Real, anonymous reports from people who interviewed for Software Engineer at Amazon Kuiper Commercial Services, newest first and distilled into what to expect across the loop.
After applying, I ended up getting moved forward to an OA early in August, and that’s where things got rough fast for me. The OA was genuinely bamboozling—I wasn’t tripped up by one question so much as the whole experience threw me off. I ended up with about a 66% overall and didn’t progress.
My process started with a recruiter and then moved into a long, multi-person loop. After the recruiter screen, I had a call with an engineering director, followed by additional conversations with a senior product owner and a senior software engineer. Each of those rounds felt focused on fit and how I think through problems, not just on “gotchas.”
Candidates typically start with an online assessment that includes coding questions focused on data structures and algorithms (DSA), often with a mix of behavioral and situational questions. The difficulty varies, but many report a focus on edge cases and the need for clear reasoning under time constraints.
The interview loop generally consists of multiple rounds, often blending technical and behavioral questions, with a strong emphasis on Amazon's Leadership Principles. Candidates experience a mix of coding, system design, and behavioral evaluations, sometimes with a bar-raiser round that heightens the pressure.
Technical interviews often involve solving DSA problems while explaining thought processes, including time and space complexity considerations. Candidates may also face real-world context questions that require translating coding skills into system design or practical applications.
Behavioral questions are woven throughout the technical interviews, requiring candidates to connect their experiences to leadership principles and demonstrate ownership and impact. This integration can make the process feel demanding as candidates must switch between technical and behavioral modes.
Candidates report a generally average to difficult experience, with some describing the pacing as aggressive, especially in back-to-back interview formats. The combination of technical depth and behavioral clarity is often challenging, leading to a feeling of high pressure throughout the process.
Many candidates express a desire to better prepare for the integration of behavioral and technical questions, as well as the need for clearer storytelling around their experiences. A common takeaway is the importance of practicing under time pressure and maintaining confidence throughout the process.