Landing a job as a Software Engineer at Amazon UK is a major milestone for many developers, offering the opportunity to work on large-scale, innovative technologies that impact millions of users globally. Amazon’s engineering teams are responsible for designing scalable systems, solving complex problems, and ensuring the performance and reliability of applications in everything from Alexa to AWS.
According to Glassdoor UK and Levels.fyi, a Software Engineer (L4–L6) at Amazon UK can expect an average salary ranging from £65,000 to £120,000 annually, excluding bonuses and stock options which can significantly boost overall compensation. With a demanding selection process, preparing for the interview is essential. Below are 20 essential Amazon UK Software Engineer interview questions and answers to help you prepare.
1. Tell me about yourself
This is your chance to pitch your career story. Focus on your technical background, key accomplishments, and passion for solving complex problems. End with why you’re excited about Amazon UK.
Answer:
“I’m a software engineer with 5 years of experience in backend development, specializing in Java and AWS services. I led a microservices migration project that improved deployment efficiency by 30%. I’m excited about Amazon’s focus on scalable solutions and customer obsession, and I’d love to contribute to those innovations.”
2. What is Amazon’s Leadership Principle you most align with and why?
Amazon lives and breathes its Leadership Principles. Know them well and choose one that aligns with your values.
Answer:
“I strongly align with ‘Customer Obsession’. In my last role, I developed a logging tool that helped identify and fix bugs proactively, reducing customer complaints by 40%.”
3. Describe a system you’ve designed. How did you ensure scalability?
Expect detailed technical probing. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
Answer:
“I designed a high-traffic RESTful API for a fintech platform. To ensure scalability, I used load balancers, caching via Redis, and container orchestration with Kubernetes. The system handled 2 million monthly requests with 99.98% uptime.”
4. Explain how a hash map works
Test of basic computer science understanding.
Answer:
“A hash map stores key-value pairs. It uses a hash function to compute an index into an array, from which the desired value can be found. Collisions are handled by chaining or open addressing.”
5. What is the difference between processes and threads?
Amazon loves fundamentals.
Answer:
“A process is an independent execution unit with its own memory space. A thread is a subset of a process and shares the same memory. Threads are lighter and more efficient for tasks like concurrent operations.”
6. What’s your approach to debugging a memory leak in production?
Think logically and explain clearly.
Answer:
“I’d monitor memory usage patterns, identify abnormal growth, and use tools like VisualVM or AWS CloudWatch. Once narrowed down, I’d inspect code for object retention, unused references, and fix leaks before redeploying.”
7. Implement a function to reverse a linked list
This is a standard technical challenge.
Answer (logic):
“Initialize three pointers: prev, current, and next. Traverse the list, reversing links one by one until the end. Return the new head.”
8. What is polymorphism in OOP?
A classic question on OOP principles.
Answer:
“Polymorphism allows methods to do different things based on the object it is acting upon. It supports method overloading and overriding, enhancing code reusability and maintainability.”
9. Describe your experience with AWS
You’re expected to know AWS—use real examples.
Answer:
“I’ve deployed applications using EC2, S3 for storage, RDS for database management, and Lambda for serverless tasks. I also used IAM for fine-grained access control.”
10. How do you handle conflicting priorities in your sprint backlog?
Demonstrate agile thinking and communication.
Answer:
“I assess task urgency and business impact, then communicate with the product owner and stakeholders. If needed, I negotiate scope or trade-offs to align with sprint goals.”
11. How would you make a search feature faster on an e-commerce platform?
Performance tuning is key at Amazon.
Answer:
“I’d implement indexing, caching popular queries with Redis, and optimize database queries. I might also introduce Elasticsearch for full-text search.”
12. What is a deadlock and how do you prevent it?
Concurrency knowledge is essential.
Answer:
“A deadlock occurs when two threads wait indefinitely for resources held by each other. It can be prevented by acquiring locks in a consistent order or using timeouts.”
13. Explain CAP Theorem in distributed systems
Amazon operates at scale—expect these questions.
Answer:
“The CAP Theorem states that in distributed systems, you can only have two out of three: Consistency, Availability, and Partition Tolerance. Amazon often prioritizes availability and partition tolerance for resilient services.”
14. How do you ensure code quality?
Talk about tools and habits.
Answer:
“I follow TDD, conduct code reviews, use linters, and CI/CD pipelines for automated testing. I also mentor junior developers on best practices.”
15. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in a team setting?
Leadership principles at play here—think ‘Earn Trust’ and ‘Dive Deep’.
Answer:
“I once worked with a team struggling with missed deadlines. I facilitated better sprint planning and introduced retrospectives. Within two months, we consistently met goals and improved morale.”
16. Describe an algorithm to detect cycles in a graph
Expect data structure questions like this.
Answer:
“Use Depth First Search (DFS) and mark nodes as visited and in recursion stack. If a node is visited and in the recursion stack, a cycle exists. Alternatively, use Union-Find for undirected graphs.”
17. How do you secure an API?
Security is a priority at Amazon.
Answer:
“I use HTTPS, authentication (OAuth 2.0), rate limiting, input validation, and ensure sensitive data isn’t logged. I also monitor for abuse via CloudTrail and API Gateway logs.”
18. How do you stay up to date with technology trends?
They want curious, evolving engineers.
Answer:
“I read engineering blogs (like AWS, Netflix Tech), follow GitHub trends, and contribute to open-source projects. I also attend local meetups and online conferences.”
19. What’s your experience with microservices?
Amazon is microservice-heavy.
Answer:
“I’ve built and maintained multiple services communicating via REST and message queues. I ensured resilience with circuit breakers and observability using Prometheus and Grafana.”
20. Why do you want to work at Amazon UK specifically?
Tailor this answer to their mission and your aspirations.
Answer:
“Amazon UK is leading innovation in cloud, e-commerce, and AI. I’m excited by the scale, the culture of ownership, and the opportunity to impact millions of customers.”
Final Thoughts and Interview Tips
Interviewing at Amazon UK can be intense, but preparation makes all the difference. Here are a few final coaching tips:
Study the 16 Leadership Principles—they come up in almost every behavioral question.
Practice coding on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank with time constraints.
Mock interviews with peers or mentors can boost your confidence.
Understand the STAR technique for answering behavioral questions.
Ask insightful questions at the end of your interview—it shows curiosity and engagement.
With preparation, passion, and a problem-solving mindset, you can confidently take your shot at joining one of the most innovative teams in the UK. Best of luck on your Amazon journey!
