Principal Software Engineer Interview Experience - United States
June 1, 2022
Neutral ExperienceGot Offer
Process
HR called and scheduled the initial screen. The hiring manager had made up his mind then.
Six or more additional hours of interviews were scheduled.
Some of the panel members were very professional and personable. Others were uninterested.
Overall, the experience was neutral.
Questions
They tell you ahead of time. Signed NDA.
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 4 interview experiences for the Toast Principal Software Engineer role in United States.
Success Rate
0%
Pass Rate
Toast's interview process for their Principal Software Engineer roles in the United States is extremely selective, failing the vast majority of engineers.
Experience Rating
Positive50%
Neutral25%
Negative25%
Candidates reported having very good feelings for Toast's Principal Software Engineer interview process in United States.
Toast Work Experiences
1.0
High Pay, Terrible Tech
Principal Software Engineer • Former Employee
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
May 25, 2023
Pros: The salary is high.
Cons: - The stocks are worth nothing.
- PMs are not able to do their job.
- Managers offload their work to you.
- The technology level is embarrassing and impossible to change.
5.0
Fast-growing and profitable company
Staff Software Engineer • Current Employee
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
November 14, 2025
Pros: Growing to new markets.
Building a great product, helping restaurants thrive.
It depends on the team, but if you are lucky, you'll work on an interesting project and will be able to drive improvements and affect the roadmaps.
Company culture is great overall.
Cons: Some PMs are highly incompetent, but due to the company culture, they continue working on the products they don't fit.
Some top management decisions (like laying off the team owning e2e tests without a replacement) are weird and affect the product's quality.
Company policy does not allow people to grow to the principal+ levels if they work on a single product, as there is an official list of boxes you need to 'tick,' and one product (regardless of how great you've established it) doesn't count.
4.0
Good Work, Liberal Teams
Software Developer • Current Employee
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
November 5, 2025
Pros: Good to work in here.
Cons: But the teams are very liberal.
- 1.0High Pay, Terrible TechPrincipal Software Engineer • Former EmployeeDublin, Dublin, IrelandMay 25, 2023Pros: The salary is high.Cons: - The stocks are worth nothing. - PMs are not able to do their job. - Managers offload their work to you. - The technology level is embarrassing and impossible to change.
- 5.0Fast-growing and profitable companyStaff Software Engineer • Current EmployeeDublin, Dublin, IrelandNovember 14, 2025Pros: Growing to new markets. Building a great product, helping restaurants thrive. It depends on the team, but if you are lucky, you'll work on an interesting project and will be able to drive improvements and affect the roadmaps. Company culture is great overall.Cons: Some PMs are highly incompetent, but due to the company culture, they continue working on the products they don't fit. Some top management decisions (like laying off the team owning e2e tests without a replacement) are weird and affect the product's quality. Company policy does not allow people to grow to the principal+ levels if they work on a single product, as there is an official list of boxes you need to 'tick,' and one product (regardless of how great you've established it) doesn't count.
- 4.0Good Work, Liberal TeamsSoftware Developer • Current EmployeeChennai, Tamil Nadu, IndiaNovember 5, 2025Pros: Good to work in here.Cons: But the teams are very liberal.
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