Amazon SDE-1 Interview Experience | 2 Years of Experience | Offer Received

I received an offer for the SDE-1 role at Amazon after working at TCS for around two years. The interview process was challenging and helped me understand the importance of problem-solving, communication, and project knowledge.

Online Assessment (OA)

OA included DSA questions, a work-style assessment, and a work simulation.

The coding section covered topics such as dynamic programming, greedy algorithms, trees, graphs, two pointers, and binary search. The questions were mostly story-based, so understanding the problem statement was important.

The work-style assessment was also an important part of the process. I recommend understanding Amazon's Leadership Principles before attempting it.

Technical Interview 1

The interviewer asked two coding questions:

• BFS, Trees, and Graphs: A medium-level problem involving concepts similar to Rotting Oranges.

• Recursion and Backtracking: A harder problem based on Android Unlock Patterns.

I explained my approach, discussed time and space complexity, and worked towards an optimal solution.

I was also asked a behavioural question about handling a tight deadline when requirements kept changing.

Technical Interview 2

This round focused on problem-solving and project experience.

• Greedy Algorithms: A medium-level problem involving root-related optimization.

• Dynamic Programming: A medium-level problem based on variations of the House Robber problem.

The interviewer also asked detailed questions about a project I had worked on, including my responsibilities and how I handled challenges.

Technical Interview 3

This was the most challenging coding round for me.

I was asked a three-dimensional dynamic programming question related to buying and selling stocks with a maximum of two transactions. I explained my solution and discussed how it could be generalized to support K transactions.

We then discussed my experience with generative AI tools, including how I use them during development and my understanding of AI agents and workflows.

Bar Raiser Interview

This round did not include coding questions. Instead, the interviewer focused on my previous work, technical decisions, and project ownership.

Questions included:

• Why did I choose a particular technical approach?

• Why did I use multithreading, and how did I determine whether it was beneficial?

• What alternatives did I consider?

• Tell me about a time I received critical feedback and how I acted on it.

The interviewer wanted to understand my reasoning, ownership, and ability to explain technical decisions clearly.

Preparation Tips

• Focus on understanding DSA patterns instead of memorizing solutions.

• Practise explaining your approach before writing code.

• Discuss brute-force, improved, and optimal solutions along with their complexity.

• Prepare project-related questions, especially about architecture, trade-offs, and your individual contribution.

• Revise Amazon's Leadership Principles and prepare real examples from your experience.

Final Thoughts

The process was challenging, but each round helped me understand what interviewers were looking for. Strong problem-solving skills are important, but clear communication, project ownership, and the ability to explain technical decisions matter just as much.

My biggest takeaway is to practise consistently and prepare behavioural examples alongside coding problems.