Software Development Engineer Internship - Fall 2026 (US)

DESCRIPTION

By applying to this position, your application will only be considered for our fall Software Development Engineer (SDE) internship roles. Our fall intern roles have start dates in August/September 2026 and are 12 weeks in duration.

Do you want to solve real customer problems through innovative technology? Do you enjoy working on scalable services in a collaborative team environment? Do you want to see your code directly impact millions of customers worldwide?

At Amazon, we hire the best minds in technology to innovate and build on behalf of our customers. Customer obsession is part of our company DNA, which has made us one of the world's most beloved brands.

Our SDE interns use modern technology to solve complex problems while seeing their work's impact first-hand. The challenges SDE interns solve at Amazon are meaningful and influence millions of customers, sellers, and products globally. We seek individuals passionate about creating new products, features, and services while managing ambiguity in an environment where development cycles are measured in weeks, not years.

At Amazon, we believe in ownership at every level. As a SDE intern, you'll own the entire lifecycle of your code - from design through deployment and ongoing operations. This ownership mindset, combined with our commitment to operational excellence, ensures we deliver the highest quality solutions for our customers.

We're looking for curious minds who think big and want to define tomorrow's technology. At Amazon, you'll grow into the high-impact engineer you know you can be, supported by a culture of learning and mentorship. Every day brings exciting new challenges and opportunities for personal growth.

Amazon internships across all seasons are full-time positions, and interns should expect to work in office, Monday-Friday, up to 40 hours per week typically between 8am-5pm. Specific team norms around working hours will be communicated by your manager. Interns should not have conflicts such as classes or other employment during the Amazon work-day. Applicants should have a minimum of one quarter/semester/trimester remaining in their studies after their internship concludes.

We will take your location preferences into consideration. Preferences are based on business availability and are not guaranteed. Applicants will be considered at all locations we host interns in the United States including but not limited to:

  • AZ (Phoenix, Tempe)
  • CA (Berkeley, Culver City, Cupertino, East Palo Alto, Irvine, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Palo Alto, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Santa Monica, Sunnyvale)
  • CO (Boulder, Denver)
  • GA (Atlanta, Kennesaw)
  • IL (Chicago)
  • MA (Boston, Cambridge, Hudson, North Reading, Westborough)
  • MD (Baltimore)
  • MI (Detroit)
  • MN (Minneapolis)
  • NJ (Jersey City)
  • NY (New York)
  • OR (Portland)
  • PA (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh)
  • TN (Nashville)
  • TX (Austin, Dallas)
  • VA (Arlington, Herndon)
  • WI (Madison)
  • WA (Bellevue, Seattle, Redmond)
***Locations are subject to change***

During your application, you will have the opportunity to highlight your expertise in one or more of these specialized areas:

• Machine Learning • Distributed Systems and Data Management • Database Systems • Quantum Computing • Network Development • Query Processing and Optimization • Automated Reasoning • Embedded Systems • Data Engineering • Mobile Development • Game Development

While team placement is based on business needs, sharing your specific skills and interests helps us better align your experience with potential roles.

Key job responsibilities
  • Collaborate and communicate effectively with experienced cross-disciplinary Amazonians to design, build, and operate innovative products and services that delight our customers, while participating in technical discussions to drive solutions forward.
  • Design and develop scalable solutions using cloud-native architectures and microservices in a large distributed computing environment.
  • Participate in code reviews and contribute to technical documentation.
  • Build and maintain resilient distributed systems that are scalable, fault-tolerant, and cost-effective.
  • Leverage and contribute to the development of GenAI and AI-powered tools to enhance development productivity while staying current with emerging technologies.
  • Write clean, maintainable code following best practices and design patterns.
  • Work in an agile environment practicing CI/CD principles while participating in operational responsibilities.
  • Demonstrate operational excellence through monitoring, troubleshooting, and resolving production issues.

A day in the life
As an intern, you will be matched to a manager and a mentor and will have the opportunity to influence the evolution of Amazon technology and lead critical projects early in your career.

In addition to working on an impactful project, you will have the opportunity to engage with Amazonians for both personal and professional development, expand your network, and participate in activities with other interns throughout your internship. No matter the location of your internship, we give you the tools to own your project and learn in a real-world setting.


BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

  • Are 18 years of age or older
  • Experience with at least one general-purpose programming language such as Java, Python, C++, C#, Go, Rust, or TypeScript
  • Experience with data structure implementation, basic algorithm development, and/or object-oriented design principles
  • Are enrolled in a Bachelor's degree or above in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Data Science, Information Systems, or related STEM fields
  • Able to work 40 hours/week and commit to a 12-week internship
  • Expected conferral date between October 2026 – September 2029

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience from previous technical internship(s) or demonstrated project experience
  • Experience with one or more of the following: AI tools for development productivity, Cloud platforms (preferably AWS), Database systems (SQL and NoSQL), Contributing to open-source projects, Version control systems, Debugging and troubleshooting complex systems
  • Demonstrated ability to learn and adapt to new technologies quickly
  • Basic understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC)
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.


The starting pay for this position is listed below. Final starting pay will be based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Starting Day 1 of employment, Amazon offers EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, 401(k) matching. Learn more about our benefits at


USA, WA, Seattle - 110,500.00 - 160,000.00 USD annually

Back to blog

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...