As a Software Engineer at Samba TV, your daily responsibilities will revolve around building, scaling, and maintaining the infrastructure that processes massive amounts of media data. You will write high-performance code, collaborate with cross-functional partners, and continuously optimize systems for maximum efficiency.

You will be responsible for designing and implementing robust backend services that ingest, process, and store telemetry data from millions of devices. This involves working closely with data engineering teams to build scalable ETL pipelines and collaborating with data scientists to deploy machine learning models into production environments. Your work will ensure that data is processed with minimal latency and high accuracy, directly impacting the quality of Samba TV's analytics products.

In addition to backend development, you will collaborate with product managers to translate business requirements into technical specifications. You will participate in architecture reviews, write comprehensive design documents, and contribute to a culture of engineering excellence through rigorous code reviews and mentoring. You will also play an active role in monitoring system health, identifying performance bottlenecks, and participating in an on-call rotation to ensure high availability of critical services.

To be competitive for the Software Engineer position at Samba TV, you must possess a strong technical foundation, a passion for solving complex scalability challenges, and a collaborative mindset.

Technical Skills

• Strong proficiency in modern backend programming languages such as Python, Go, Java, or C++.
• Deep understanding of relational and non-relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, Cassandra, Redis, Elasticsearch).
• Proven experience building and maintaining distributed systems, microservices, and high-throughput data pipelines.
• Solid understanding of Linux systems programming, memory management, and networking protocols (TCP/IP, HTTP, gRPC).
• Experience with cloud infrastructure platforms (AWS or GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).

Experience & Soft Skills

• Must-have skills – A solid background in computer science fundamentals (data structures, algorithms, system design) and a track record of delivering scalable software solutions.
• Must-have skills – Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Nice-to-have skills – Experience with big data technologies (Spark, Flink, Hadoop) or embedded systems development (Android system internals, Smart TV OS).
• Nice-to-have skills – Prior experience working in the AdTech, media analytics, or streaming video industries.

Q: How technical is the Samba TV interview process compared to other tech companies? A: The technical bar at Samba TV is exceptionally high, particularly regarding systems programming, Linux internals, and distributed systems. While you will face standard algorithmic questions, you should expect a much deeper focus on low-level systems architecture and real-world scalability than at many standard SaaS companies.

Q: What is the typical timeline from the initial phone screen to an offer? A: The interview process generally takes between 4 to 8 weeks, depending on candidate availability, team alignment, and scheduling. The recruiting team works to move candidates through the pipeline efficiently, but the comprehensive nature of the technical rounds means that thorough evaluation takes time.

Q: How does Samba TV evaluate culture fit? A: Culture fit is evaluated throughout the entire process, but it is the primary focus of the leadership and product management interviews. Samba TV values engineers who are collaborative, humble, proactive, and deeply curious about the product and business domain.

Q: Is there a specific programming language I must use during the coding interviews? A: No, you are generally free to use any modern programming language you are comfortable with (such as Python, Go, Java, or C++). However, you should choose a language that allows you to write clean, concise code quickly, and be prepared to discuss language-specific memory management and execution details.

To maximize your chances of success during the Samba TV interview process, keep these practical, insider tips in mind:

• Do Not Pause Your Online Assessments: If you receive an automated coding test, ensure you complete it in one sitting. The system is designed to track continuous progress, and pausing or closing the test can result in automatic disqualification.

• Drive the System Design Conversation: During the system design round, do not wait for the interviewer to tell you what to do. Take initiative, ask clarifying questions about scale and constraints, state your assumptions clearly, and draw a high-level architecture before diving into specific components.
• Emphasize Efficiency and Scalability: Whenever you present a solution—whether in a coding round or a system design round—always proactively discuss how it handles edge cases, failure modes, and resource constraints (such as CPU, memory, and network bandwidth).
• Prepare Questions for Your Interviewers: Samba TV interviewers are highly experienced and appreciate candidates who ask thoughtful, deep questions about engineering culture, technical debt, and the future of the product. Avoid generic questions and ask about specific scaling challenges they have faced.

The Software Engineer role at Samba TV offers an incredible opportunity to work at the intersection of big data, embedded systems, and media analytics. By building the technology that processes real-time viewing data from millions of devices, you will solve some of the most challenging scalability and systems-level problems in the industry. The role is demanding, but it provides a highly collaborative environment where you can grow your technical skills alongside some of the brightest minds in engineering.

To succeed in this interview process, focus your preparation on core computer science fundamentals, distributed systems architecture, and low-level Linux and networking concepts. Practice coding efficiently on shared platforms, refine your system design frameworks, and prepare structured behavioral examples that highlight your leadership and problem-solving abilities. Dedicated preparation is the key to demonstrating your technical depth and securing an offer.

The compensation data above represents a highly competitive package designed to attract top-tier engineering talent. When evaluating an offer, consider the complete compensation structure, including base salary, equity, and benefits, in relation to your experience level and geographic location. For additional interview experiences, salary insights, and preparation resources tailored specifically to Samba TV, explore the comprehensive guides available on Dataford. Good luck with your preparation—your journey to joining Samba TV starts now!