Scale Engineer

Software Dev Manager

Software Engineering ManagerL5 SDMHigh

This interview process is designed to assess candidates for the Software Development Manager (L5) role at Amazon. It evaluates technical leadership, people management, project management, and Amazon's Leadership Principles.

Rounds·4

Timeline·~21d

Experience·5 - 10 yrs

Comp band·US$180000 - US$250000

Interview time·240 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor software engineers.
  • Strong understanding of software development lifecycle and best practices.
  • Proven track record of delivering complex projects on time and within scope.
  • Ability to think strategically and align technical solutions with business goals.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Thoroughly review Amazon's 16 Leadership Principles and prepare STAR method examples for each.
  2. Understand Amazon's culture and values.
  3. Brush up on system design, distributed systems, and scalability concepts.
  4. Practice coding problems, focusing on data structures and algorithms.
  5. Prepare to discuss your management style, team building strategies, and conflict resolution approaches.
  6. Research the specific team and product area you are interviewing for.
  7. Be ready to discuss your career aspirations and how they align with Amazon's opportunities.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 03 phases

01 / 03
01

Phase 01 of 03

Foundational Knowledge

Weeks 1-2: Leadership Principles (STAR method) & Core CS Fundamentals (Data Structures & Algorithms).

Weeks 1-2: Deep dive into Amazon's 16 Leadership Principles. For each principle, brainstorm 2-3 specific examples from your past experience using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Focus on demonstrating ownership, customer obsession, and bias for action. Also, begin reviewing core computer science concepts like data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming).

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Tell me about a time you had to manage a difficult stakeholder. How did you handle it?
  • Describe a project where you had to make a significant technical decision. What was your thought process?
  • How do you foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within your team?
  • Walk me through your approach to hiring and onboarding new engineers.
  • Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
  • How do you balance the needs of your team with the demands of the business?
  • Design a system for [specific Amazon product, e.g., a recommendation engine].
  • How do you handle underperforming team members?
  • Describe a time you had to influence without authority.
  • What are your strategies for managing technical debt?
  • How do you ensure your team is aligned with the company's strategic goals?
  • Tell me about a time you had to deliver bad news to your team or stakeholders.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Seattle, WA

Interview focus

Customer ObsessionOwnershipBias for ActionAdaptability to local market needsGlobal team collaboration (for international locations)

Common questions

  • How do you handle a team member who is consistently underperforming?
  • Describe a time you had to make a difficult decision that impacted your team. What was the outcome?
  • How do you foster innovation within your team?
  • In Seattle, there's a strong emphasis on customer obsession. How do you ensure your team prioritizes customer needs?
  • For roles in India, expect more questions around scaling teams and managing distributed development.

Tips

  • Research Amazon's specific business units and products relevant to the location.
  • Understand the local tech talent landscape.
  • Be prepared to discuss how you've managed teams in diverse cultural contexts.
  • For Seattle, emphasize your understanding of AWS and its services.
  • For India, highlight experience with large-scale software development and offshore/nearshore team management.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.

DSA

Coding questions at Amazon.

Frequently reported on Amazon loops

View all at Amazon

Other guides

More at Amazon.