The Amazon SDE 1 interview process typically consists of three main stages, heavily emphasizing **technical proficiency** and Amazon’s **16 Leadership Principles (LPs)**.
### 1. Online Assessment (OA)
The first step is a **70–90 minute** proctored assessment on HackerRank. It usually includes:
* **Two Coding Questions:** Medium-level DSA problems (e.g., Arrays, Strings, Hashing).
* **Work Simulation:** A 60-minute module where you handle workplace scenarios and decision-making.
* **Workstyle Survey:** A personality test to assess cultural alignment with LPs.
### 2. Phone Screen
A **45–60 minute** technical interview with an engineer focusing on medium-level coding, edge cases, and a brief discussion on one or two Leadership Principles.
### 3. Onsite "Loop"
This final stage consists of **4 to 5 rounds**, each lasting one hour:
* **Coding (2 Rounds):** Deep dives into DSA, focusing on clean code and optimization.
* **System Design/LLD (1 Round):** Basic architecture or Low-Level Design (e.g., designing a parking lot).
* **Bar Raiser:** A rigorous round with a senior interviewer outside the hiring team, focusing heavily on **Leadership Principles** and high-level problem-solving.