SDE II building production software across the robotics stack — perception, motion planning, controls, and real-time actuation

This role builds production C++/Python software for Amazon's next-generation robotics systems, spanning sensor integration, motion planning, safety systems, and real-time actuation on physical hardware, plus the simulation/CI-CD infrastructure to validate robot behavior before deployment. With a 3+ years bar and architecture-contribution expectations, this is a mid-level systems role at the software/hardware boundary.

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What this interview tests

Production C++/Python for robotic or mechatronic systems
Perception, motion planning, controls, and real-time actuation
Simulation and CI/CD infrastructure for validating robot behavior pre-deployment
Debugging across software/firmware/hardware boundaries
Contributing to system architecture (3+ yrs bar)
ROS/ROS2, SLAM/navigation, or sensor integration/calibration (nice-to-have)

Common question themes

Describe a production robotics component you built end-to-end in C++ or Python

How do you validate robot behavior in simulation before deploying to hardware

Walk through debugging an issue that spans software, firmware, and hardware

What real-time or embedded Linux constraints have you had to design around

Describe an architecture decision you drove or influenced on a complex system

What's your experience with ROS/ROS2, SLAM, or sensor calibration (camera/LiDAR/IMU)

How candidates describe it

Real Software Development Engineer II interview stories — retold from candidates' public write-ups, with sources.

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