Amazon Technical Program Manager (TPM) interviews are really challenging. The questions are difficult, specific to Amazon, and cover a wide range of topics.

The good news is that the right preparation can make a big difference and can help you land a job as a TPM at Amazon (or AWS). To help you get there, we have put together the ultimate guide below. 

Here's an overview of what we'll cover:

Click here to practice 1-on-1 interview coaching with TPM ex-interviewers

Let’s dive in.

1. Amazon technical program manager role and salary ↑

1.1 What does an Amazon technical program manager (TPM) do?

As an Amazon Technical Program Manager (TPM), you'll lead the delivery of complex technical projects across multiple engineering teams. You'll keep a high-level view of each team's work, making sure dependencies are managed and everyone stays aligned toward the same goal.

The technical side of the role involves identifying system dependencies, technical risks, and engineering blockers that could delay delivery. On the program management side, you plan timelines, track milestones, and communicate progress to stakeholders. 

The goal is to sync the execution of individual teams so their deliverables integrate smoothly and support broader initiatives across departments like AWS, Prime Video, or Alexa.

If you prefer focusing on business strategy and operations, you might be better suited for the program manager track. Check out our Amazon program manager interview guide to learn more.

1.2 How much does an Amazon TPM make?

Amazon offers competitive total compensation packages for TPMs. They typically include a base salary, annual bonus, and equity in the form of restricted stock units (RSUs). 

Below is a breakdown of the compensation typically offered to Amazon TPMs, based on data from Levels.fyi.

Amazon TPM salary 2026

Compensation can vary depending on level, team, and location. For example, TPMs in higher-cost locations, such as New York, typically earn more due to adjusted location-based compensation.

If you’re actively interviewing for an Amazon TPM role, ask your recruiter which level you're being considered for. This will help you understand what you should expect in terms of compensation.

And remember, compensation packages are always negotiable, even at Amazon. So, if you do get an offer, don’t be afraid to ask for more. If you need help negotiating your salary, read our Amazon salary negotiation guide or book one of our salary negotiation coaches to get expert advice. 

2. Amazon technical program manager interview process and timeline ↑

Amazon TPM interview process and timeline

2.1 What interviews to expect

What's the interview process and timeline at Amazon for a technical program manager (TPM) role? It takes four to eight weeks and follows the steps below. Note that the process at AWS follows similar steps.

  1. Resume screen
  2. Recruiter phone screen (1 interview)
  3. TPM phone screens (1-2 interviews)
  4. Writing exercise
  5. Onsite (4-6 interviews)

Now, let’s take a look at each step in detail.

2.1.1 Resume screen ↑

First, recruiters will look at your resume and assess if your experience matches the open position. This is the most competitive step in the process, as millions of candidates do not make it past this stage.

You can use this free TPM resume guide to help tailor your resume to the position you’re targeting. And check out our Amazon resume guide to see examples of resumes that successfully passed Amazon screening.

And if you’re looking for expert feedback, you can get input from our team of ex-Amazon recruiters, who will cover what achievements to focus on (or ignore), how to fine-tune your bullet points, and more.

2.1.2 Recruiter screen ↑

In most cases, you'll start your interview process with Amazon by talking to a recruiter on the phone. They are looking to confirm that you've got a chance of getting the job at all, so be prepared to explain your background and why you’re a good fit at Amazon.

You should expect typical behavioral and resume questions like "Tell me about yourself", "Why Amazon?" or "Tell me about your current day-to-day as a Technical Program Manager." When answering even the most common interview questions, be sure to express your understanding of Amazon’s Leadership Principles (more on that below).

2.1.3 TPM phone screen ↑

If you've passed the HR screen, you'll be invited to one or two TPM phone screens. This step is called a "phone screen", but it sometimes takes place over video chat. 

Each interview will last 45 to 60 minutes. You'll speak to a TPM peer or a potential manager, and they'll ask you a mix of system design and behavioral questions.

The role of the phone screen is to make sure it's worth bringing you onsite. Your interviewer will therefore try to make sure there isn't an area where you are particularly weak and don't stand a chance of meeting the hiring bar.

2.1.4 Amazon writing exercise ↑

If you pass the TPM phone screen process, in some cases, you’ll be asked to write a one- to two-page essay in preparation for your onsite interviews about a topic such as: “What is the most innovative project that you have worked on?” or “Talk about an experience in which you were able to simplify the lives of your customers.”

Written communication is a core part of Amazon's culture, and TPMs in particular spend a significant amount of time writing documents. This exercise tests your ability to communicate in a clear, structured way.

It’s important to remember that interviewers will be looking for how your essay relates to the leadership principles independently of whether this is stated in the assignment instructions or not.

2.1.5 Onsite interviews ↑

If you pass the phone screen, the next step is a full day of interviews at one of Amazon's offices or virtually. You'll typically have four to six one-on-one interviews, each lasting 45 to 60 minutes, with a mix of peers, the hiring manager, and a senior executive from the team you're applying to join.

Each interview focuses on one of the following areas:

  • Behavioral interviews, where you'll be asked questions based on Amazon's Leadership Principles to assess how you've handled situations in the past.
  • System design interviews, where you'll either explain the design of a complex system you've worked on (e.g., "Tell me about the design of the most complex project you've worked on") or design a new system from scratch (e.g., "How would you design Amazon Video?").
  • Technical explanation interviews, where you'll explain technical concepts, systems, or technologies to demonstrate the depth of your technical knowledge and communication skills.
  • Coding interviews, where you'll solve programming problems to demonstrate your coding and problem-solving skills. These are more common for candidates with software engineering backgrounds.
  • Program management interviews, where you'll be evaluated on your ability to plan, prioritize, and deliver complex technical programs across multiple teams.

In most cases, you'll have one or two system design interviews, with the remaining interviews focused on behavioral questions. Depending on the team, you may also get program management questions mixed into the interview loop.

Each interviewer is usually assigned two or three leadership principles to focus on during your interview. These questions are much more important at Amazon than they are at other big tech companies like Google or Meta.

Finally, one of your last interviews will be with what Amazon calls a Bar Raiser. This interviewer is not part of the team you’re applying to join. Their main goal is to ensure Amazon’s hiring standards remain high and consistent across teams, so they focus more on overall candidate quality than on specific team needs.

2.2 What exactly is Amazon looking for

At the end of each interview, your interviewer will grade your performance using a standardized feedback form that summarizes the attributes Amazon looks for in a candidate. That form is constantly evolving, but we have listed some of its main components below.

A) Notes

The interviewer will file the notes they took during the interview. This usually includes: the questions they asked, a summary of your answers, and any additional impressions they had (e.g., communicated ABC well, weak knowledge of XYZ, etc).

B) Technical program management competencies

Your interviewer will then grade you on technical program management competencies. They will try to determine whether you are "raising the bar" or not for each competency they have tested. 

In other words, you'll need to convince them that you are at least as good as or better than the average current Amazon TPM at the level you're applying for (e.g., Senior TPM).

The exact technical competencies you'll be evaluated against vary by role. But here are some common ones for TPM roles:

  • Communication
  • Delivery
  • Architecture design
  • Etc.

C) Leadership principles

Your interviewer will also grade you on Amazon's 16 Leadership Principles and assess whether you're "raising the bar" for those, too. As mentioned above, each interviewer is given two or three leadership principles to grill you on. 

Here are some of the most commonly tested principles for TPM roles:

  • Customer Obsession
  • Ownership
  • Bias for Action
  • Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit
  • Etc.

D) Overall recommendation

Finally, each interviewer will file an overall recommendation into the system. The different options are along the lines of: "Strong hire", "Hire", "No hire", "Strong no hire".

2.3 What happens behind the scenes

Your recruiter is leading the process and taking you from one stage to the next. Here's what happens at each of the stages described above:

  • After the phone screens, your recruiter decides to move you to the onsite or not, depending on how well you've done up to that point
  • After the onsite, each interviewer files their notes into the internal system, grades you, and makes a hiring recommendation (i.e., "Strong hire", "Hire", "No hire", "Strong no hire")
  • The "Debrief" brings all your interviewers together and is led by the Bar Raiser, who is usually the most experienced interviewer and is also not part of the hiring team. The Bar Raiser will try to guide the group towards a hiring decision. It's rare, but they can also veto hiring even if all other interviewers want to hire you.
  • You get an offer. If everything goes well, the recruiter will then give you an offer, usually within a week of the onsite, but it can sometimes take longer. Get ready to negotiate with our Amazon salary negotiation guide, or book a salary negotiation coach to practice with an expert.

It's also important to note that recruiters and people who refer you have little influence on the overall process. They can help you get an interview at the beginning, but that's about it.

3. Amazon TPM example interview questions ↑

The main difficulty with TPM interviews at Amazon is that you'll be asked a wide range of questions. We've grouped them in buckets and analyzed how frequently they were asked by Amazon interviewers using TPM interview reports available on Glassdoor.

 Here are the results of our analysis:

Amazon TPM Interview Question Types

Right, let’s get into each!

3.1 Behavioral questions (54%) ↑

Amazon’s TPM interview process heavily focuses on assessing if you live and breathe the company’s 16 Leadership Principles. The main way Amazon tests this is with behavioral questions, which you'll be asked in every interview.

Amazon 16 Leadership Principles

TPM interviews tend to primarily focus on the first six principles we have highlighted below. The other eight topics also come up but less frequently.

Amazon's Leadership Principles

  1. Customer Obsession
  2. Ownership
  3. Bias for Action
  4. Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit
  5. Deliver Results
  6. Learn and Be Curious
  7. Invent and Simplify
  8. Dive Deep
  9. Are Right, A Lot
  10. Think Big
  11. Hire and Develop the Best
  12. Frugality
  13. Insist on the Highest Standards
  14. Earn Trust
  15. Strive to be Earth's Best Employer
  16. Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility

Below is a breakdown of each leadership principle and how you’ll be asked about them during your interview process with Amazon.

3.1.1 "Customer obsession" interview questions ↑

"Leaders start with the customer and work backwards. They work vigorously to earn and keep customer trust. Although leaders pay attention to competitors, they obsess over customers.”

‘Customer obsession’ is the top LP that every Amazon candidate needs to demonstrate. 

Your interviewers want to know how well you understand the consequences that every decision has on customer experience. You also need to demonstrate empathy for your customer, how well you know them, and their underlying needs.

When answering Customer Obsession questions, Amazon interviewer Bilwasiva says you should begin by explaining the importance of this LP to Amazon, to show how well you understand and agree with the principle. 

When telling your story, Bilwasiva advises to "Highlight your commitment to understanding and addressing customer pain points." Discuss specific initiatives or projects where you've gone above and beyond to deliver exceptional customer experiences, highlighting the outcomes and impact.

Example "customer obsession" questions asked by Amazon

3.1.2 "Ownership" interview questions ↑

"Leaders are owners. They think long term and don’t sacrifice long-term value for short-term results. They act on behalf of the entire company, beyond just their own team. They never say “that’s not my job.”

Interviewers at Amazon want to avoid hiring people who think, “That’s not my job!” This is particularly important for TPMs as they work on cross-functional projects and are responsible for overall delivery. 

When answering ownership questions, you’ll want to prove that you take initiative, can make tough decisions, and take responsibility for your mistakes. Ex-Amazon interviewer Dessy advises talking about a product or feature that you owned from end-to-end in your previous role.

Additionally, show how you demonstrated this leadership principle by talking about "how you go to extreme distance to follow through on your projects and do whatever it takes to deliver" even when working cross-functionally or with other stakeholders. An example she gives is taking the initiative to escalate issues to the other team's leadership if necessary.

Example "ownership" questions asked by Amazon

  • Describe a time where a feature deliverable was falling between two teams, with neither taking ownership and referring to the other team. How did you address the situation?
  • Tell me about a time you did something at work that wasn't your responsibility / in your job description
  • Describe an instance where you had to make an important decision without approval from your boss
  • Tell me about a time you took ownership of a problem that was not the focus of your organization
  • How would you make Amazon.com better?
  • When was the last time that you sacrificed a long-term value to complete a short-term task?

3.1.3 "Bias for action" interview questions ↑

"Speed matters in business. Many decisions and actions are reversible and do not need extensive study. We value calculated risk-taking.”

Since Amazon likes to ship quickly, they also prefer to learn from doing (while also measuring results) vs. performing user research and making projections. They want to see that you can take calculated risks and move things forward.

"Provide examples of how you've taken calculated risks to achieve desired outcomes, demonstrating your ability to navigate ambiguity and drive results in a fast-paced environment,”  Bilwasiva says.

Show you prioritize action and drive momentum in your work and highlight instances where you've made decisions quickly and firmly. 

Also, emphasize the importance of learning from failures and iterating on ideas to continuously improve and move forward. This will also cover another leadership principle: Learn and be curious.

Example "bias for action" questions asked by Amazon

Check out our deep dive into Amazon's Bias for Action LP for more insights and interview questions to practice with.

3.1.4 "Have backbone; disagree and commit" interview questions ↑

"Leaders are obligated to respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree, even when doing so is uncomfortable or exhausting. Leaders have conviction and are tenacious. They do not compromise for the sake of social cohesion. Once a decision is determined, they commit wholly."

Any group of smart leaders will disagree at some point. Amazon wants to see that you know when to challenge ideas and escalate problems to senior leadership. At the same time, they want to know you can sense the right time to move forward regardless of your disagreement.

For this LP, prepare an example where you were able to deliver successfully on a project even though you had voiced your disagreement earlier in the process.

"Show that you understand the pros and cons of a certain decision, that even though you don't 100% agree, you can still see the merit of the decision," says Dessy.

Example "have backbone; disagree and commit" questions asked by Amazon

3.1.5 "Deliver results" interview questions ↑

"Leaders focus on the key inputs for their business and deliver them with the right quality and in a timely fashion. Despite setbacks, they rise to the occasion and never settle."

Amazon values action over perfection. When answering questions related to delivering results, you’ll want to indicate that you dislike slipped deadlines and failed goals.

For this LP, Bilwasiva recommends preparing examples where you set clear goals, developed an action plan, and delivered measurable results. Whenever possible, quantify your achievements with metrics to demonstrate your impact.

Example "deliver results" questions asked by Amazon

  • Tell me about the most challenging project you ever worked on
  • How do you prioritize in your current role?
  • What's your approach to manage projects and deliver on time as a TPM?
  • Tell me a time that you overcame a major challenge at work
  • What did you do the last time your team failed a deadline?
  • How do you resolve a project which is delayed?

3.1.6 "Learn and be curious" interview questions ↑

"Leaders are never done learning and always seek to improve themselves. They are curious about new possibilities and act to explore them.”

Amazon demands constant improvement in every part of their business. You’ll want to show that you are interested in learning new things and exploring new ideas.

Share examples of how you've pursued learning opportunities in various ways: formal study, self-study, or hands-on experimentation. Elaborate further by talking about how your curiosity has led you to valuable insights, innovations, or improvements in your work.

"Highlight your passion for continuous learning and professional growth, emphasizing your curiosity and eagerness to explore new ideas, technologies, and methodologies," Bilwasiva says.

Example "learn and be curious" questions asked by Amazon

  • Tell me about a time you failed to deliver at work and what you did
  • What technologies are you learning at the moment?
  • What's your biggest career failure and what you learned from it
  • Tell me about a time you were wrong and what you did
  • Why Technical Program Management?

3.1.7 "Invent and simplify" interview questions ↑

"Leaders expect and require innovation and invention from their teams and always find ways to simplify. They are externally aware, look for new ideas from everywhere, and are not limited by “not invented here." Because we do new things, we accept that we may be misunderstood for long periods of time."

Amazon's culture is built around innovation, so interviewers want to see that you can create effective solutions when there isn't an obvious answer. Just as importantly, they want to know that you can execute those ideas as simply and cost-effectively as possible.

Dessy also explained that Amazon teams operate with a high degree of autonomy, almost like their own startups. Even at Amazon's scale, teams are expected to move quickly, launch products fast, and work within limited engineering resources. As a result, many products start as a minimum viable product (MVP) and evolve.

To demonstrate this Leadership Principle, Dessy recommends preparing stories where you either (1) launched an MVP or the first phase of a long-term project, or (2) came up with an innovative alternative to building a feature that would have required significant engineering resources.

Example "invent and simplify" questions asked by Amazon

  • Tell me about a time you invented something new
  • What is the most innovative idea you've ever had?
  • Tell me how you built a feature in an innovative way, give specific details

3.1.8 "Dive deep" interview questions ↑

"Leaders operate at all levels, stay connected to the details, audit frequently, and are skeptical when metrics and anecdote differ. No task is beneath them."

TPMs need to identify technical dependencies, anticipate problems, and quickly fix them if they arise. Interviewers want to see that you are excited about trying to prevent projects from derailing and about stepping up when things don't go as expected.

Bilwasiva says your answer to this LP interview question should highlight your ability to analyze complex problems with examples of how you've conducted thorough research, gathered data, and delved into root causes to understand underlying issues.

Example "dive deep" questions asked by Amazon

  • Tell me about a project in which you had to deep dive into analysis
  • Tell me about the most complex problem you have worked on
  • Describe an instance when you used a lot of data in a short period of time

3.1.9 "Are right, a lot" interview questions ↑

"Leaders are right a lot. They have strong judgment and good instincts. They seek diverse perspectives and work to disconfirm their beliefs."

Amazon expects its TPMs to produce solutions as quickly as possible and to make a lot of decisions with little information. You’ll want to demonstrate skill in taking calculated risks and show that you're comfortable disproving your own opinions before moving ahead.

Example "are right, a lot" questions asked by Amazon

  • Describe a time you made a mistake
  • Tell me about a time you applied judgment to a decision when data was not available
  • Tell me about a time you had very little information about a project but still had to move forward

3.1.10 "Think big" interview questions ↑

"Thinking small is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Leaders create and communicate a bold direction that inspires results. They think differently and look around corners for ways to serve customers."

Amazon is huge, and its TPMs need to build products that reach significant scale to make a difference for the business. As a result, interviewers will want to see that you can develop and articulate a bold vision.

To demonstrate this LP, Bilwasiva says you should cite instances showcasing your ability to envision and pursue ambitious goals that have a transformative impact on your team, organization, or industry.

"Share examples of how you've challenged the status quo, pursued innovative ideas, and inspired others to think beyond conventional boundaries," he says. 

Example "think big" questions asked by Amazon

  • Describe a time you proposed a non-intuitive solution to a problem and how you identified that it required a different way of thinking
  • Give a specific example where you drove adoption for your vision and explain how you knew it had been adopted by others
  • Tell me about your most significant accomplishment. Why was it significant?

3.1.11 "Hire and develop the best" interview questions ↑

"Leaders raise the performance bar with every hire and promotion. They recognize exceptional talent, and willingly move them throughout the organization. Leaders develop leaders and take seriously their role in coaching others. We work on behalf of our people to invent mechanisms for development like Career Choice."

As mentioned above, Amazon wants new hires to “raise the bar.” Interviewers will want to see that you are not afraid of working with and hiring people smarter than you. You should also show you enjoy coaching younger colleagues and know how to get the most out of top performers. 

Bilwasiva says an excellent way to demonstrate this LP is to describe your approach to talent acquisition and development. Emphasize your commitment to building high-performing teams and cultivating a culture of learning and growth.

You’ll notice the examples listed here are general interview questions, but they provide a perfect opportunity for you to address this principle.

Example "hire and develop the best" questions asked by Amazon

  • Describe a time you provided feedback that was helpful to a peer
  • Who is your best employee / resource and what makes them the best
  • Tell me about a time you helped boost your team morale
  • Tell me about a time you hired or worked with people smarter than you are

3.1.12 "Frugality" interview questions ↑

"Accomplish more with less. Constraints breed resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, and invention. There are no extra points for growing headcount, budget size, or fixed expense."

Amazon tries to provide customers with as much value for as little cost as possible. Interviewers will be looking for how you can support this idea while maintaining a constant drive for innovation.

Example "frugality" questions asked by Amazon

  • Tell me about a time you successfully delivered a project without a budget or resources
  • Describe the last time you figured out a way to keep an approach simple or to save on expenses

3.1.13 "Insist on the highest standards" interview questions ↑

"Leaders have relentlessly high standards — many people may think these standards are unreasonably high. Leaders are continually raising the bar and drive their teams to deliver high-quality products, services, and processes. Leaders ensure that defects do not get sent down the line and that problems are fixed so they stay fixed."

Amazon takes the view that nothing is ever “good enough.” They’d like to see that you push for standards that are difficult to meet.

To illustrate this, share examples of how you've set and maintained high standards in your team. You can also talk about the specific processes, guidelines, and quality assurance measures you've put in place in your previous roles.

"Explain your uncompromising commitment to excellence and quality in everything you do, highlighting your attention to detail and pursuit of perfection," Bilwasiva says.

Example "insist on the highest standards" questions asked by Amazon

  • Describe a project that you wish you had done better and how you would do it differently today
  • Tell me about the most successful project you've done
  • How do you ensure standards are met when delivering projects?

3.1.14 "Earn trust" interview questions ↑

"Leaders listen attentively, speak candidly, and treat others respectfully. They are vocally self-critical, even when doing so is awkward or embarrassing. Leaders do not believe their or their team’s body odour smells of perfume. They benchmark themselves and their teams against the best."

The key part of that principle candidates often miss is the “vocally self-critical.” Amazon wants TPMs who focus on fixing mistakes instead of figuring out who to blame. 

For this LP, Bilwasiva says you'll want to highlight your commitment to building trust and credibility with stakeholders, both internal and external. You also want to show that your approach to strong relationship-building is based on mutual respect, open communication, and delivering on promises.

Example "earn trust" questions asked by Amazon

  • How do you earn trust with a team?
  • What are you most often criticised for?
  • What was the feedback in your latest performance review?
  • Tell me a piece of difficult feedback you received and how you handled it
  • A co-worker constantly arrives late to a recurring meeting. What would you do?

3.1.15 "Strive to be Earth’s Best Employer" interview questions ↑

"Leaders work every day to create a safer, more productive, higher performing, more diverse, and more just work environment. They lead with empathy, have fun at work, and make it easy for others to have fun. Leaders ask themselves: Are my fellow employees growing? Are they empowered? Are they ready for what's next? Leaders have a vision for and commitment to their employees' personal success, whether that be at Amazon or elsewhere."

Similar to the principle "hire and develop the best," this principle is more likely to come up in interviews for senior and/or managerial positions. In this case, you’ll want to show that you’ll not only boost your team, but also create a safe, diverse, and just work environment. 

Essentially, if “hire and develop the best” means picking and training a top team, being "Earth’s best employer" means keeping that team safe, enriched, and engaged once you’ve got them.

Example "strive to be Earth's best employer" questions asked by Amazon

  • Tell me about a time that you went above and beyond for an employee
  • Tell me about a time you saw an issue that would negatively impact your team. How did you deal with it?
  • How do you manage a low performer in the team? How do you identify a good performer in the team and help in their career growth?

3.1.16 "Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility" interview questions ↑

"We started in a garage, but we're not there anymore. We are big, we impact the world, and we are far from perfect. We must be humble and thoughtful about even the secondary effects of our actions. Our local communities, planet, and future generations need us to be better every day. We must begin each day with a determination to make better, do better, and be better for our customers, our employees, our partners, and the world at large. And we must end every day knowing we can do even more tomorrow. Leaders create more than they consume and always leave things better than how they found them."

Amazon wants its employees to understand the responsibility of working for a vast, impactful company. Show how you measure the impact of your decisions, both in your workspace and in the world around you (e.g., sustainability, justice, etc.). You must always be willing to improve.

Example "success and scale bring broad responsibility" questions asked by Amazon

  • Give me an example of when you made a decision that impacted the team or the company
  • Can you tell me a decision that you made about your work and you regret now?

For a deeper dive into each LP, check out our Amazon Leadership Principles guide. 

3.2 Technical questions (36%) ↑

You're certain to come across one or two system design questions in your TPM loop. In addition, you might also be asked technical explanation questions and, in rare cases, coding questions.

3.2.1 System design questions ↑

Amazon TPMs work on highly technical programs, so they're expected to participate in system design discussions with engineers and evaluate architectural trade-offs. Because Amazon's products serve millions of users, you should also expect discussions around scalability, performance, and efficiency.

System design questions usually fall into one of two categories:

  • Design a new system, where you'll be asked to design a system from scratch (e.g., How would you design Amazon Video?).
  • Review an existing system, where you'll be asked to dive deep into the design of a system you've previously worked on (e.g., Tell me about the design of the most complex project you've worked on).

Example Amazon TPM interview questions: system design

  • Design AWS
  • Design Amazon.com
  • Design a system that's capable of displaying an ebook 60s or less after purchase
  • Design a system that keeps track of the last 10 products a user has browsed on Amazon.com
  • Design a database for a tiny URL implementation
  • Design software for an elevator system
  • Design a vending machine
  • Design an ads auction service
  • Design a virus scanner
  • Design an anti-virus scanner
  • How would you develop the back end of a parking app?

If you want more practice questions, see our Amazon system design interview guide. Then, refer to our system design interview prep guide for more tips from FAANG experts. 

3.2.2 Technical explanation questions ↑

Technical explanation questions test both the depth of your technical knowledge and your ability to explain complex concepts clearly. A common example is, "What happens when you enter a URL in your browser?"

Interviewers will typically tailor these questions to the projects and technologies listed on your resume, so make sure you're comfortable discussing your past work in depth. The exact questions will vary depending on your background. 

For example, a TPM with a software engineering background can expect different questions from someone with experience in machine learning, embedded systems, or hardware engineering.

Example Amazon TPM interview questions: technical explanation

  • What is the difference between a router and a switch?
  • What is the computational complexity of hash tables?
  • What is a linked list? Double-linked list?
  • What is the lookup time for linked lists / trees?
  • How are mobile devices made secure?
  • How are passwords passed securely from server to client?
  • What is happening if a webpage is timing out when downloading?
  • How would you reduce the time it takes to transfer 4GB into a pendrive by 50%?
  • How does Amazon.com work?
  • How does Microsoft Outlook update its software?

3.2.3 Coding questions ↑

Coding questions are rare but still sometimes mentioned in interview reports. If you have a software engineering background, you may be asked to write working code. But, if you are currently in a role other than engineering, then pseudo-code will most likely be fine. 

Also, notice that the questions asked are easier than the LeetCode questions you can expect in Amazon software engineer interviews.

Example Amazon TPM interview questions: coding

  • Write a program that reverses a string
  • Write a program to find common items between two linked lists
  • Write a program that traverses a linked list
  • Write a program to identify all the equal elements between two arrays
  • Write a test scenario for copying a file from one location to another using a wireless connection

See our Amazon coding interview guide for a more comprehensive list of practice questions. 

3.3 Program management questions (10%) ↑

Amazon TPMs are responsible for planning and delivering complex technical programs from end to end. This part of the interview assesses your ability to think beyond execution and consider factors such as priorities, resources, risks, and stakeholders.

Program management questions typically fall into one of two categories:

  • Hypothetical questions, where you'll explain how you would approach a situation (e.g., How would you manage a program from end to end?). Focus on your thought process and the steps you would take.
  • Behavioral questions, where you'll describe how you handled a similar situation in the past (e.g., Tell me about a time you managed a program from end to end.). Use an actual example from your past and explain what you did.

We've listed some of the most common program management questions below.

Example Amazon TPM interview questions: program management 

  • What method / process do you use to run a project from end-to-end?
  • What does success look like for a technical program manager?
  • What's the difference between program management and technical program management?
  • What's your process for change and incident management?
  • How do you make prioritization decisions?
  • How do you create a strategy and roadmap for your programs?
  • How do you manage risks in your programs?
  • How do you manage external team dependencies in your programs?
  • You're working on a program where part of the features were completed with errors. The team that's responsible has moved on to another project and has no time to fix the errors. What do you do?
  • How do you manage delivery closure?
  • How do you change control?
  • What's the hardest thing in moving a team to Agile?

Check out our guide to Amazon behavioral interviews to learn how to structure your answers and other company-specific insights.

4. Amazon TPM interviewing tips ↑

Plenty of candidates are excellent at their jobs, but still end up failing their Amazon TPM interview. Why? Their interview skills are simply not up to par, especially for a company as competitive and prestigious as Amazon.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when preparing for your Amazon TPM interview:

4.1 Don’t jump straight to answering 

Answering a question right away may seem like a great way to show your confidence and knowledge, but it can be a huge red flag to interviewers. It shows them that you: 1) haven’t taken the time to pause and truly think about your answer, 2) haven’t bothered to ask clarifying questions or discuss possible approaches, and 3) are not being collaborative with your interviewer. 

All three are bad signs for how you may work within teams, especially for a cross-functional role. For Amazon interviewers, your collaboration and communication skills are just as important as your technical capabilities.

Instead, take a moment to think before you respond. It’s okay to pause or jot down notes, as long as you let the interviewer know that’s what you’re doing. 

Example:

  • Question: "Can you tell me about a time you had to disappoint your supervisor?"
  • Response: "That’s a great question - give me just a minute to collect my thoughts."

This helps by:

  • Giving you time to consider and structure your response 
  • Signaling that you are thoughtful in your communications, even in an interview setting

As for a technical interview, you’ll want to start by discussing your approach before you start coding or drawing up solutions. Writing pseudocode, for example, is an excellent way to outline your plan and show your thought process to the interviewer.

This tip is most relevant for technical interviews like coding and system design, but you can also apply it to behavioral interviews. For example, if you’re asked about previous work experiences and have several scenarios to share, you might want to ask your interviewer which story they prefer to hear.

4.2 Keep your answers concise

To keep your answers concise and focused, Amazon recommends structuring them in the STAR (Situation-Task-Action-Result) format. But if you find this format confusing, we recommend the SPSIL (Situation-Problem-Solution-Impact-Lessons) method we developed.

Here’s a quick look at our suggested approach:

IGotAnOffer's SPSIL Method

IGotAnOffer’s SPSIL (Situation-Problem-Solution-Impact-Lessons) method

  • Situation: Start by giving the necessary context of the situation you were in. Describe your role, the team, the organization, the market, etc. You should only give the minimum context needed to understand the problem and the solution in your story. Nothing more.
  • Problem: Outline the problem you and your team were facing.
  • Solution: Explain the solution you came up with to solve the problem. Step through how you went about implementing your solution, and focus on your contribution over what the team / larger organization did.
  • Impact: Summarize the positive results you achieved for your team, department, and organization. As much as possible, quantify the impact.
  • Lessons: Conclude with any lessons you might have learned in the process.

It covers very similar themes to the STAR method. But a lot of the candidates we work with find this framework easier to use, as there’s no overlap between any of the steps in your story.

Check out our guide on how to answer Amazon behavioral questions, including a full explanation of the answer method and some more questions with sample answers.

4.3 Answer with intention

Many of the questions you’re asked in a TPM interview will be open-ended. That means there are no right or wrong answers. You have to choose what area to focus on within the large possible space of responses.

In addition to this, you’ll also want to be intentional by tailoring your answers to the specific domain you’re applying for as a TPM, if applicable. 

One way to make sure you’re going in the right direction is to first refine the scope of the question. 

Consider the larger topic, then either ask for clarification from the interviewer or propose some context/constraints within which you will respond. Here’s an example of how to do this:

Example: 

  • Question: "What’s your approach to leading a team?" (The interviewer could be asking about your principles and values, or they may just want to know your best practices for implementing them.)
  • Response (clarification): "Leading a team is a pretty broad topic. Can you elaborate a bit on what you’re after?"
  • Response (assumption): "This question makes me think about principles. Let me talk about three that are important to me and how I apply them."

This helps by: 

  • Forcing you to focus your response, both in terms of time and content 
  • Signaling that you recognize the complexity of the situation being asked about 

4.4 Internalize the Amazon Leadership Principles

As you’ve seen in Section 3, Amazon’s Leadership Principles play a significant role in technical program manager interviews. You’ll need to understand these principles well and be able to reflect them clearly in your answers.

Check out our guide to the Amazon Leadership Principles interview to get started on your study. This article featuring Amazon CEO Andy Jassy is also another helpful resource on the nuances of the LPs.

4.5 Be honest about your knowledge gaps

Your interviewer doesn't expect you to know everything. If you're unsure how to answer a question, be honest about it rather than trying to bluff your way through.

Transparency is an important part of Amazon's ‘Earn Trust’ LP. Interviewers appreciate candidates who acknowledge uncertainty and explain how they would approach the problem.

4.6 Break problems into smaller tasks

The types of coding questions that are asked in tech interviews can typically be broken down into 2-5 tasks, which will each take a few minutes to complete. While you’re making your plan, list out these small steps and explain them to your interviewer.

Then, as you work through those steps, cross out each one you complete and let your interviewer know, e.g., "I have completed task X, and now I will work on Y, then Z." Doing this will also boost your confidence each time you finish a smaller task. 

By breaking problems down into smaller tasks, you’re showing your ability to tackle difficult, long-term projects on the job. 

4.7 Acknowledge trade-offs

Any decision you make when problem-solving will have a trade-off. So, call them out in real-time. Use it as an opportunity to discuss different approaches with your interviewer and explain why your choice is the best one. 

If you don’t bring up trade-offs, your interviewer will almost certainly ask about them. It’s better to beat them to it and show that you’re able to think strategically.

4.8 Make sure answers are data-driven and fact-based

Use specific numbers and metrics in your answers, without breaking confidentiality laws. Amazon is a highly data-driven company, so make sure your answers are too. 

Interviewers will especially want to know what financial metrics you tracked, what tools you used, and how you leveraged data to support decisions in your previous roles.

Ashley (ex-Amazon interviewer) emphasizes the importance of quantifying your impact. If you can’t clearly measure the results of your work with data, it becomes difficult for interviewers to assess the true value of your contributions.

4.9 Prepare for your Bar Raiser interview

You won’t know which one of your interviewers will be the Bar Raiser, but you’ll want to be prepared for them either way.

The Bar Raiser is considered the steward of Amazon’s Leadership Principles. In a hiring committee, their job is to calibrate and push for alignment, especially when the panel is split on a hiring decision.

In general, here are some traits that Bar Raisers look out for in candidates:

  • A customer-first and data-driven mindset that guides decisions
  • Clear, thoughtful, and structured communication
  • Taking responsibility for outcomes, not just tasks
  • Willingness to challenge decisions and the status quo (respectfully) with data and logic, and push for what’s right
  • Ability to learn quickly and evidence of coachable leadership: learning, teaching, and raising others
  • Clear thinking and the ability to adjust well in ambiguous situations

With these in mind, take some time to study the job description for the Amazon TPM role you’re applying for. Go over the qualifications for the role, as well as its key objectives.

Put yourself in the shoes of a TPM who is already working in this position. "The biggest pitfall is attempting to give 'off-the-cuff' answers. Without the right level of preparation, candidates often fail to provide the depth of detail required to prove they meet the bar," says Ashley. 

Learn more in our guide to Amazon Bar Raiser interviews. 

5. How to prepare for Amazon TPM interviews ↑

Now that you know what questions to expect, let's focus on how to prepare. Here are the four most important things you can do to prepare for your Amazon (or Amazon Web Services) technical program manager interviews.

5.1 Learn about Amazon's culture

Most candidates fail to do this. But before investing tens of hours preparing for an interview at Amazon, you should take some time to make sure it's actually the right company for you.

Amazon is prestigious, and it's tempting to assume that you should apply without considering things more carefully. But it's important to remember that the prestige of a job (by itself) won't make you happy in your day-to-day work. It's the type of work and the people you work with that will.

If you know TPMs or engineers who work at Amazon or have worked there, talk to them to understand what the culture is like. The leadership principles we discussed above can give you a sense of what to expect, but there's no replacement for a conversation with an insider. 

Finally, we would also recommend reading the following resources:

5.2 Practice by yourself

As mentioned above, you'll have to answer two types of questions at Amazon: technical and behavioral. The first step of your preparation should be to brush up on these different types of questions and to practice answering them by yourself.

5.2.1 Behavioral interview preparation

For behavioral interviews, we recommend learning our step-by-step method and creating a bank of 10+ personal stories where you've displayed the traits that Amazon looks for in leaders. Each of your stories will naturally touch on multiple Amazon Leadership Principles.

Once you've got a bank of stories, you can practice using them to answer the Glassdoor questions we've listed above. You should emphasize different aspects of your story depending on the exact question asked. We'd also recommend consulting our leadership and people management primers for extra prep.

5.2.2 Technical interview preparation

System design interviews

We recommend getting used to the step-by-step approach for answering system design questions hinted at by Amazon in the video below.

 

Here is a summary of the approach:

  • Step 1: Ask clarification questions
    • Understand the goal of the system (e.g., sell ebooks)
    • Establish the scope of the exercise (e.g., end-to-end experience, or just API?)
    • Gather scale and performance requirements (e.g., 500 transactions per second)
    • Mention any assumptions you're making out loud
  • Step 2: Design at a high level then drill down
    • Lay out the high-level components (e.g., front-end, web servers, database)
    • Drill down and design each component (e.g., front-end first)
    • Start with the components you're most comfortable with (e.g., front-end if you're a front-end engineer)
    • Work with your interviewer to provide the right level of detail
  • Step 3: Bring it all together
    • Refer back to the requirements to make sure your approach meets them
    • Discuss any tradeoffs in the decisions you've made
    • Summarize how the system would work end-to-end

We'd also recommend studying our system design interview questions and prep guide, which digs into this method in more detail. For more Amazon-specific practice questions with sample answers, see our Amazon system design guide. 

For coding questions

Amazon TPMs don’t need to code daily, but they should be comfortable discussing algorithms and basic coding logic. Interview prep guides note that TPMs are often tested on fundamentals like arrays, hash maps, and recursion to assess "technical eligibility". 

Reviewing these topics through short, consistent practice sessions on sites like LeetCode can help you build confidence and fluency.

Keep in mind that as a TPM, you won’t be expected to be as technical as, say, a software engineer. However, you will be expected to know your way around relevant coding concepts and may need to provide at least pseudo-code. 

When practicing, focus on communicating how you’d approach a coding problem, rather than getting caught up in the actual coding itself.

We recommend learning the step-by-step method we've developed in our guide to technical interview questions for PMs. You can use that method to practice crafting answers to the technical questions listed in the previous section.

You may also want to check out some of our coding interview guides:

5.2.3 Program management questions

For program management questions, we recommend starting by brushing up on the basics with our program management primer. You could also take a free course designed to prepare for the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam, such as this course on LinkedIn Learning.

This will give you an opportunity to refresh your memory on all key aspects of project management, including: scope, schedule, resources, cost, quality, communication, risk, stakeholders, etc.

In addition, if you're interviewing for a TPM role in software development, you should make sure you're on top of common concepts used in Agile project management. A great resource here is Atlassian's Agile project management guide. In particular, we recommend brushing up on the difference between Kanban and Scrum, and the common structures used in Agile projects (e.g., epics, stories, themes, etc.).

Similarly, if you're applying for a hardware TPM role, then you'll want to be on top of the different engineering validation stages (EVT, DVT, PVT).

You might also want to take a look at our guide for the Amazon program manager interview, which shows how program management questions can be categorised across the lifecycle of a project.

Once you've refreshed your memory on project management best practices, you should go through the list of program management questions we've listed in the previous section and draft answers for those.

If you’re preparing for TPM interviews at other FAANG companies, you may find these guides helpful as well: 

Once you’re in command of the relevant subject matters, you’ll want to practice answering interview questions. But by yourself, you can’t simulate thinking on your feet or the pressure of performing in front of a stranger. Plus, there are no unexpected follow-up questions and no feedback.

That’s why many candidates try to practice with friends or peers.

5.3 Practice with peers

If you have friends or peers who can do mock interviews with you, that's an option worth trying. It’s free, but be warned: you may come up against the following problems:

  • It’s hard to know if the feedback you get is accurate
  • They’re unlikely to have insider knowledge of interviews at your target company
  • On peer platforms, people often waste your time by not showing up

For those reasons, many candidates skip peer mock interviews and go straight to mock interviews with an expert. 

5.4 Practice with experienced Amazon interviewers

In our experience, practicing real interviews with experts who can give you company-specific feedback makes a huge difference.

Find an Amazon TPM interview coach so you can:

  • Test yourself under real interview conditions
  • Get accurate feedback from a real expert
  • Build your confidence
  • Get company-specific insights
  • Learn how to tell the right stories, better.
  • Save time by focusing your preparation

Landing a job at a big tech company often results in a $50,000 per year or more increase in total compensation. In our experience, three or four coaching sessions worth ~$500 make a significant difference in your ability to land the job. That’s an ROI of 100x!

Click here to book TPM mock interviews with experienced Amazon interviewers