Amazon Software Development Engineer SDE interview questions

The interview process at Amazon depends on the role, but for most tech and corporate positions (SDE, QA, Support Engineer, Device Associate, Operations, etc.), the process usually follows this structure: 1. Application & Resume Screening Apply through Amazon Jobs or through a referral. Recruiters review your resume for relevant skills, projects, internships, and experience. If shortlisted, you'll receive an assessment or interview invitation. 2. Online Assessment (OA) For technical roles: 2–3 coding questions (usually Easy to Medium DSA level) MCQs on CS fundamentals Work simulation or situational judgment questions Behavioral questions based on Amazon Leadership Principles (LPs) Common DSA topics: Arrays Strings Hash Maps Trees Graphs Sliding Window Dynamic Programming Sorting & Searching 3. Recruiter / HR Screening A recruiter may discuss: Your background Current situation Salary expectations Notice period Interest in the role 4. Technical Interview Rounds Usually 1–4 rounds depending on level. For freshers and entry-level roles: DSA problems Problem-solving approach Coding in a shared editor OOP concepts DBMS, OS, CN basics Project discussion For experienced SDE roles: DSA Low-Level Design (LLD) System Design Scalability concepts 5. Leadership Principles (LP) Round Amazon heavily evaluates candidates using its Leadership Principles. Examples: Customer Obsession Ownership Bias for Action Learn and Be Curious Deliver Results Typical questions: "Tell me about a time you handled a difficult situation." "Describe a failure and what you learned." "Tell me about a time you took ownership of something." Use the STAR format: Situation Task Action Result LP questions can appear in every interview round, not just HR rounds. 6. Bar Raiser Round This is a unique Amazon round. A specially trained interviewer called a Bar Raiser evaluates whether you meet Amazon's hiring standards. They focus on: Problem solving Leadership Principles Communication Long-term potential The Bar Raiser has significant influence on the final hiring decision. 7. Hiring Committee & Offer After all interviews: Interviewers submit feedback independently. Hiring team reviews all feedback. Decision: Hire / No Hire. Offer letter is released if selected. If You're Applying as a Fresher For roles like: Associate Quality Services (AQS) Device Associate Support Engineer SDE Intern SDE I Focus on: DSA (Arrays, Strings, Hashing, Trees) OOPs DBMS Operating Systems Computer Networks basics Leadership Principle stories Projects on your resume