Lightspeed Commerce is the leading POS for restaurants, retail, and golf — Canadian-headquartered, public since 2019. The interview emphasizes POS hardware integration, inventory management, and the unique multi-vertical SaaS challenges.
Process
Recruiter screen → 60-minute coding phone (DSA medium) → onsite virtual: 2 coding, 1 system design, 1 craft deep-dive, 1 behavioral. Cycle: 3–4 weeks.
What they actually ask
- Design a POS that works offline with sync on reconnect
- Design a multi-location inventory system
- Design payment processing with multiple processors
- Coding: medium DSA, often with offline-first or sync framing
- Behavioral: customer focus, ownership, working with diverse industry verticals
Levels and comp (2026)
- SE II: CAD$120K–$150K total (Montreal); $135K–$170K (US)
- Senior SE: CAD$150K–$200K / $200K–$260K
- Staff: CAD$210K–$280K / $290K–$380K
- Principal: CAD$300K+ / $400K–$520K
Prep priorities
- Be fluent in PHP (legacy core) or Java (newer services)
- Understand offline-first sync and conflict resolution
- Brush up on payment processing and PCI compliance
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lightspeed remote-friendly?
Hybrid in Montreal (HQ), Amsterdam, NYC. Some engineering roles remote within Canada/US.
How does Lightspeed compare to Square or Toast?
Square is the dominant SMB POS. Toast specializes in restaurants. Lightspeed competes on multi-vertical SaaS. Comp is comparable; Square pays slightly more.
What is the engineering culture?
Canadian / European tech: collaborative, calm pace, strong work-life balance.