Solutions Architect (Staff Level) Interview Preparation Guide - FAANG Standards
Solutions Architect
Staff
7 rounds
Updated 11/23/2025
This guide is based on general FAANG interview practices and may not reflect specific company procedures.
The interview process for a Staff-level Solutions Architect at FAANG companies typically consists of 6-7 rounds spanning 4-6 weeks. Rounds progress from initial recruiter screening through multiple technical architecture assessments, system design deep-dives, behavioral/leadership evaluation, and final hiring manager discussions. Staff-level candidates are evaluated not only on deep technical architecture expertise but also on leadership, strategic thinking, cross-functional influence, and ability to guide architecture decisions for complex, large-scale systems.
Interview Rounds
1
Recruiter Screening
30 min4 focus topicscultural fit|background_screening
2
Technical Phone Screen - Architecture Fundamentals
60 min6 focus topicstechnical
3
Architecture Deep-Dive 1 - Solution Design for Enterprise Requirements
60 min6 focus topicssystem design|technical
4
Architecture Deep-Dive 2 - Complex Distributed Systems and Performance
60 min6 focus topicssystem design|technical
5
Technical Domain Deep-Dive - Cloud Services and Technology Stack
60 min6 focus topicstechnical
6
Behavioral and Leadership Round
60 min6 focus topicsbehavioral|leadership
7
Hiring Manager / Executive Round
60 min5 focus topicsbehavioral|cultural fit
Additional Information