SDE II vs. Senior SDE interviews at Amazon

Microsoft / Eng
filk23

Go to company page Microsoft Eng

filk23
Dec 29, 2021 20 Comments

Recently, I cleared online assessment and I was given an option for either L5 or L6 interviews. What's the difference between them in terms of interviews? More interviews or difficulty levels?
Which level I should target for?

Any guidance on preparation would be really helpful.
Thanks.
TC 190k
YOE 7
Location: Seattle

#tech #facebook #uber

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TOP 20 Comments
  • Amazon / Eng
    multi.year

    Go to company page Amazon Eng

    PRE
    Amazon
    multi.year
    Target higher at 7 yoe. Worst case you will be downleveled to L5 anyways . No need to do the downleveling proactively.

    L6 interviews are more difficult and interviewers are more experienced.
    Dec 29, 2021 7
    • Twitter / Eng
      FleetFlot

      Go to company page Twitter Eng

      PRE
      Amazon
      FleetFlot
      Amazon Photos was the best of the ones I can actually speak to, but to work there you have to come to terms with the fact the product will always be an inferior version of Apple or Google Photos. Culture was good while I was there, though.
      Dec 29, 2021
    • Amazon / Eng
      multi.year

      Go to company page Amazon Eng

      PRE
      Amazon
      multi.year
      +1 to what Twitter said about staying away from Alexa.

      The older orgs have good WLB in general with good learning opportunities (especially if you are joining after Q4) with good learning opportunities and a more relaxed ramp-up.

      AWS in general has worse WLB as compared to CDO.
      Dec 29, 2021
  • Amazon
    oCEY67

    Go to company page Amazon

    oCEY67
    Why do you even consider amazon as an option? Run away, this is slavery company
    Dec 29, 2021 2
  • Amazon
    yvko

    Go to company page Amazon

    yvko
    Difficulty. More depth in system design and higher expectations in your behavioral portion
    Dec 29, 2021 1
  • OP, are you ready to go from good wlb to what could be 50-60 hours per week with fear of pip always haunting you?
    Dec 29, 2021 5
  • Amazon
    🍌Bezos

    Go to company page Amazon

    🍌Bezos
    L6 interviews are tougher with director and principal dev interviewers, but format is usually the same. L5 is usually easier. Suggest to target L6, if you make it pay band is higher, also leveling down is easier, if you don't raise the bar for L6 you might still be offered an L5 position.
    Dec 29, 2021 0