amazon senior software engineer interview questions

Amazon… “Hire and Develop the Best”. One of the Big Four Tech Companies who cares a lot about their Leadership Principles when it comes to opening a door for a candidate in the company. Amazon is a top company according to the 2018 LinkedIn Article. If you are a person who is preparing yourself to get into this company, you might be definitely aware of the importance of Data Structures and Algorithms for interview preparation.

There is no doubt that this one is a must-have skill to apply for the job of SDE or software engineer role in Amazon or any other big tech company. Hiring procedures in these companies are kind of similar but we are going to share some specific detail, tips, preparation strategy, and evaluation process of Amazon to crack the interview. Keep in mind that the difficulty level of these rounds depends on the level of SDE position you are applying and you can prefer any programming language you are comfortable with.

Now it’s time to discuss the strategy and rounds that Amazon conducts for the hiring procedure. But before that keep in mind a quick tip that works in every company…Your goal is to write just the right amount of good code and communicate well. You’re not paid to write code, you’re paid to think, figure out problems, and give the solution. To crack any technical interview all you just need is a laptop, a working internet connection will solve problems regularly and within a few months, you can learn the essentials.

Sending Application: Getting a call from Amazon for an interview is not easy if you don’t have any referrals. Your chances to get the interview call are more if you have a connection with an employee there. If you don’t have we highly recommend making connections with hiring managers or recruiters via LinkedIn. Also, focus on your CV when you are applying for the job. Make it short, precise because none of the recruiters has more than 15 seconds to scan a CV. Write down only those things you are comfortable with, do not fake anything because the interviewer can spot that easily during the interview… Below is the link for the guidelines of CV.

Screening Interview: Shall we invite this candidate for the full loop? To filter out a lot of candidates Amazon conduct this round and this round saves a lot of time and resources for the company. So there will be 1-2 screening rounds before the onsite interview. The screening round could be telephonic or you will be asked to complete a coding challenge where you need to write clean, good, and bug-free code and that should be also optimized. This round consists of basic to medium level data structures and algorithms questions, you will have some online document to write down your code and that will be visible to your interviewer. It can have a 2-3 coding question. Below is the point to keep in mind for an online coding challenge or telephonic interview.

Onsite Interview: Once you get selected in the previous round, you will be invited for a loop that will take one full day, consisting of about four to five separate interviews and each of these interviews takes roughly an hour. All these rounds will be technical with BR round (All Technical + One Managerial) at the end. The exact number of rounds depends upon how you perform in each round and the level you are applying for. Now here comes the role of DSA and CS fundamentals to check your coding and problem-solving skill. You need to prepare yourself with all your projects, internship, previous experiences, and definitely your coding and problem-solving skill.

3. Bar Raiser Round: As we have already mentioned about the Bar raiser round in Amazon where a candidate is assessed on skills and cultural fit with amazon’s customer-centric and innovative principles. Bar raisers are specially trained for this. Below is the point you need to keep in mind for this round…

Interview Evaluation Criteria: After the interview, a meeting is held between all the interviewers to discuss, debate, and justify their individual ratings with the Hiring Manager and HR Representative. The interviewers give the whole summary after the interview. The outcome of this meeting will be a final Inclined or Not-Inclined decision for the candidate. A software engineer is expected to know how to code, know when to ask for guidance, ability to articulate the thought process, approach to solving a problem, and deliver results timely while maintaining a willingness to learn new processes and adapt quickly to changing roadmaps. An entry-level basic understanding of the core concepts of coding is generally all that is required and for higher-level ability to code and solve complex problems based on experience matter a lot.

How I cracked my Amazon Coding Interview | Software Development Engineer Interview | Sprint Master

Phone Screen

During the phone screen stage, you will be interacting with a manager via the Amazon Chime video conferencing software using your phone. For the Amazon phone interview questions, software engineer applicants will be asked a combination of technical and behavioral-based questions for 45 to 60 minutes.

Technical Questions: You can expect to face standard questions or some Amazon Senior SDE interview questions regarding data structures and algorithms and how Amazon uses these. You will usually be given tasks to edit and solve such syntax on an online collaborative editor. Apart from these, you can also expect to face certain software development topics like systems design.

Behavioral Questions: To equip yourself during this round, you will have to have a thorough knowledge of the leadership principles of Amazon.

Recursion-Related Amazon Interview Questions Asked at Amazon

Another 12% of all Amazon Senior SDE interview questions or questions for SEs are related to recursions and linked lists. Some of the most frequently asked questions of this type are:

Task: Write a code to print a sequence of numbers starting with N, where A[0] = N, without using a loop, in which A[i+1] = A[i] – 5, until A[i] > 0. After that A[i+1] = A[i] + 5. Repeat it until A[i] = N

Given: A round table of n persons Task: Write a code to find out in how many ways they can shake hands such that no two handshakes cross each other

Given: n number of people in a circle and a number k, such that k-1 persons are skipped, and the kth person is eliminated Task: Write a code to figure out the safest place in the circle

2.3 Behavioral questions

Amazon’s SDE interview process heavily focuses on assessing if you live and breathe the company’s 16 Leadership Principles. The main way Amazon tests this is with behavioral questions which youll be asked in every interview.

SDE interviews tend to primarily focus on the first four principles we have highlighted below, according to the Amazon ex-interviewers on our coaching team. The other twelve topics also come up but less frequently.

Amazons Leadership Principles:

Customer Obsession

Ownership

Bias for Action

Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit

Invent and Simplify

Dive Deep

Are Right, A Lot

Deliver Results

Think Big

Hire and Develop the Best

Frugality

Learn and Be Curious

Insist on the Highest Standards

Earn Trust

Strive to be Earths Best Employer

Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility

Below is a breakdown of each leadership principle and how you’ll be asked about them during your interview process with Amazon.

Customer obsession — “Leaders start with the customer and work backwards. They work vigorously to earn and keep customer trust. Although leaders pay attention to competitors, they obsess over customers.”

Customer obsession is about empathy. Interviewers want to see that you understand the consequences that every decision has on customer experience. You need to know who the customer is and their underlying needs, not just the tasks they want done.

This is by far the most important leadership principle used at Amazon. Therefore, it is the most critical one to prepare for.

Example “customer obsession” questions asked by Amazon

Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult customer

Tell me about a time you made something much simpler for customers

Which company has the best customer service and why?

Tell me about a time you said no to a customer request and why

Ownership — “Leaders are owners. They think long term and don’t sacrifice long-term value for short-term results. They act on behalf of the entire company, beyond just their own team. They never say “that’s not my job.”

Interviewers at Amazon want to avoid hiring people who think, “That’s not my job!” When answering ownership questions, you’ll want to prove that you take initiative, can make tough decisions, and take responsibility for your mistakes.

Example “ownership” questions asked by Amazon

Tell me about a time you did something at work that wasnt your responsibility / in your job description

Describe an instance where you had to make an important decision without approval from your boss

Tell me about a time you took ownership of a problem that was not the focus of your organization

When was the last time that you sacrificed a long term value to complete a short term task?

Bias for action — “Speed matters in business. Many decisions and actions are reversible and do not need extensive study. We value calculated risk taking.”

Since Amazon likes to ship quickly, they also prefer to learn from doing (while also measuring results) vs. performing user research and making projections. They want to see that you can take calculated risks and move things forward.

Example “bias for action” questions asked by Amazon

Tell me about a time you had to change your approach because you were going to miss a deadline

Tell me about a time you had to make a decision with incomplete information. How did you make it and what was the outcome?

Tell me about a time when you launched a feature with known risks

Tell me about a time you broke a complex problem into simple sub-parts

Have backbone; disagree and commit — “Leaders are obligated to respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree, even when doing so is uncomfortable or exhausting. Leaders have conviction and are tenacious. They do not compromise for the sake of social cohesion. Once a decision is determined, they commit wholly.”

Any group of smart leaders will disagree at some point. Amazon wants to see that you know when to challenge ideas and escalate problems to senior leadership. At the same time, they want to know you can sense the right time to move forward regardless of your disagreement.

Example “have backbone; disagree and commit” questions asked by Amazon

Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a coworker or manager and how you approached it

Tell me about a time you disagreed with your team and convinced them to change their position

Tell me about a time you had a conflict with your team but decided to go ahead with their proposal

Tell me about a time your work was criticized

Invent and simplify — “Leaders expect and require innovation and invention from their teams and always find ways to simplify. They are externally aware, look for new ideas from everywhere, and are not limited by “not invented here.” Because we do new things, we accept that we may be misunderstood for long periods of time.”

Amazon relies on a culture of innovation. Answering invent and simplify questions is an opportunity to show your ability to create solutions when there is no obvious answer. You’ll also want to show that you know how to execute big ideas as simply and cheaply as possible.

Example “invent and simplify” questions asked by Amazon

Tell me about a time you suggested a new approach

What is the most innovative idea youve ever had?

Tell me how you built a feature in an innovative way, give specific details

Dive deep — “Leaders operate at all levels, stay connected to the details, audit frequently, and are skeptical when metrics and anecdote differ. No task is beneath them.”

When something isn’t working, SDEs need to quickly find a solution. Interviewers want to see that you are excited to dive deep when problems arise.

Example “dive deep” questions asked by Amazon

Tell me about a project in which you had to deep dive into analysis

Tell me about the most complex problem you have worked on

Describe an instance when you used a lot of data in a short period of time

Are right, a lot — “Leaders are right a lot. They have strong judgement and good instincts. They seek diverse perspectives and work to disconfirm their beliefs.”

Amazon expects its Software Development Engineers to produce solutions as quickly as possible and to make a lot of decisions with little information. You’ll want to demonstrate skill in taking calculated risks and show that youre comfortable disproving your own opinions before moving ahead.

Example “are right, a lot” questions asked by Amazon

Describe a time you made a mistake

Tell me about a time you applied judgment to a decision when data was not available

Tell me about a time you had very little information about a project but still had to move forward

Deliver results — “Leaders focus on the key inputs for their business and deliver them with the right quality and in a timely fashion. Despite setbacks, they rise to the occasion and never settle.”

Amazon values action over perfection. When answering questions related to delivering results, you’ll want to indicate that you dislike slipped deadlines and failed goals.

Example “deliver results” questions asked by Amazon

Tell me about the most challenging project you ever worked on

How do you prioritize in your current role?

What do you think are the most difficult parts of software engineering?

Think big — “Thinking small is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Leaders create and communicate a bold direction that inspires results. They think differently and look around corners for ways to serve customers.”

Amazon is huge and its SDEs need to build products that reach significant scale to make a difference for the business. As a result, interviewers will want to see that you can develop and articulate a bold vision.

Example “think big” questions asked by Amazon

Describe a time you proposed a non-intuitive solution to a problem and how you identified that it required a different way of thinking

Give a specific example where you drove adoption for your vision and explain how you knew it had been adopted by others

Tell me about your most significant accomplishment. Why was it significant?

Hire and develop the best — “Leaders raise the performance bar with every hire and promotion. They recognize exceptional talent, and willingly move them throughout the organization. Leaders develop leaders and take seriously their role in coaching others. We work on behalf of our people to invent mechanisms for development like Career Choice.”

As mentioned above, Amazon wants new hires to “raise the bar.” Interviewers will want to see that you are not afraid of working with and hiring people smarter than you. You should also show you enjoy coaching younger colleagues and know how to get the most out of top performers. You’ll notice the examples listed here are general interview questions, but they provide a perfect opportunity for you to address this principle.

This leadership principle is typically discussed in interviews for very senior engineering positions that involve people management or building a team (e.g. Software Development Manager, Director, etc.).

Example “hire and develop the best” questions asked by Amazon

Describe a time you stepped in to help a struggling teammate

Tell me about a time you helped boost your team morale

Tell me about a time you hired or worked with people smarter than you are

Why do you want to work at Amazon?

Frugality — “Accomplish more with less. Constraints breed resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, and invention. There are no extra points for growing headcount, budget size, or fixed expense.”

At every touchpoint, Amazon tries to provide customers with as much value for as little cost as possible. Interviewers will be looking for how you can support this idea while maintaining a constant drive for innovation.

Example “frugality” questions asked by Amazon

Tell me about a time you successfully delivered a project without a budget or resources

Describe the last time you figured out a way to keep an approach simple or to save on expenses

Learn and be curious — “Leaders are never done learning and always seek to improve themselves. They are curious about new possibilities and act to explore them.”

Amazon demands constant improvement in every part of their business. You’ll want to show that you are interested in learning new things and exploring new ideas. Some examples listed here are general interview questions, but they provide a perfect opportunity for you to address this principle.

Example “learn and be curious” questions asked by Amazon

Explain something interesting you’ve learned recently

Tell me about a time you taught yourself a skill

Why Software Engineering?

Insist on the highest standards — “Leaders have relentlessly high standards — many people may think these standards are unreasonably high. Leaders are continually raising the bar and drive their teams to deliver high quality products, services, and processes. Leaders ensure that defects do not get sent down the line and that problems are fixed so they stay fixed.”

Amazon takes the view that nothing is ever “good enough.” They’d like to see that you push for standards that are difficult to meet.

Example “insist on the highest standards” questions asked by Amazon

Describe a project that you wish you had done better and how you would do it differently today

Tell me about the most successful project youve done

How do you ensure standards are met when delivering projects?

Earn trust — “Leaders listen attentively, speak candidly, and treat others respectfully. They are vocally self-critical, even when doing so is awkward or embarrassing. Leaders do not believe their or their team’s body odor smells of perfume. They benchmark themselves and their teams against the best.”

The key part of that principle candidates often miss is the “vocally self-critical.” Amazon wants SDEs who focus on fixing mistakes instead of figuring out who to blame. You’ll want to show that you take action when something is wrong and acknowledge your own faults before blaming other people and teams.

Example “earn trust” questions asked by Amazon

How do you earn trust with a team?

Tell me a piece of difficult feedback you received and how you handled it

A co-worker constantly arrives late to a recurring meeting. What would you do?

Strive to be Earths best employer — “Leaders work every day to create a safer, more productive, higher performing, more diverse, and more just work environment. They lead with empathy, have fun at work, and make it easy for others to have fun. Leaders ask themselves: Are my fellow employees growing? Are they empowered? Are they ready for whats next? Leaders have a vision for and commitment to their employees personal success, whether that be at Amazon or elsewhere.”

Similar to the principle “hire and develop the best,” this principle is more likely to come up in interviews for senior and/or managerial positions. In this case, you’ll want to show that you’ll not only boost your team, but also create a safe, diverse, and just work environment. Essentially, if “hire and develop the best” means picking and training a top team, being “Earth’s best employer” means keeping that team safe, enriched, and engaged once you’ve got them.

Example “strive to be Earths best employer” questions asked by Amazon

Tell me about a time that you went above and beyond for an employee

Tell me about a time you saw an issue that would negatively impact your team. How did you deal with it?

How do you manage a low performer in the team? How do you identify a good performer in the team and help in their career growth?

Success and scale bring broad responsibility — “We started in a garage, but were not there anymore. We are big, we impact the world, and we are far from perfect. We must be humble and thoughtful about even the secondary effects of our actions. Our local communities, planet, and future generations need us to be better every day. We must begin each day with a determination to make better, do better, and be better for our customers, our employees, our partners, and the world at large. And we must end every day knowing we can do even more tomorrow. Leaders create more than they consume and always leave things better than how they found them.”

Amazon wants its employees to understand the responsibility of working for a vast, impactful company. Show how you measure the impact of your decisions, both in your workspace and in the world around you (e.g. sustainability, justice, etc.). You must always be willing to improve.

Example “success and scale bring broad responsibility” questions asked by Amazon

Give me an example on when you made a decision which impacted the team or the company

Can you tell me a decision that you made about your work and you regret now?

FAQ

Are Amazon Software Engineer interviews hard?

How do I interview a senior software engineer?

1. Do not ask senior developers to complete a test to explain a simple algorithm or data structure- most candidates for senior posts haven’t dealt with such matters in years.
2. Stay away from whiteboard-testing.
3. Ask candidates to share a few work samples.

What is Senior Software Engineer at Amazon?

What questions should I ask a senior software engineer?

• Tell me about your interests in current development trends.
• Do you enjoy contributing to open-source projects?
• What do you know about our firm’s technology services?
• How do you approach setting professional goals?
• How do your qualifications support your success as a senior developer?