Amazon Data Engineer interview questions combine Amazon's interview process with the Data Engineer-specific skills interviewers probe. This guide covers the Amazon Data Engineer process, the technical and behavioral questions to expect, and how to prepare for 2026.
Key Takeaways
- A Amazon Data Engineer interview tests Advanced SQL, ETL/ELT pipelines, Data modeling.
- Amazon's loop has 5 stages and is rated <strong>High</strong> difficulty.
- Expect Data Engineer-specific technical questions plus Amazon's behavioral rounds.
- See the full <a href="/blog/amazon-interview-questions">Amazon interview guide</a> and <a href="/blog/data-engineer-interview-questions">Data Engineer interview guide</a> for depth.
The Amazon Interview Process
- Online assessment (2 coding + work simulation)
- Phone screen
- Virtual onsite: 4-5 rounds
- Bar Raiser round
- Each round maps to Leadership Principles
Data Engineer Skills Amazon Looks For
| Area | Detail |
|---|---|
| Amazon focus | 16 Leadership Principles, Data structures & algorithms, Object-oriented design, Behavioral (STAR) depth, Ownership & Customer Obsession |
| Data Engineer core skills | Advanced SQL, ETL/ELT pipelines, Data modeling, Big data (Spark/Kafka), Distributed systems |
| Key topics | Window functions & joins, Batch vs streaming, Star/snowflake schemas, Partitioning & file formats, Data quality |
Amazon Data Engineer Technical Interview Questions
Expect Data Engineer-focused technical questions such as:
- Write a SQL query with window functions
- Design a batch ETL pipeline
- Design a streaming pipeline with Kafka
- Model a data warehouse for analytics
- Deduplicate records at scale
- Handle late-arriving data
Amazon also emphasizes 16 Leadership Principles and Data structures & algorithms, so be ready for questions like:
- Two sum and its follow-ups
- Copy a list with random pointers
- Design an in-memory key-value store
Amazon Behavioral Questions
- Tell me about a time you disagreed and committed
- Describe when you dove deep to solve a problem
- Give an example of Customer Obsession
- Tell me about a time you took ownership beyond your role
How to Prepare for the Amazon Data Engineer Interview
- Master advanced SQL (window functions, CTEs)
- Know batch vs streaming trade-offs
- Practice data modeling and pipeline design
- Prepare 2 STAR stories per Leadership Principle
Related Guides
- Company depth: <a href="/blog/amazon-interview-questions">Amazon interview questions</a>.
- Role depth: <a href="/blog/data-engineer-interview-questions">Data Engineer interview questions</a>.
- Browse all in the <a href="/blog/category/interview-questions">interview questions hub</a>.
Ace Your Amazon Data Engineer Interview
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Frequently Asked Questions
A Amazon Data Engineer interview follows Amazon's 5-stage process and tests Advanced SQL, ETL/ELT pipelines, Data modeling through role-specific technical questions plus Amazon's behavioral rounds.
It is rated High difficulty. You will face Data Engineer-specific technical questions alongside Amazon's emphasis on 16 Leadership Principles and Data structures & algorithms.
Prepare Advanced SQL, ETL/ELT pipelines, Data modeling, practice the technical questions in this guide, and get ready for Amazon's behavioral rounds. See the full Amazon and Data Engineer guides for depth.
Yes. GhOst provides real-time, role-specific answers for coding, system design, and behavioral questions and stays invisible to screen share and proctoring on Windows and macOS.
