Amazon Software Development Engineer (SDE) interview questions

ou’ll often receive an invite for a timed coding assessment, especially for SDE I and SDE II roles. Format: Usually 2–3 coding problems (Data Structures & Algorithms) on platforms like HackerRank. Topics: Arrays, strings, hashmaps, trees, recursion, dynamic programming. Time: 90–120 minutes. 2. Phone Screen / Technical Interview (1–2 rounds) This is a live coding interview with a Software Engineer. Duration: 45–60 minutes. Platform: Amazon Chime or similar. What’s asked: Coding problem(s) – Leetcode-style (medium/hard). Explain your thought process and test cases. May include system design questions for SDE II or higher. Behavioral questions related to Amazon Leadership Principles. 3. Onsite / Virtual Loop (3–5 rounds) Each round is 45–60 minutes with different interviewers. You’ll face: Coding Rounds: DSA-focused, problems of Leetcode medium/hard level. System Design: For SDE II and above. Design scalable systems like URL shortener, messaging apps, etc. Behavioral Rounds: Heavy focus on Amazon Leadership Principles (e.g., “Tell me about a time you disagreed with a teammate.”) Bar Raiser Round: A specially trained interviewer who ensures high hiring standards. This person can veto a hire.