Toast is the dominant US restaurant POS platform — over 100K restaurants, hardware and SaaS combined. The interview values offline-first thinking and payments expertise. They specifically hire engineers who can reason about hardware constraints, network unreliability, and the chaos of a Friday-night dinner rush.
Process
Recruiter screen → 45-minute coding phone (DSA-flavored but practical) → onsite virtual: 2 coding, 1 system design, 1 behavioral, 1 hiring manager. Some roles add a domain round (payments, hardware integration, or Android for KDS team). Cycle: 3–4 weeks.
What they actually ask
- Design an offline-capable POS that syncs orders when network returns
- Design payment processing with PCI compliance and tokenization
- Design online ordering with real-time menu sync across hundreds of locations
- Coding: queue/stack/heap problems, often framed around order processing or kitchen display
- Concurrency: handle simultaneous orders from POS, online, and third-party (DoorDash) channels
Levels and comp (2026)
- SE I: $145K–$175K total
- SE II: $190K–$240K
- Senior SE: $260K–$340K
- Staff: $360K–$470K
Prep priorities
- Read up on offline-first sync (CRDTs, vector clocks, last-write-wins)
- Understand payment terminology: tokenization, settlement, chargebacks, EMV
- Toast is mission-driven — talking about restaurant industry pain points wins points
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Toast hire mobile engineers?
Yes. The KDS (Kitchen Display System) and Toast Go handheld run Android, so dedicated Android teams interview separately.
How much does Toast pay vs FAANG?
Base is competitive but equity is smaller post-IPO. Total comp lands ~70–80% of FAANG at the same level.
What is the dress code for the interview?
Casual. Toast culture is relaxed. Show up in something you would wear to a coffee shop.