others experience delays due to organizational restructuring or internal scheduling, extending the process to a few months.

Q: Will I need to take an aptitude or coding test? It depends on the location and level of the role. Early-career candidates, especially in international locations, frequently report taking an initial aptitude test (math, logic, English). Mid-level or senior candidates may occasionally be given a practical take-home coding task.

Q: Who will I be interviewing with during the on-site or final panel? You will likely speak with a mix of technical and operational staff. It is very common to interview with the Engineering Manager, Senior QA Engineers, and even Plant Managers or Operations Managers, reflecting the company's cross-functional culture.

Q: What is the company culture like for a Software Engineer? The culture is highly professional, collaborative, and grounded in manufacturing and operational realities. You are expected to be a team player who is willing to understand the broader business context of the software you are building.

9. Other General Tips

To give yourself the best possible chance of securing an offer, keep these final strategic tips in mind as you prepare:

• Research the Business Context: Avery Dennison is not a pure software company; they make physical products (labels, RFID tags, medical materials). Understand what they do and be ready to discuss how software adds value to their manufacturing and supply chain processes.
• Be Honest About Your Limits: If you are asked a technical question you do not know the answer to, admit it honestly but explain how you would go about finding the solution. Interviewers appreciate self-awareness over bluffing.

• Prepare for Non-Technical Interviewers: Practice explaining complex software concepts in simple terms. You will likely be interviewed by operations or plant managers who care more about reliability and business impact than they do about your specific tech stack.
• Ask Insightful Questions: When it is your turn to ask questions, focus on the day-to-day realities of the role. Ask about how the engineering team collaborates with the physical plants, or how they measure the success of a new software deployment.

10. Summary & Next Steps

Interviewing for a Software Engineer position at Avery Dennison is a unique opportunity to showcase your ability to build software that impacts the physical world. The process is designed to find engineers who are not only technically sound but also highly collaborative, adaptable, and business-minded. By thoroughly reviewing your past projects, practicing your behavioral responses, and understanding the company’s core business, you will position yourself as a standout candidate.

Focus your preparation on clearly articulating your past experiences and demonstrating how your technical skills can solve practical, operational problems. Remember that your interviewers want you to succeed—they are looking for a reliable teammate who can communicate effectively across different departments.

The salary data above provides a baseline for compensation expectations. Keep in mind that actual offers will vary based on your specific location, years of experience, and the precise scope of the role (e.g., an intern versus a principal engineer).

Approach your interviews with confidence, curiosity, and a readiness to learn. You have the skills and the background to excel in this process. Continue refining your technical narratives, explore additional insights on Dataford, and step into your interviews ready to demonstrate your full potential at Avery Dennison.