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Amazon·Software Engineer·Online Assessment (OA)·Junior

JuniorPrefer not to say
Aug 2026Remote

Summary

Took an Amazon OA and the whole thing started on a rough note with the webcam showing a black screen and a 'no face detected' error even though my camera was working fine before and after. First coding problem was easy, aced it. Second one wrecked me.

Questions Asked (2)

Q1

Solve the first coding problem presented in the online assessment.

Algorithms & Data Structures
Author's notes

Straightforward problem, passed all 15 test cases without much trouble.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Clarify the problem constraints and edge cases, then outline a brute-force solution before optimizing with appropriate data structures. Implement clean, modular code and test with provided examples plus additional edge cases.

Pro tip: Amazon values customer obsession and ownership; explicitly state how your solution handles scale and failure modes, and mention trade-offs between time and space complexity.

1. Understand and Clarify

Restate the problem in your own words, ask clarifying questions about input size, constraints, and expected output format.

2. Explore Examples and Edge Cases

Walk through the provided examples and identify edge cases like empty input, large values, duplicates, or negative numbers.

3. Design and Compare Approaches

Propose a brute-force solution, analyze its complexity, then optimize using appropriate data structures or algorithms.

4. Implement and Test

Write clean, modular code with meaningful variable names, then test with examples and edge cases, explaining your reasoning.

5. Analyze and Reflect

State the final time and space complexity, discuss trade-offs, and suggest potential improvements or alternative solutions.

Key Points to Mention

  • Time and space complexity analysis (Big O notation)
  • Edge cases and input validation
  • Choice of data structures and why they are optimal
  • Trade-offs between different approaches (e.g., time vs. space)
  • Scalability and handling large inputs
  • Code readability and maintainability

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.

Q2

Solve the second coding problem presented in the online assessment.

Algorithms & Data StructuresTechnical Trade-offs
Author's notes

This one was a different story.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Clarify the problem requirements and constraints, then discuss multiple algorithmic approaches with their trade-offs before coding. Implement the most efficient solution, test it with edge cases, and analyze time and space complexity.

Pro tip: Amazon values customer obsession and ownership; relate your solution to real-world impact and scalability, and always consider edge cases and failure scenarios.

1. Understand the Problem

Ask clarifying questions to confirm input/output formats, constraints, and edge cases. Restate the problem in your own words to ensure alignment.

2. Explore Approaches

Brainstorm multiple solutions (e.g., brute force, optimized) and discuss their time/space trade-offs. Choose the best approach based on constraints.

3. Implement the Solution

Write clean, modular code with meaningful variable names. Explain your thought process as you code, and handle edge cases explicitly.

4. Test and Validate

Walk through test cases, including edge cases, to verify correctness. Debug any issues and refine the solution.

5. Analyze Complexity

State the time and space complexity of your solution and discuss potential optimizations or alternative approaches.

Key Points to Mention

  • Time and space complexity analysis
  • Edge cases and input validation
  • Trade-offs between different algorithms
  • Scalability and real-world application
  • Code readability and maintainability
  • Amazon Leadership Principles (e.g., Customer Obsession, Ownership)

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.