SDE Interview FAQs
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Watch our team members from around the world answer seven of the most frequently asked questions from SDE candidates!
SDE II Interview Prep
At Amazon, our goal is to be the world’s most customer-centric company by delivering innovative products, services, and ideas. The SDE interview is designed to identify candidates who have the technical proficiency, behavioral skills, and cultural fit required to help us achieve this mission.
What does an SDE II do at Amazon?
As an SDE II, you’ll contribute to your team’s software, delivering features that span its life cycle. This includes working with your team to design solutions that enhance existing features and enable new ones. You’ll exercise autonomy and make trade-offs between feature development and operational work.
You’ll also document your team’s software, including how it’s constructed, tested, operated, and secured, and how it fits into the bigger picture. You’ll train new team members on these points and work alongside customers, stakeholders, and peers to ensure your solutions deliver real value.
We’re committed to developing our people, and as an SDE II, you’ll mentor and guide others. You’ll also play a key role in recruiting and interviewing for your team.
SDE II traits
Innovative
Thinking creatively and coming up with original solutions to complex problems.
Data-driven
Using data and analytics to make decisions and improve software performance.
Curious
Continuously learning skills and staying up-to-date with industry trends and technologies.
Results-driven
Focusing on delivering high-quality results that meet or exceed expectations.
Communicative
Communicating effectively with team members, stakeholders, and customers.
Accountable
Taking ownership and responsibility for your work and the success of your team.
The process
To be considered for an SDE II role, you must first submit a job application. If you meet the basic qualifications for the role, you’ll then complete an online assessment. If your online assessment is successful, a recruiter will contact you to arrange an interview loop. If your interview loop is successful, you’ll have a discussion regarding team matching and then be made an offer.
Job Application
Online Assessment
Interview Loop
Interview Outcome (within 5 business days)
Team Matching
Offer Discussion
Online assessment
You’ll have 90 minutes to complete two technical questions followed by 20 minutes of Systems Design scenarios and an 8-minute multiple choice Work Style Survey related to our Leadership Principles.
Interview loop
Your loop will include four 55-minute interviews where you’ll meet with members of our software development community.
You’ll have the chance to discuss your experiences and expertise in several areas that help us determine success at Amazon.
These areas include both technical competencies and non-technical competencies that are based off of our Leadership Principles, which different interviewers will be assigned to evaluate.
System design
At Amazon, designing software systems is unique due to our size and speed of change. Expect at least one question on software systems design.
Your interviewer will ask questions related to your design, and you should ask questions to complete and validate your design.
System design resources
System design videos
System Design Interview Prep
View video transcriptLearn how to approach, analyze, and solve technical questions in your interview.
High-level Design
View video transcriptLearn how to approach high-level design in your interview.
Coding
Expect to be asked to write syntactically correct code—no pseudo code. If you feel a bit rusty coding without an IDE or coding in a specific language, it’s a good idea to dust off the cobwebs and get comfortable coding with Livecode.
The most important thing a SDE does at Amazon is write scalable, robust, and well-tested code. These are the main evaluation criteria. Also check for edge cases and validate that no bad input can slip through.
Coding resources
Coding videos
How to Break Down the Coding Problem
View video transcriptView a sample coding interview question and answer.
Solving the Coding Problem
View video transcriptNow that you’ve broken down the problem statement, let’s get started on the solution.
Running the Solution and Test Cases
View video transcriptNow, you’ll want to test and adjust your solution to ensure it passes all test cases.
Fine Tuning the Solution
View video transcriptNow that you’ve verified a working solution, consider the runtime complexity of our solution, and how we can continue improving upon it.
Behavioral interview
A significant portion of the conversation will focus on how you’ve demonstrated our Leadership Principles in your past jobs. This is because past behavior is an indicator of future success. We won’t ask brain teasers. Instead, we’ll focus on the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of your experiences, as well as the ‘why’ of your decisions.
Each interviewer will typically ask two or three behavioral-based questions about successes or challenges and how you handled them using our Leadership Principles.
How to prepare
First, think about your most memorable experiences in your previous jobs and recall specific details. Amazon is a data-driven company, so your answers should include metrics or data where applicable. Then, consider how you applied the Leadership Principles in your experiences.
Have examples that showcase your expertise and demonstrate how you’ve taken risks, succeeded, failed and grown. Make sure your answers are well-sructured. Use the STAR method to frame your responses.
Amazon culture
We’re a company that brings a wide range of perspectives to inventing on behalf of our customers. These include race, ethnicity, gender, age, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, culture, language, and education, as well as professional and life experience. We’re committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.