Preparing for an interview at Samba TV requires a balanced approach. You must demonstrate sharp operational project management skills alongside deep programmatic domain expertise. Interviewers are looking for candidates who can jump into fast-paced client environments and immediately command authority on campaign strategy and execution.

To stand out, you should focus your preparation on the following core evaluation criteria:

Role-Related Knowledge – You must possess a strong working knowledge of the programmatic landscape, including DSP mechanics, audience targeting, CTV execution, and attribution modeling.

Problem-Solving & Troubleshooting – You will be tested on your ability to diagnose delivery issues, handle data discrepancies, and optimize campaigns to meet strict client Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Client Communication & Influence – You must show that you can confidently guide agency partners through campaign cycles, defend media plans, and translate complex data points into simple, strategic narratives.

Operational Rigor – You need to prove that you can manage multiple moving pieces, coordinate cross-functionally with Ad Operations and Sales, and maintain flawless execution under pressure.

The interview process at Samba TV is designed to evaluate both your technical programmatic capabilities and your client-facing communication skills. Candidates can expect a multi-stage process that moves relatively quickly but requires thorough preparation at every step.

The journey typically begins with an initial recruiter screen to assess your baseline qualifications, career goals, and alignment with the role's level. Following this, you will transition to a hiring manager interview, which dives deeper into your programmatic experience, campaign management style, and familiarity with TV data. The final stages generally involve a deeper technical or case-based discussion where you walk through campaign scenarios, followed by a panel interview with cross-functional stakeholders from Sales, Ad Operations, or Product.

The visual timeline above outlines the typical progression a candidate goes through during the hiring cycle. It is highly recommended to use this timeline to pace your preparation, ensuring you master foundational programmatic concepts before moving into advanced client-scenario rounds.

To pass the rigorous evaluation stages at Samba TV, you must demonstrate deep competence in several key functional areas. Here is what you need to master:

Programmatic Campaign Delivery & Optimization

This area evaluates your hands-on experience managing campaigns within DSPs and ensuring they deliver fully against budgets while meeting performance goals.

Be ready to go over:

• Pacing and Delivery – How to monitor spend curves, identify under-delivery early, and adjust bidding strategies or targeting parameters to get campaigns back on track.
• Optimization Levers – Adjusting bid multipliers, frequency capping, inventory sources, and audience segments to improve CTR, VCR (Video Completion Rate), or conversion metrics.
• CTV and Video Execution – The nuances of running campaigns across Connected TV platforms compared to standard display or mobile web.
• Advanced concepts – Multi-touch attribution (MTA), identity graphs, clean room integrations, and managing campaign delivery in a cookie-less environment.

Example scenarios:

• "A client's CTV campaign is pacing 30% behind schedule with only two weeks left in the flight. What steps do you take to troubleshoot and resolve this?"
• "Explain how you would optimize a campaign to maximize Video Completion Rates (VCR) without drastically increasing CPMs."

Client Relationship & Stakeholder Coordination

This area tests your ability to act as the primary point of contact for sophisticated media buyers and agency holding companies, translating technical execution into business value.

Be ready to go over:

• Onboarding and Expectation Setting – Establishing clear KPIs, reporting cadences, and SLA parameters with clients before campaign launch.
• QBRs and Mid-Campaign Reporting – Designing and presenting performance decks that highlight the value of Samba TV’s proprietary data.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration – Working closely with Sales to identify growth opportunities and with Ad Ops/Engineering to resolve technical bugs.

Example scenarios:

• "An agency client is demanding a refund because of a 15% reporting discrepancy between our dashboard and their DoubleClick manager. How do you handle this call?"
• "Describe how you would pitch the inclusion of Samba TV's ACR-driven incremental reach measurement to an existing programmatic client."

Data Analysis & Troubleshooting

You must prove that you can work with large datasets, identify trends, and use data to solve campaign anomalies.

Be ready to go over:

• Data Discrepancy Reconciliation – Identifying why pixels aren't matching, analyzing log-level data, and working through SSP/DSP reporting mismatches.
• Excel and Reporting Tools – Utilizing pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, and data visualization tools to analyze campaign performance quickly.

Example scenarios:

• "You notice a sudden drop in conversion tracking on a major campaign. Walk me through your step-by-step diagnostic process."
• "How do you use campaign performance data to recommend a shift in budget allocation mid-flight?"