Amazon DevOps Engineer Interview Questions (2026)
Landing a DevOps Engineer role at Amazon requires targeted preparation. Amazon uses a structured interview process called the Bar Raiser loop. Each interviewer is assigned specific Leadership Principles to evaluate. Expect deep behavioral questions using the STAR method, combined with technical assessments relevant to the role. The Bar Raiser interviewer ensures hiring standards remain high across the company. This guide covers the most frequently asked questions and insider tips to help you succeed in your Amazon DevOps Engineer interview.
About the Amazon Interview Process
Amazon evaluates candidates heavily against their 16 Leadership Principles, making behavioral questions a critical part of every interview loop.
Amazon uses a structured interview process called the Bar Raiser loop. Each interviewer is assigned specific Leadership Principles to evaluate. Expect deep behavioral questions using the STAR method, combined with technical assessments relevant to the role. The Bar Raiser interviewer ensures hiring standards remain high across the company.
Why Amazon DevOps Engineer Interviews Are Different
Amazon DevOps Engineer interviews differ from standard DevOps Engineer interviews in several key ways. The company has a unique interview culture, specific evaluation criteria, and expects candidates to demonstrate alignment with their values and mission. Understanding these differences gives you a significant advantage over other candidates.
Top 10 DevOps Engineer Interview Questions at Amazon
- Amazon interviewers often ask: Explain the CI/CD pipeline you would set up for a new project.
- A common Amazon interview question: What is Infrastructure as Code and what tools have you used?
- A common Amazon interview question: How do you monitor and alert on production systems?
- Expect this at Amazon: Describe the difference between Docker and Kubernetes.
- Amazon candidates should prepare for: How would you handle a zero-downtime deployment?
- Expect this at Amazon: What is your approach to secret management?
- Amazon candidates should prepare for: Explain blue-green deployments vs canary deployments.
- Expect this at Amazon: How do you manage infrastructure costs in the cloud?
- A common Amazon interview question: Describe a time you resolved a major production incident.
- At Amazon, you might be asked: What logging and observability tools do you prefer?
Amazon-Specific Preparation Tips for DevOps Engineer Candidates
- Memorize and prepare stories for all 16 Amazon Leadership Principles
- Use the STAR method rigorously with specific metrics and outcomes
- Prepare multiple stories for Customer Obsession and Ownership principles
- Practice system design for scalable distributed services
- Be ready to discuss trade-offs and how you handle ambiguity and conflict
General DevOps Engineer Interview Tips
- Have hands-on experience with at least one major cloud provider
- Understand containerization and orchestration concepts
- Be ready to discuss incident management processes
- Know how to write infrastructure automation scripts
Preparation Timeline for Amazon DevOps Engineer Interviews
- 4 weeks before: Research Amazon culture, recent news, and the specific team you are applying to.
- 2-3 weeks before: Practice technical questions daily and prepare behavioral stories using the STAR method.
- 1 week before: Do full mock interviews with HireFlow AI simulating Amazon interview style.
- Day before: Review your notes, prepare questions for the interviewer, and get a good night of rest.
Practice Amazon DevOps Engineer Interview with HireFlow AI — our AI adapts to Amazon's interview style and gives real-time feedback.