Big Tech Software Engineer Interview Process Explained

Quick answer: most big tech software engineer interviews follow a similar shape. You usually start with a recruiter screen, then an online coding assessment or a technical phone screen, then a final round of several interviews (often called the onsite or the loop, and now often held over video) covering coding, system design and behavioral questions. After that comes a hiring decision, sometimes followed by team matching before the offer. Details vary by company, team, level and country, so confirm your own process with the recruiter.

This guide is for software engineers in the US, UK, Canada and other markets who are preparing for interviews at large tech companies. It walks through each stage, gives example questions and a model response, explains how Amazon and Google describe their own processes, and finishes with a checklist.

Stage 1: application and recruiter screen

The process usually begins when a recruiter contacts you or your application is shortlisted. The first call is with a recruiter, not an engineer, and it checks the basics: your background, why you are interested, your level, location, work authorization, timing and, often, salary expectations.

Treat it as a real interview. Prepare a 60-second summary of your experience, one clear reason the role appeals to you, and questions about the rest of the process. A useful closing question is "What does the interview process look like for this role, and how should I prepare for each stage?" Our guide to recruiter phone screen questions has sample answers for each of these.

Stage 2: online assessment or technical phone screen

Next comes a technical filter. Some companies send a timed online assessment with one or more coding problems on a testing platform; others schedule a live technical phone screen with an engineer in a shared editor. Some use both, depending on role and level.

For an online assessment, practice timed problems on arrays, strings, hash maps, trees, graphs and dynamic programming, and read the instructions carefully, because assessments have strict rules about what you may use. See online coding assessment preparation and LeetCode interview preparation.

For a live screen, the interviewer cares about how you think as much as whether you finish. Restate the problem and ask clarifying questions before you write code. A model opening for "find the first non-repeating character in a string" sounds like this: "Let me confirm a few things first. Is the input ASCII or full Unicode? Should I return the character or its index? What should I return if every character repeats? My first idea is to count characters in a hash map in one pass, then scan again for the first count of one, which is linear time. Does that sound reasonable before I code it?" Our technical phone screen guide goes deeper.

Stage 3: the onsite or virtual loop

The final round is a set of back-to-back interviews, either on one day or spread over a few days. Candidates commonly report a mix of the following, weighted by level:

1. Coding interviews: one or two problems per session, solved while explaining your reasoning and testing your code.

2. System design: usually for mid-level and senior roles. You design a service such as a URL shortener, a news feed or a rate limiter, and discuss scaling, storage and trade-offs.

3. Behavioral interviews: past-behavior questions about conflict, ownership, failure and impact, answered in STAR form.

4. Role-specific rounds: for example, mobile, front-end, machine learning or infrastructure depth, or a conversation with the hiring manager.

For design rounds, see system design interview with AI. For video logistics, such as camera setup, shared editors and breaks between sessions, read our virtual onsite interview tips.

Stage 4: decision, team matching and offer

After the loop, interviewers submit written feedback and a decision is made. At some companies the hiring team decides; at others a separate group reviews the full set of feedback so that standards stay consistent across teams. Some companies also add a team matching stage, where you talk with managers of teams that have openings before the offer is finalized.

Use this stage well. In team matching calls, ask about the team's current projects, on-call expectations and how success is measured in the first six months. If the decision is not positive, ask the recruiter whether they can share any feedback. Reference checks and the written offer usually follow a positive decision, and if you hold other offers, tell the recruiter honestly and early.

How Amazon and Google describe their own processes

Some of the most-searched companies publish their own guidance. Amazon's interviewing at Amazon page says the process differs from role to role and mentions Bar Raisers, and Amazon also publishes its Leadership Principles, which candidates commonly report are the basis of its behavioral questions (checked 15 October 2026). Our Amazon Leadership Principles guide gives a sample question for each principle.

Google publishes an official overview, How we hire, which is worth reading before you apply. For example questions by topic, see our Google software engineer interview questions guide.

Meta and Microsoft also publish interview guidance. Our Meta interview guide and Microsoft interview guide summarize what each official page says, with the date we checked it.

Whichever company you target, treat official pages as the source of truth and forum posts as anecdotes. Processes change, and two candidates applying to different teams at the same company can have quite different experiences.

How CrackInterviewAI helps you practice

CrackInterviewAI is a Windows 10/11 app that turns a spoken, typed or screenshot question into a short answer outline, using your resume, target role and job description as context. New accounts get 30 free minutes; after that, international prices start at $3.99 for one hour, with no subscription or auto-renewal (USD plans).

Because each stage tests something different, practice stage by stage: type recruiter-style questions to tighten your pitch, capture coding problems by screenshot to compare your approach with an outline, and add your tech stack so system design and behavioral outlines draw on systems you have actually built. A free mock interview is a good way to rehearse a full loop. Mock practice and preparation are always fair, but follow each interview's rules on the day: many interviews and almost all online assessments prohibit live assistance.

Stage-by-stage preparation checklist

1. Recruiter screen: a 60-second pitch, a clear reason for the company, and your questions about the process.

2. Online assessment: timed practice on core data structures, and a careful read of the rules.

3. Technical phone screen: clarify, outline, code, test, and talk through each step.

4. Loop: six to eight STAR stories, a few system design practice runs if you are mid-level or above, and a quiet setup for long video sessions.

5. Decision and team matching: questions for each manager, and an honest update to the recruiter on other processes.

Prepare for every stage

Download CrackInterviewAI for Windows and use your 30 free minutes to practice recruiter, coding, design and behavioral questions with your own resume as context.

Download for Windows · See USD plans from $3.99

Frequently asked questions

How many interview rounds do big tech companies have for software engineers?

It depends on the company, team and level. A commonly reported pattern is one or two screening steps followed by a final loop of several interviews, but your recruiter can confirm the exact plan for your role.

Are big tech final interviews still held on site?

Many final rounds are held over video, while some companies hold in-person rounds for certain roles or locations. Your interview invitation will state the format.

Do entry-level engineers get system design interviews?

Often not a full system design round. Entry-level loops commonly focus on coding and behavioral questions, while system design becomes more common at mid and senior levels.

What is team matching?

Team matching is a stage some companies use after you pass the loop, where you speak with managers of teams that have openings. The offer usually follows once you and a team agree on a fit.

Can I use AI tools during the interview process?

Use them for preparation and mock practice, which is always fair. During real interviews and assessments, follow the stated rules, because many interviews and almost all online assessments prohibit live assistance.

Keep exploring

Return to the CrackInterviewAI homepage to download the Windows app, or browse all guides on the interview prep blog.

The Big Tech Software Engineer Interview Process: Every Stage Explained