The Software Engineer I (Band 30) interview at American Express is designed to assess foundational technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. Candidates are evaluated on their understanding of core computer science concepts, coding proficiency, and ability to collaborate effectively.
Rounds·3
Timeline·~14d
Experience·1 - 3 yrs
Comp band·US$85000 - US$110000
Interview time·120 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Trees, Hash Maps) & Complexity Analysis.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures like arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees (binary trees, BSTs), and hash maps. Practice implementing them and solving problems involving their usage. Understand time and space complexity analysis (Big O notation).
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: Algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Recursion, Graph Traversal) & Problem Solving.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into algorithms such as sorting (bubble sort, merge sort, quicksort), searching (binary search), recursion, and basic graph traversal (BFS, DFS). Solve problems that require applying these algorithms.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: OOP Concepts and Design Patterns.
Week 5: Review Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) concepts (encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction) and design patterns. Practice coding problems that require OOP principles.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Behavioral Preparation & Company Research.
Week 6: Focus on behavioral preparation. Prepare stories for common behavioral questions using the STAR method. Research American Express and prepare questions to ask.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 03 locations
01 / 03Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
Technical Interview (Coding) · 45 min · Software Engineer or Senior Software Engineer
This round typically involves a coding challenge, often presented as a live coding exercise or a take-home assignment. The interviewer will assess your ability to solve a given problem using code, focusing on your understanding of data structures, algorithms, and your coding proficiency. You'll be expected to explain your thought process, discuss potential edge cases, and optimize your solution.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given a string, find the first non-repeating character.
Implement a function to check if a binary tree is a Binary Search Tree (BST).
Find the kth smallest element in an unsorted array.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 30 min · Hiring Manager or Senior Team Member
This round focuses on your behavioral competencies and how you've handled various situations in the past. You'll be asked questions designed to understand your work style, how you collaborate with others, how you approach challenges, and your overall fit within the team and company culture. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult team member.
Describe a project where you faced a significant technical challenge and how you overcame it.
How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple competing deadlines?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 45 min · Senior Software Engineer or Architect
This round evaluates your ability to design software systems. You'll be given a high-level problem (e.g., design a URL shortener, a social media feed, or a ride-sharing service) and asked to propose a solution. The focus is on your understanding of system components, scalability, data storage, APIs, and trade-offs. For a Band 30 role, the expectations might be more focused on understanding components and basic scaling rather than deep distributed systems knowledge.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system to shorten URLs like TinyURL.
How would you design a news feed for a social media platform?
Design a rate limiter for an API.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on American Express loops
Other guides
