Amazon · Data
Amazon Data Scientist Interview Questions & Preparation
Quick answer
A Amazon Data Scientist interview combines Amazon's 4-stage process — recruiter screen, online assessment / phone screen, the loop (4–6 rounds), bar raiser & debrief — with the technical and behavioural bar for a Data Scientist. Expect Amazon to assess customer obsession and ownership, alongside core data scientist skills like statistics & probability and sql. Prepare data scientist answers framed around what Amazon specifically looks for.
How Amazon interviews Data Scientists
Amazon's hiring is famously principle-driven. The Leadership Principles aren't a poster on the wall — they're the literal scoring rubric. The Bar Raiser, an interviewer from outside the hiring team, ensures the bar stays high regardless of how badly a team needs the hire.
For a Data Scientist specifically, Amazon pairs its standard assessment with a technical bar focused on statistics & probability, sql, python. Data science interviews test whether you can turn ambiguous business problems into measurable analyses. Strong candidates pair technical depth (stats, ML, SQL) with clear communication and product judgement.
The Amazon interview process
| Stage | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Recruiter screen | Background, role fit and an overview of the Leadership Principles. |
| Online assessment / phone screen | For technical roles, a coding assessment; for others, a behavioural screen. |
| The Loop (4–6 rounds) | Each interviewer owns specific Leadership Principles; technical roles add coding and design. |
| Bar Raiser & debrief | A Bar Raiser interview plus a debrief where the panel aligns on the decision. |
What Amazon assesses
Data Scientist questions at Amazon
Expect a blend of Amazon's signature questions and core data scientist questions:
- 1Tell me about a time you disagreed with your manager (Have Backbone).
- 2Describe a time you went above and beyond for a customer (Customer Obsession).
- 3Tell me about a time you took ownership of something outside your remit.
- 4Explain p-values to a non-technical stakeholder.
- 5Write a SQL query to find the second-highest salary per department.
- 6How would you design an A/B test for a new feature?
- 7When would you use precision vs recall?
- 8Tell me about a time your analysis changed a business decision.
- 9How do you handle missing data?
Example STAR answer
Example answer to: “Tell me about a time your analysis changed a business decision.”
Skills assessed
How to prepare for a Amazon Data Scientist interview
- Prepare 2 STAR stories per Leadership Principle — you'll reuse them across rounds.
- Lead every story with data and your specific actions ('I', not 'we').
- Define the metric and success criteria before reaching for a model.
- Practise SQL window functions and probability puzzles.
- Explain technical concepts in plain language — it's tested directly.
- Tie every analysis to a business decision.
Data Scientist salary
UK data scientists typically earn £45k–£85k, with senior and specialised roles exceeding £100k.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Amazon Data Scientist interview process involve?
Amazon's process runs through recruiter screen, online assessment / phone screen, the loop (4–6 rounds), bar raiser & debrief. For a Data Scientist, the technical rounds focus on statistics & probability, sql, python, and behavioural rounds assess customer obsession and ownership.
What are Amazon's Leadership Principles?
A set of 16 principles (Customer Obsession, Ownership, Dive Deep, Bias for Action and more) that form the scoring rubric for every Amazon interview.
Is SQL tested in data science interviews?
Yes — SQL is almost always tested, including joins, aggregations and window functions.
How much machine learning do I need?
Enough to choose appropriate models, explain trade-offs and evaluate them properly. Depth scales with the role's seniority and specialism.
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