# L10
**Role:** Software Engineer · **Level:** Fellow
**Company:** [AMD](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/amd)
**Difficulty:** Very High
**Salary:** US$250000 - US$350000
**Experience:** 15 - 20
**Timeline:** ~60 days
The L10 Fellow Software Engineer interview at AMD is a rigorous process designed to assess candidates for the highest technical leadership roles within the company. It focuses on deep technical expertise, strategic thinking, architectural vision, and the ability to influence and mentor across large engineering teams. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a proven track record of solving complex, large-scale problems and driving significant technical innovation.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/amd/fellow-software-engineer
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## Overall evaluation

- Technical Excellence & Leadership
- Impact & Vision
- Behavioral & Cultural Fit

## Questions asked

- Describe the most technically challenging project you've led. What were the key architectural decisions and their impact?
- How do you approach mentoring and developing senior technical talent within an organization?
- Tell me about a time you had to influence a large group of engineers or stakeholders to adopt a new technology or approach.
- What are the biggest challenges facing the semiconductor industry today, and how can AMD address them?
- Design a system for [complex problem relevant to AMD, e.g., large-scale simulation, real-time data processing for gaming, efficient power management across a chip]. Discuss trade-offs and scalability.
- How do you stay current with rapidly evolving technologies, and how do you foster a culture of continuous learning in your teams?
- Describe a time you failed on a project. What did you learn, and how did you apply those learnings?
- What is your philosophy on technical debt and how do you manage it?
- How would you architect a next-generation platform for AI inference that balances performance, power efficiency, and cost?
- Discuss your experience with cross-functional collaboration, particularly with hardware engineering teams.

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Deeply understand AMD's products, technologies, and strategic goals.
- Review fundamental computer science concepts, especially in areas relevant to AMD's business (e.g., computer architecture, operating systems, distributed systems, graphics, AI/ML).
- Prepare detailed examples from your career that showcase leadership, complex problem-solving, architectural design, and mentorship.
- Practice explaining complex technical concepts clearly and concisely.
- Research the interviewers if possible to understand their areas of expertise.
- Be ready to discuss your career aspirations and how they align with AMD's future.
- Prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewers about the role, team, and company direction.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Foundation Building","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Deep dive into AMD's current product portfolio (CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs, Adaptive SoCs), recent innovations, and strategic roadmap. Understand the competitive landscape and AMD's market position. Review core computer architecture principles, including instruction set architectures (ISAs), pipelining, memory hierarchies, and cache coherence.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: AMD Products & Architecture Fundamentals."}
- {"title":"System Design & Scalability","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Focus on system design and scalability. Study distributed systems, microservices, cloud computing, and database technologies. Practice designing complex systems, considering trade-offs, fault tolerance, and performance. Review operating system concepts, including process management, memory management, and concurrency.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: System Design & Scalability."}
- {"title":"Behavioral & Leadership","longDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Prepare for behavioral and leadership questions. Reflect on your career experiences, identifying key examples of technical leadership, problem-solving, conflict resolution, mentorship, and strategic decision-making. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. Study common leadership frameworks and theories.","shortDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Behavioral & Leadership Preparation."}
- {"title":"Advanced Technical Deep Dive","longDescription":"Weeks 7-8: Focus on advanced topics relevant to AMD's domains, such as AI/ML algorithms and frameworks, high-performance computing (HPC), graphics rendering pipelines, or embedded systems and real-time processing. Practice coding challenges focusing on algorithmic efficiency and complex data structures. Prepare to discuss your vision for future technologies.","shortDescription":"Weeks 7-8: Advanced Topics & Coding Practice."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"Austin","differences":{"tips":["Highlight any experience with AMD's product lines or competitive landscape.","Be ready to discuss your contributions to open-source communities if applicable.","Emphasize your ability to work with diverse teams and stakeholders."],"interviewFocus":["Hardware-software co-design","Performance optimization at the system level","Cross-functional collaboration and influence"],"commonQuestions":["Discuss a time you had to influence a team with a different technical direction. What was the outcome?","Describe a complex system you designed that had a significant impact on the business. What were the key trade-offs?","How do you approach mentoring junior engineers to become senior leaders?","What are the emerging trends in semiconductor design/software that excite you, and how might AMD leverage them?","In our Austin office, there's a strong emphasis on hardware-software co-design. Be prepared to discuss your experience in this area."]}}
- {"location":"Seattle","differences":{"tips":["Showcase your understanding of cloud-native architectures.","Be prepared to discuss your experience with agile methodologies at scale.","Articulate your vision for future technology trends."],"interviewFocus":["Scalability and reliability of distributed systems","Cloud computing and enterprise solutions","Innovation and strategic technical leadership"],"commonQuestions":["Tell me about a time you had to make a critical technical decision with incomplete information.","How do you foster innovation within a team and encourage risk-taking?","Describe your experience with large-scale distributed systems and their challenges.","What are your thoughts on the future of AI/ML and its application in our industry?","Our Seattle office has a strong focus on cloud and enterprise solutions. Be prepared to discuss your experience in these domains."]}}
- {"location":"Sunnyvale","differences":{"tips":["Demonstrate a deep understanding of computer architecture principles.","Be ready to discuss your contributions to critical product development cycles.","Highlight your ability to mentor and grow technical talent."],"interviewFocus":["CPU architecture and validation","Embedded systems and real-time performance","Technical strategy and execution"],"commonQuestions":["Describe a situation where you had to resolve a major technical conflict within a team.","How do you balance long-term technical strategy with short-term project delivery?","What is your approach to ensuring code quality and maintainability in large codebases?","Discuss your experience with embedded systems and real-time operating systems.","Our Sunnyvale HQ often deals with core CPU architecture and validation. Be ready to discuss your expertise here."]}}

## Round 1: Advanced Technical Problem Solving
**Type:** Technical Deep Dive · **Difficulty:** Very High · **Duration:** 60 min
Assesses core technical skills and problem-solving through complex challenges.
This round focuses on assessing the candidate's core technical expertise and problem-solving abilities. The interviewer will present complex technical challenges, often related to system design, algorithms, or specific domain knowledge relevant to AMD's business. The candidate is expected to demonstrate a structured approach to problem-solving, articulate trade-offs, and justify their solutions with deep technical reasoning. This round often involves whiteboarding or collaborative problem-solving.
**Interviewers look for:** Deep understanding of fundamental computer science and engineering principles.; Ability to break down complex problems into manageable parts.; Sound judgment in making technical decisions and trade-offs.; Clear and concise communication of technical ideas.
**Evaluation criteria:** Technical depth and breadth; Problem-solving methodology; Architectural thinking; Communication clarity
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of depth in core technical areas.; Inability to articulate complex technical concepts clearly.; Poor problem-solving approach for ambiguous problems.; Lack of demonstrated leadership or influence.; Failure to provide concrete examples of impact.
## Questions

- Design a distributed caching system for a global content delivery network.
- Given a large dataset of user behavior, how would you build a recommendation engine?
- Optimize the performance of a CPU-bound application running on a multi-core processor.

## Preparation tips

- Review advanced data structures and algorithms.
- Practice system design problems, focusing on scalability, reliability, and performance.
- Brush up on computer architecture, operating systems, and relevant domain-specific knowledge (e.g., graphics, AI/ML, embedded systems).
- Be prepared to explain your thought process in detail.

## Round 2: Technical Leadership & Architecture
**Type:** Architecture & Scalability · **Difficulty:** Very High · **Duration:** 60 min
Assesses strategic thinking, architectural design, and leadership capabilities.
This round evaluates the candidate's ability to think strategically, design scalable and robust architectures, and lead technical initiatives. Candidates will be asked to discuss past projects where they demonstrated technical leadership, influenced technical direction, and managed complex trade-offs. The focus is on their ability to architect solutions that meet both technical and business requirements, and to drive adoption of these solutions across the organization.
**Interviewers look for:** Ability to define and drive long-term technical strategy.; Proven track record of leading complex projects and initiatives.; Skill in influencing and collaborating with diverse stakeholders.; Understanding of how technology drives business value.
**Evaluation criteria:** Architectural vision and strategy; Leadership and influence; Cross-functional collaboration; Business acumen
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to articulate strategic vision.; Lack of experience in driving large-scale technical initiatives.; Poor understanding of business impact and trade-offs.; Difficulty in influencing cross-functional teams.; Failure to demonstrate leadership in ambiguous situations.
## Questions

- Describe a time you had to make a significant architectural change to a system. What was the process, and what was the outcome?
- How would you design a platform to support real-time analytics for millions of users?
- What are the key considerations for building a highly available and fault-tolerant distributed system?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare examples of architectural designs you've created and their impact.
- Think about how you've influenced technical decisions in previous roles.
- Be ready to discuss your views on future technology trends and their implications for AMD.
- Understand how technical decisions align with business goals.

## Round 3: Managerial & Behavioral Assessment
**Type:** Behavioral & Leadership · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 45 min
Assesses leadership, mentorship, teamwork, and cultural fit through behavioral questions.
This round focuses on the candidate's leadership style, ability to mentor and develop talent, and how they handle interpersonal dynamics within a team. Behavioral questions will explore past experiences related to team management, conflict resolution, motivation, and fostering a positive work environment. The interviewer aims to understand how the candidate contributes to team success and aligns with AMD's culture.
**Interviewers look for:** Evidence of strong leadership and mentorship.; Ability to foster a positive and productive team environment.; Effective communication and conflict resolution skills.; Alignment with AMD's core values.
**Evaluation criteria:** Leadership style; Mentorship and coaching abilities; Teamwork and collaboration; Communication and interpersonal skills; Cultural fit
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of demonstrated mentorship or coaching skills.; Difficulty in handling conflict or difficult conversations.; Poor self-awareness or inability to reflect on past experiences.; Misalignment with AMD's cultural values.; Weak communication or interpersonal skills.
## Questions

- Describe a time you had to give difficult feedback to a team member. How did you approach it?
- How do you motivate a team during challenging projects?
- Tell me about a time you disagreed with your manager. How did you handle it?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare specific examples of how you've mentored engineers.
- Think about how you've handled team conflicts or difficult situations.
- Reflect on your leadership philosophy and values.
- Be ready to discuss how you foster collaboration and inclusivity.

## Round 4: Executive Alignment & Vision
**Type:** Executive / Fellow Interview · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 45 min
Final discussion with senior leadership to assess overall fit and strategic alignment.
This final round is typically with a senior leader or Fellow who assesses the candidate's overall fit, strategic thinking, and alignment with AMD's long-term vision. The conversation will be high-level, focusing on the candidate's career aspirations, their understanding of AMD's strategic direction, and their potential to contribute at the highest technical levels. It's an opportunity for the candidate to demonstrate their vision and passion.
**Interviewers look for:** Understanding of the role's impact on the business.; Alignment between candidate's goals and AMD's direction.; Proactive engagement and thoughtful questions.; Passion for technology and AMD's mission.
**Evaluation criteria:** Alignment with role and company strategy; Career aspirations; Enthusiasm and engagement; Cultural alignment; Strategic thinking
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to connect technical expertise with strategic business goals.; Lack of clear vision for the role or team.; Poor alignment on career aspirations.; Failure to ask insightful questions.; Overall lack of enthusiasm or engagement.
## Questions

- What is your long-term vision for technical leadership in our industry?
- How do you see AMD evolving in the next 5-10 years, and what role do you envision yourself playing?
- What are the most critical challenges and opportunities for AMD in the current technological landscape?

## Preparation tips

- Research AMD's long-term strategy and recent announcements.
- Articulate your career goals and how this role fits into them.
- Prepare insightful questions about the future of AMD and the industry.
- Showcase your passion for technology and innovation.