Scale Engineer

L7

Software EngineerMTSHard

The L7 Software Engineer interview at AMD, also known as a Member of Technical Staff (MTS), is a rigorous process designed to assess a candidate's deep technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, system design skills, and cultural fit within AMD's innovative environment. This level typically requires a strong foundation in computer science principles, significant experience in software development, and the ability to lead and mentor junior engineers.

Rounds·4

Timeline·~4d

Experience·8 - 15 yrs

Comp band·US$180000 - US$250000

Interview time·195 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Depth of technical knowledge in core areas (algorithms, data structures, operating systems, computer architecture).
  • Proficiency in relevant programming languages (e.g., C++, Python, Java).
  • Ability to design scalable, robust, and efficient software systems.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Effective communication and collaboration abilities.
  • Leadership potential and ability to mentor others.
  • Understanding of software development best practices and methodologies.
  • Adaptability and willingness to learn new technologies.

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Review fundamental computer science concepts: data structures, algorithms, operating systems, computer architecture.
  2. Practice coding problems extensively, focusing on efficiency and edge cases.
  3. Study system design principles and common architectural patterns.
  4. Prepare to discuss your past projects in detail, highlighting your contributions and technical challenges.
  5. Research AMD's products, technologies, and company culture.
  6. Practice behavioral interview questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
  7. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers.
  8. Understand the specific technologies and domains relevant to the role you are applying for (e.g., GPU computing, CPU design, AI/ML, embedded systems).

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 05 phases

01 / 05
01

Phase 01 of 05

Data Structures & Algorithms

Weeks 1-2: DSA fundamentals and practice (LeetCode Medium/Hard).

Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, trees (binary, AVL, B-trees), graphs, hash tables, heaps, and sorting/searching algorithms. Practice implementing these and analyzing their time and space complexity. Solve problems on platforms like LeetCode (Medium/Hard).

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Design a distributed caching system.
  • Implement a function to find the k-th largest element in an unsorted array.
  • Explain the difference between processes and threads and when to use each.
  • How would you design a system to handle millions of concurrent users for a live streaming service?
  • Describe a challenging bug you encountered and how you debugged it.
  • Tell me about a time you disagreed with a technical decision and how you handled it.
  • What are the trade-offs of using microservices versus a monolithic architecture?
  • How do you ensure the performance and scalability of your code?
  • Discuss your experience with parallel programming and concurrency control.
  • Design an API for a ride-sharing service.
  • How would you optimize a database query that is running slowly?
  • Tell me about a project where you had to learn a new technology quickly.
  • What are the principles of good API design?
  • How do you approach code reviews?
  • Describe a situation where you had to deal with a difficult stakeholder.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 03 locations

01 / 03

Location

Santa Clara, CA

Interview focus

Deep dive into specific hardware-software interaction scenarios relevant to AMD's product lines (e.g., GPU computing, CPU architecture, embedded systems).Emphasis on performance tuning and optimization for AMD's specific architectures.Understanding of industry standards and protocols relevant to AMD's markets (e.g., PCIe, USB, display standards).Behavioral questions often probe experience with large-scale, long-term projects and cross-functional collaboration within a hardware-centric company.

Common questions

  • Discuss a complex technical challenge you faced in a distributed system and how you resolved it.
  • How would you design a scalable caching system for a high-traffic web application?
  • Describe your experience with performance optimization in C++ for CPU-intensive tasks.
  • Explain the trade-offs between different concurrency models in multi-threaded applications.
  • How do you approach debugging in a large, complex codebase?
  • Tell me about a time you had to influence a technical decision across multiple teams.
  • What are your thoughts on the future of AI/ML hardware acceleration?
  • Describe a project where you had to work with hardware-software co-design principles.

Tips

  • Research AMD's current product portfolio and recent technological advancements (e.g., Zen architecture, RDNA architecture, Instinct accelerators).
  • Familiarize yourself with common performance bottlenecks in CPU/GPU design and software.
  • Be prepared to discuss your experience with low-level programming, drivers, or firmware if applicable to the specific role.
  • Understand the competitive landscape and how AMD differentiates itself.
  • Highlight any experience with silicon validation, bring-up, or hardware debugging.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at AMD.

Frequently reported on AMD loops

View all at AMD

Other guides

More at AMD.