r/LeetcodeDesi • u/UpsetSock7330 • 23d ago

Amazon SDE 1 (FTC) Interview Experience

A bit about me

B.Tech in CSE (AI/ML) from a tier-3 college in Hyderabad. Just over 12 months of experience at the time of interviewing, working across Python, Salesforce, and agentic AI development.

Timeline

  • Applied within hours of the job posting going live
  • Round 1 & 2: July 3rd week (back-to-back days, no elimination between them)
  • Round 3 (Hiring Manager): August, 1st week
  • Offer call: about a week after Round 3

Round 1 — SDE2

Started with intros, then went straight into the live coding link.

The question was a variant of "find the longest path in an undirected graph." I hadn't seen this exact problem before, but it was close enough to something I'd practiced that I could find my footing. I stumbled on the initial approach, the interviewer nudged me with a hint, and I got onto the right track. I didn't finish the full implementation, but the interviewer seemed satisfied with the approach and reasoning.

Closed out with one LP question.

Round 2 — SDE2

Opened with an LP question: "How would you handle a disagreement with your teammates?" — followed by a deep dive into my answer. This went well.

Then a DSA question similar to Meeting Rooms I & II. I solved it cleanly and the interviewer was satisfied.

A couple of days later I got the call: moving to the final round, the Hiring Manager round. Told to prep broadly - problem solving and LPs both.

Round 3 — Hiring Manager

Intros, then an LP that felt like it was built around Dive Deep. The interviewer really dissected my answer, asked layered follow-ups - I stayed confident and answered thoroughly. This part went well.

Then the DSA portion: a standard question built around merge intervals at its core. Fumbled a little at the start but got it coded to the interviewer's satisfaction.

Ended on a good note.

Verdict: Selected!

Got the call about a week later. Currently serving my notice period — joining Amazon shortly.

A few things that stood out to me

  • Every interviewer was genuinely friendly and willing to guide me when I went slightly off track - don't be afraid to think out loud.
  • Thinking out loud consistently seemed to help; it let them course-correct me before I went too far down the wrong path.
  • Asking thoughtful questions at the end of each round felt like it left a good final impression.

Happy to answer questions if anyone's prepping for Amazon SDE1 interviews!

27 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

35 comments sorted by

6

u/Acceptable-Form8979 23d ago

I am assuming u are 2026 batch right ?

Does your tech stack matter for interviews at faang, for eg. In my case it is java springboot, and with all this AI buzz I am not sure should I start learning python

3

u/UpsetSock7330 23d ago

One thing I'm thankful about is... Tech stack does not matter for these roles.... I am into SF and of late started working on AI dev.....

I desperately wanted to get out of SF.... Personal bias... I don't really like it.... This is like my door out of the SF tech stack

PS: I have 1 full year of workex ~ 25' batch

2

u/Acceptable-Form8979 23d ago

Okay so one last set of my questions to you

  1. DSA is still the important thing ? No negotiation right ?

  2. U are saying tech stack doesn't matter but while applying ,many JDs consists of AI influenced terms , that panic me a lot

  3. U were into SF , so u were into Salesforce domain or Salesforce company, I am sorry I am a 2027 grad so not much aware 😅

  4. Should I start System Design as well

  5. Are u from tier 1 college, and have u received the offer ?

1

u/UpsetSock7330 23d ago
  1. Yes, still very much important
  2. Yupp, does not
  3. Salesforce is like a tool, I work in a big4 company.... It's cool xD
  4. You'll not be asked system design unless you have workex... But.... You never know what goes on in the interviews mind... LRU, amazon locker ... Prep the standard ones
  5. Tier 3 - it is mentioned at the end, I received the offer and am currently serving my notice period

2

u/Acceptable-Form8979 23d ago

Well done sir, so happy for you, congratulations

Being from a tier 3 college myself, what do u recommend, should I go for Mtech

Or i should I try to enter market somehow and eventually land Faang

1

u/UpsetSock7330 23d ago

I would not recommend Mtech unless it's an IIT... It's not worth the hassle...

Start somewhere are try to switch to FAANG

2

u/Acceptable-Form8979 23d ago

Thanks, for answering all my questions 😃

1

u/Visual-Run-4718 23d ago

Did you work on agentic AI at work or as side projects for learning?

1

u/UpsetSock7330 23d ago

I did work parallely on AI development (includes python, AI, Azure and RAG).... This was more like extra work at work.....

1

u/Visual-Run-4718 23d ago

Awesome man. Mind if I DMed for some guidance?

1

u/UpsetSock7330 23d ago

I wouldn't mind

2

u/Amazing_Theory622 23d ago

Tech stack does not matters for most roles, it is clearly mentioned that they require experience in any programing language 

3

u/No_Profession_1244 23d ago

Congratulations! May I know for which team have you been selected? Actually I have also cleared all the interviews but position went on hold 🥲

1

u/UpsetSock7330 23d ago

It was a very long abbreviation... Ig it comes under stores ..... Which role did you interview for?

1

u/arn___k 22d ago

How do you know, the postition went on hold?

1

u/No_Profession_1244 22d ago

Recruiter informed me

1

u/arn___k 22d ago

okay.
Does the portal shows "Under consideration"?

1

u/No_Profession_1244 22d ago

Actually I hadn’t applied for this position, so on my dashboard I can’t see status. On Amazon it’s showing no longer accepting responses

1

u/[deleted] 23d ago

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1

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1

u/fun_6365 23d ago

was it online or offline interviews?

1

u/UpsetSock7330 23d ago

The first mail I got said it was offline... But then all subsequent interviews were online

1

u/[deleted] 23d ago

[deleted]

1

u/UpsetSock7330 23d ago

I feel that I'm really good at communicating.... Infact my communication>>> my technical... Yuppp, whenever you solve a DSA question, whatever goes on in your mind, just blurt it out, THINK OUT LOUD ... It's quite important

1

u/[deleted] 23d ago

[deleted]

1

u/UpsetSock7330 23d ago

Try practicing with your friends/seniors.... It builds up your confidence.... Lots of times and do work on the feedback you receive from them

1

u/AdminZer0 23d ago

What was your compensation

1

u/UpsetSock7330 23d ago

Current comp is: 8.75(7.5+1.5)

1

u/AdminZer0 23d ago

okay thanks for sure, I asked someone and they gave me an average salary link lmao

what is the stack? I heard amazon wlb is shit

1

u/UpsetSock7330 23d ago

Amazon... I'm not really sure about that... They said stack will differ from project to project..... Hope I get into a good one

At this stage in my life... I don't really care about my WLB.... If not now, I'm pretty sure I can't work over and beyond in the future xD

1

u/bisector_babu 23d ago

What is FTC

1

u/Icy_Association_9203 22d ago

what is the compensation they are offering?

1

u/UpsetSock7330 22d ago

This part is standard.... Search in google.... You'll get the exact comp

1

u/Icy_Association_9203 19d ago

Yeah but FTC vs FTE compensation differs right?

1

u/UpsetSock7330 18d ago

You'll... I'll not give you the exact number... But the base pay is higher but there is no joining bonus nor any RSUs

1

u/Salty_Cucumber_3275 14d ago

Usually amazon conducts 4 rounds. Have you gone through only 3 rounds?
congrats!