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Embedded Software Engineer Interview Prep

This document provides tips and guidance for preparing for an interview as an embedded software development engineer at Amazon. It outlines key topics to review such as functional design, data structures, algorithms, system design, and common technologies. The document emphasizes practicing writing clean code, understanding problem constraints, stating assumptions, and asking clarifying questions. Overall, the interview will assess problem-solving skills and understanding of fundamentals rather than specific technical knowledge.

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Martín Vázquez
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
101 views

Embedded Software Engineer Interview Prep

This document provides tips and guidance for preparing for an interview as an embedded software development engineer at Amazon. It outlines key topics to review such as functional design, data structures, algorithms, system design, and common technologies. The document emphasizes practicing writing clean code, understanding problem constraints, stating assumptions, and asking clarifying questions. Overall, the interview will assess problem-solving skills and understanding of fundamentals rather than specific technical knowledge.

Uploaded by

Martín Vázquez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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INTERVIEW PREP

Embedded
software
engineer
WHAT DOES AN EMBEDDED SDE DO AT AMAZON?
Our engineers define, architect, and build innovative product
experiences that customers love and use every day. Embedded
SDEs are at the forefront of designing the larger system and
create long-term designs. We write code, debug, and create the
world’s most innovate products.

We want employees who will share and shape our mission to be


Earth’s most customer-centric company. We hire the world’s
brightest minds and offer them an environment in which they can
invent and innovate to improve the experience of our customers.

Want to become an Amazon embedded software development


engineer? Let’s walk through some helpful tips for the interview.
Topics to review

Be well versed in functional design. Our Brush up on your knowledge of linked lists,
teams work predominantly with C/C++, hash tables, queues, stacks, and trees.
scripting languages, and build system syntax-
es to help create and test devices.
Your interview will not be focused on rote
memorization of algorithms. However, have a
Be able to write clean, syntactically correct
good understanding of the most common
code with well-defined interfaces. We look
algorithms. Knowing the runtimes, theoreti-
for candidates who can learn new technolo-
cal implications, and basic implementation
gies and languages as needed. Spend time
strategies of different classes of algorithms
practicing and writing code. We advise you to
may come in handy.
test your code and consider any edge cases in
your solution.

The problems we present you with have mul-


Have a deep understanding of common data
tiple successful solutions. Don’t fixate on
structures used in embedded engineering. Be
finding one ideal solution.
able to contrast their usage in various appli-
cations. It is helpful to know the runtimes for
common operations as well as how they use
memory.

System design tips

Think about how you might design a new product or service from scratch and what you
might need to get started. Embedded SDEs have to think about many customers when de-
signing their systems — hardware engineers, software/ system engineers, test engineers, and
actual Amazon customers.

Be comfortable reading data sheets, user manuals, and discussing architecture and design
with your team. Know how to breakdown a concept into multiple pieces and define how
those pieces interact with the system as a whole.
Interview tips
Prepare to discuss technologies listed on Follow-up if you need clarification. If you
your resume. For example, if you list RTOS are asked a question but not given enough
or U-Boot as technical competencies be information to provide a solid answer,
ready to discuss your experience with don’t be shy about asking for more
these technologies. information. If additional context is not
available, focus on how you would attempt
Familiarize yourself with different loop and to solve the problem given limited
control constructs. This may help you write information.
cleaner code, save time, and produce well-
designed solutions.
State your assumptions to the interviewer
Be familiar with OS topics like memory and the rationale behind them.
management, processes, threads,
synchronization, paging, semaphores, and
We strive to make the interview a
multithreading. Additionally, you may
collaborative process and appreciate when
want to look over different types of RTOS.
a candidate has put thought into a few
questions for the interviewer.
We are looking for solid foundations more
than specific technology. We expect that
candidates with solid fundamentals can
pick up new technologies throughout the
process.

While it may seem overwhelming, your interviews will not be evaluating your ability to
memorize these topics. We are looking to understand if you’ll be effective on the job here
on a day-to-day basis. We are interested in how you understand, think about, and ap-
proach problems. We hope this guide will help you prepare for your interview.

LEARN MORE

Dive into our Leadership Principles


Help make history
Interviewing for a tech role? Explore our common technical topics
starting with Day 1
Explore Interviewing at Amazon for FAQs, prep guides and more

QUESTIONS? REACH OUT TO YOUR RECRUI TI N G POC


AMAZON IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

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