SDM/TPM Interview – Systems Design
View video transcript
Tips for interviewing for the systems design interview SDM.
SDM Interview Prep
At Amazon, our goal is to be the world’s most customer-centric company by delivering innovative products, services, and ideas. The software development manager (SDM) 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 SDM do at Amazon?
SDMs guide the entire software journey, from conception to execution. They lead teams, ensuring alignment with business objectives, collaboration with stakeholders, and top-notch software delivery. SDMs focus on system design, team leadership, customer satisfaction, and project management.
Strategic Thinker
Think strategically, aligning software development efforts business objectives and long-term goals.
Leader
Motivate, mentor, and manage engineering teams to achieve goals.
Problem Solver
Identify and resolve complex technical challenges that may arise during the development process.
Technical Expert
Posess a strong foundation in technical skills and knowledge to guide teams and make informed decisions.
Data-Driven
Use data to drive strategies and decisions.
Customer-Obsessed
Innovate by starting with the customer and working backwards.
The process
To be considered for an SDM role, you must first submit a job application. If you meet the basic qualifications for the role, you’ll be asked to complete a technical phone screening. Depending on the team and role, you may be asked to complete a second phone screening as well. If your phone screening is successful, a recruiter will contact you to arrange an interview loop, and they’ll send you a writing assessment.
Job Application
Technical Phone Screening
Writing Assessment (2 days prior to interview loop)
Interview Loop
Interview Outcome (within 5 business days)
Technical phone screening
Your technical phone screening will be with a senior leader on our team. It will last 60 minutes. Half of the time will be spent on behavioral questions that focus on our Leadership Principles, and the other half will be spent on questions about system design (new or existing).
Interview loop
Your loop will include five 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.
Objectives
- Practicality
- Accuracy
- Efficiency
- Reliability
- Optimization
- Scalability
System design resources
System design videos
System Design Interview Prep
View video transcriptLearn how to approach, analyze, and solve technical questions in your interview.
Management skills
You’ll be evaluated on your technical proficiency, leadership abilities, and project management skills.
Quality assurance, risk management, and adaptability are key. You should also demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and ethical considerations in software development.
Objectives
- Risk Management
- Adaptability
- Resource Management
- Team Development
- Stakeholder Management
- Organizational Learning
Competencies
SDM interview videos
The SDM Interview at Amazon
View video transcriptTips for interviewing as an SDM at Amazon.
Amazon Leadership Principles
View video transcriptGet insight to help you be successful when interviewing for Amazon’s Leadership Principles.
Two-Pizza Teams Culture
View video transcriptSDM teams are usually two-pizza teams. Jeff Bezos discusses team size, communication models, and how to lead well.
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-structured. 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.