Robotics Safety Engineer, Amazon Robotics

Amazon

What are the time complexities of different sorting algorithms, such as quicksort and mergesort? Explain the best, average, and worst-case scenarios for each, and provide examples of when you might choose one algorithm over another. Additionally, discuss the space complexity of each algorithm.

Amazon

Elevator System Design Design an elevator system for a 20-story building. Consider the following: Number of Elevators: How many elevators would you recommend, and why? Elevator Capacity: What should be the capacity (in terms of weight and number of people) of each elevator? Algorithm for Request Handling: Describe an algorithm for efficiently handling elevator requests, considering factors like minimizing wait times and energy consumption. Example: Should the elevator always go to the closest floor first, or should it consider the direction of travel? Edge Cases and Error Handling: How would you handle edge cases such as: Elevator malfunction? Power outage? Overweight elevator? Simultaneous requests from multiple floors? Optimization: How can you optimize the system for peak hours (e.g., morning rush hour, lunch break)? Consider strategies like: Designating specific elevators for up/down travel during peak times. Implementing a learning system that adapts to usage patterns. User Interface: Describe the user interface (both inside the elevator and on each floor) and how it provides feedback to users. Scalability: How would the design change for a 50-story or 100-story building? What are the limitations of your current design? Explain your design choices and justify them with appropriate reasoning. Focus on creating a robust, efficient, and user-friendly elevator system.

Amazon

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a colleague. What was your approach to resolving the disagreement, and what was the outcome? How did you ensure that your interaction remained professional and respectful, even with differing viewpoints? For example, imagine you're working on a new feature for an e-commerce platform. You believe that a simplified checkout process will lead to higher conversion rates, while your colleague argues that adding more security steps is crucial, even if it adds friction for the user. Describe the situation, your reasoning, your colleague's reasoning, and the steps you took to reach a resolution that benefited the project and maintained a positive working relationship. What did you learn from this experience?