Engineering Manager
The Software Engineering Manager (M1) interview at Airbnb is a comprehensive process designed to assess a candidate's leadership capabilities, technical depth, strategic thinking, and cultural fit. The M1 level requires a strong blend of people management, project execution, and technical guidance.
5
~21 days
5 - 10 yrs
US$180000 - US$250000
270 min
Overall Evaluation Criteria
Core Competencies
Managerial Effectiveness
Technical Leadership
Preparation Tips
Study Plan
Company & Self-Assessment
Weeks 1-2: Airbnb culture, values, mission. STAR method prep.
Weeks 1-2: Deep dive into Airbnb's company culture, values, and recent engineering blog posts. Understand the company's mission and how engineering contributes to it. Review your own career history and identify key achievements and leadership experiences relevant to an M1 role. Start preparing STAR method examples for common leadership scenarios.
People Management Skills
Weeks 3-4: People management, coaching, conflict resolution, hiring.
Weeks 3-4: Focus on people management skills. Study topics like performance management, coaching, conflict resolution, hiring, and team building. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed and developed engineers. Review common behavioral questions related to these areas.
Technical Acumen
Weeks 5-6: Technical leadership, system design, scalability, distributed systems.
Weeks 5-6: Concentrate on technical leadership and system design. Refresh your knowledge of software architecture, scalability, distributed systems, and common technical challenges. Be prepared to discuss technical decisions you've made and how you guide your team's technical direction. Practice explaining complex technical concepts clearly.
Strategy & Execution
Weeks 7-8: Strategic thinking, project management, goal setting, stakeholder influence.
Weeks 7-8: Work on strategic thinking and project management. Understand how to set team goals, align them with business objectives, and manage project execution. Prepare examples of how you've driven projects to completion, managed risks, and influenced stakeholders. Practice articulating your vision for a team.
Mock Interviews & Refinement
Week 9: Mock interviews, feedback, refinement.
Week 9: Mock interviews. Conduct mock interviews focusing on all aspects of the role: behavioral, technical, and situational. Get feedback from peers or mentors and refine your answers and delivery. Ensure you are comfortable discussing your experience and leadership philosophy.
Commonly Asked Questions
Location-Based Differences
Remote/Distributed Teams
Interview Focus
Common Questions
How do you handle performance issues with a direct report in a remote setting?
Describe a time you had to adapt your leadership style for a geographically distributed team.
What are your strategies for fostering team cohesion and collaboration across different time zones?
Tips
San Francisco Bay Area
Interview Focus
Common Questions
How do you balance the needs of a fast-paced startup environment with the need for robust engineering practices?
Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders in a highly competitive market.
What are your strategies for attracting and retaining top engineering talent in a competitive tech hub?
Tips
Europe
Interview Focus
Common Questions
How do you approach building and scaling engineering teams in a different regulatory environment?
Describe a time you had to navigate complex legal or compliance requirements for a project.
What are your strategies for fostering a strong engineering culture within a global organization?
Tips
Process Timeline
Interview Rounds
5-step process with detailed breakdown for each round
Recruiter Phone Screen
Initial screening to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.
This initial screening call with a recruiter aims to assess your overall fit for the role and Airbnb. They will review your resume, discuss your career aspirations, and provide an overview of the interview process. Be prepared to talk about your motivations for applying and your understanding of the Engineering Manager role.
What Interviewers Look For
Evaluation Criteria
Questions Asked
Tell me about yourself and your career journey.
Why are you interested in Airbnb and this Engineering Manager role?
What are your salary expectations?
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a manager?
Preparation Tips
Common Reasons for Rejection
Technical Deep Dive & System Design
Assesses technical depth, system design, and problem-solving skills.
This round focuses on your technical expertise and ability to lead technical initiatives. You'll likely be asked to discuss system design, architectural choices, and how you approach technical challenges. Be prepared to dive deep into technical details and explain your reasoning.
What Interviewers Look For
Evaluation Criteria
Questions Asked
Design a system for [e.g., a ride-sharing service, a notification system, a content delivery network].
How would you approach optimizing the performance of a slow-running API?
Describe a complex technical problem you solved. What was your approach?
What are your thoughts on microservices vs. monolith architectures?
Preparation Tips
Common Reasons for Rejection
People Management & Leadership
Focuses on people management, leadership, and team development.
This interview focuses on your people management and leadership capabilities. You'll be asked behavioral questions about how you lead, motivate, and develop your team. Expect scenarios related to performance issues, team conflicts, and strategic planning.
What Interviewers Look For
Evaluation Criteria
Questions Asked
Tell me about a time you had to give difficult feedback to a direct report. How did you approach it?
How do you motivate your team, especially during challenging times?
Describe a time you had to manage a conflict between team members.
How do you prioritize your own work and your team's work?
What is your approach to career development for your engineers?
Preparation Tips
Common Reasons for Rejection
Strategic & Leadership Interview
Assesses strategic thinking, business acumen, and leadership vision.
This interview with a senior leader assesses your strategic thinking, business acumen, and ability to align engineering efforts with company goals. You'll discuss how you set team strategy, manage stakeholders, and contribute to the broader organization. Cultural fit and alignment with Airbnb's values are also key here.
What Interviewers Look For
Evaluation Criteria
Questions Asked
How do you set the technical strategy for your team and align it with business objectives?
Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders outside of engineering. What was the outcome?
How do you balance innovation with maintaining a stable and reliable product?
What are your thoughts on building a strong engineering culture?
Tell me about a time you had to make a difficult decision that impacted multiple teams or departments.
Preparation Tips
Common Reasons for Rejection
Collaboration & Cultural Fit
Assesses collaboration, cultural fit, and alignment with company values.
This round often involves meeting with a peer Engineering Manager or a key cross-functional partner (like a Product Manager). The focus is on assessing your ability to collaborate effectively, your alignment with Airbnb's culture and values, and how you would integrate into the existing team dynamics. This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the team and company.
What Interviewers Look For
Evaluation Criteria
Questions Asked
How do you collaborate with Product Managers to define roadmaps and priorities?
Describe a time you had a disagreement with a peer manager. How did you resolve it?
How do you ensure your team's work aligns with the broader company goals?
What are your thoughts on fostering psychological safety within a team?
Preparation Tips
Common Reasons for Rejection
Commonly Asked DSA Questions
Frequently asked coding questions at Airbnb