Amazon Software Development Engineer (SDE II) interview questions

4 rounds - each with 2-3 LP 1 sys design 2 leetcode 1 lld/api design I recently completed a four-round interview loop that tested both my technical skills and alignment with core leadership principles. The process included one round each of system design and low-level design (LLD/API design), along with two Leetcode-style data structure and algorithm rounds. In the system design round, I was asked to architect a scalable solution for a real-world problem, focusing on components like API gateways, data storage, caching, and event-driven processing. The LLD round focused more on writing clean, extensible class designs using OOP principles. For the coding rounds, I was given medium to hard-level problems covering arrays, graphs, recursion, and dynamic programming—emphasis was equally placed on problem-solving and clear communication. What stood out to me throughout was how consistently leadership principles were evaluated in every round. It wasn’t enough to write correct code or sketch a solid design—they wanted to see if I could think big, dive deep into details, simplify where needed, and deliver results under pressure. Even in the coding rounds, I was asked about trade-offs, edge cases, and testing strategy. Preparing structured STAR-format stories really helped in weaving leadership principles into technical conversations. If you're preparing for a similar process, I'd strongly recommend balancing coding prep with clear communication and behavioral readiness.