# Engineering Manager
**Role:** Software Engineering Manager · **Level:** M1
**Company:** [Airbnb](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/airbnb)
**Difficulty:** Hard
**Salary:** US$180000 - US$250000
**Experience:** 5 - 10
**Timeline:** ~21 days
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.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/airbnb/m1-software-engineering-manager
---
## Overall evaluation

- Core Competencies
- Managerial Effectiveness
- Technical Leadership

## Questions asked

- Tell me about a time you had to manage a conflict within your team. How did you resolve it?
- Describe a project where you had to make a significant technical trade-off. What was your decision-making process?
- How do you prioritize work for your team when faced with competing demands?
- Walk me through your process for hiring and onboarding new engineers.
- How do you foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement within your team?
- Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
- How do you measure the success of your team?
- Describe your experience with agile methodologies and how you implement them.
- How do you stay technically relevant as a manager?
- What is your approach to performance management and career development for your team members?
- Tell me about a time you had to influence stakeholders who disagreed with your team's technical direction.
- How do you handle underperforming team members?
- What are your thoughts on technical debt and how do you manage it?
- Describe a time you had to lead your team through a significant change or challenge.

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Thoroughly review Airbnb's mission, values, and engineering culture.
- Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions.
- Understand common software engineering challenges and best practices.
- Familiarize yourself with Airbnb's products and business model.
- Practice articulating your leadership philosophy and management style.
- Be ready to discuss your experience with scaling teams and managing complex projects.
- Research common interview questions for Engineering Managers at M1 level.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Company & Self-Assessment","longDescription":"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.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Airbnb culture, values, mission. STAR method prep."}
- {"title":"People Management Skills","longDescription":"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.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: People management, coaching, conflict resolution, hiring."}
- {"title":"Technical Acumen","longDescription":"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.","shortDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Technical leadership, system design, scalability, distributed systems."}
- {"title":"Strategy & Execution","longDescription":"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.","shortDescription":"Weeks 7-8: Strategic thinking, project management, goal setting, stakeholder influence."}
- {"title":"Mock Interviews & Refinement","longDescription":"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.","shortDescription":"Week 9: Mock interviews, feedback, refinement."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"Remote/Distributed Teams","differences":{"tips":["Highlight experience with remote work tools and methodologies.","Provide specific examples of successfully managing distributed teams.","Emphasize your understanding of asynchronous communication best practices."],"interviewFocus":["Remote team management strategies","Cross-cultural communication and collaboration","Building trust and engagement in a distributed environment"],"commonQuestions":["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?"]}}
- {"location":"San Francisco Bay Area","differences":{"tips":["Showcase experience in high-growth or startup environments.","Demonstrate an understanding of market dynamics and competitive landscapes.","Emphasize your ability to build and scale engineering teams quickly."],"interviewFocus":["Agile development and rapid iteration","Stakeholder management and influence","Talent acquisition and retention in competitive markets"],"commonQuestions":["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?"]}}
- {"location":"Europe","differences":{"tips":["Highlight experience with international teams or projects.","Demonstrate awareness of global business practices and compliance.","Provide examples of fostering inclusivity and a shared culture across diverse teams."],"interviewFocus":["International team management and compliance","Navigating diverse business and regulatory landscapes","Building a unified global engineering culture"],"commonQuestions":["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?"]}}

## Round 1: Recruiter Phone Screen
**Type:** Recruiter Screen · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
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.
**Interviewers look for:** Enthusiasm for Airbnb; Clear communication; Basic alignment with company values
**Evaluation criteria:** Communication skills; Cultural alignment; Basic understanding of the role
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of clear communication; Inability to provide specific examples; Poor cultural fit; Defensiveness when discussing failures
## Questions

- 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

- Research Airbnb's mission and values.
- Be ready to articulate why you are interested in this specific role and company.
- Prepare a concise summary of your relevant experience.

## Round 2: Technical Deep Dive & System Design
**Type:** Technical Interview / System Design · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 60 min
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.
**Interviewers look for:** Strong understanding of software architecture and design patterns; Ability to think through complex technical problems; Experience with scaling systems; Clear communication of technical ideas
**Evaluation criteria:** Technical depth and breadth; System design capabilities; Problem-solving skills; Ability to guide technical decisions
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to articulate technical vision; Lack of depth in system design discussions; Poor problem-solving approach; Difficulty explaining technical concepts clearly
## Questions

- 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

- Review system design principles (scalability, reliability, availability).
- Practice designing common systems (e.g., URL shortener, social media feed).
- Be ready to discuss your experience with specific technologies and architectural patterns.
- Think about how you would guide a team through technical decision-making.

## Round 3: People Management & Leadership
**Type:** Behavioral & People Management Interview · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 60 min
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.
**Interviewers look for:** Proven ability to mentor and grow engineers; Experience in conflict resolution and performance management; Strategic vision for team development; Empathy and strong interpersonal skills
**Evaluation criteria:** People management skills; Leadership effectiveness; Strategic thinking; Problem-solving in people-related scenarios
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to provide concrete examples of leadership; Poor people management strategies; Lack of strategic thinking; Difficulty handling difficult conversations or situations
## Questions

- 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

- Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for common management scenarios.
- Think about your leadership philosophy and how you foster a positive team environment.
- Be ready to discuss how you handle underperformance and difficult conversations.
- Consider how you align team goals with broader business objectives.

## Round 4: Strategic & Leadership Interview
**Type:** Hiring Manager / Leadership Interview · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 60 min
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.
**Interviewers look for:** Ability to set a long-term vision for the team; Understanding of how engineering impacts business outcomes; Experience collaborating with product, design, and other functions; Alignment with Airbnb's core values
**Evaluation criteria:** Strategic thinking; Business acumen; Stakeholder management; Cultural alignment; Cross-functional collaboration
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of strategic vision; Inability to connect technical work to business goals; Poor stakeholder management; Not demonstrating alignment with Airbnb's values
## Questions

- 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

- Understand Airbnb's business model and strategic priorities.
- Think about how you translate business goals into engineering roadmaps.
- Prepare examples of successful cross-functional collaboration.
- Be ready to discuss your vision for an engineering team and how it contributes to the company's success.
- Reflect on how you embody Airbnb's core values.

## Round 5: Collaboration & Cultural Fit
**Type:** Cross-functional / Peer Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
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.
**Interviewers look for:** Demonstration of Airbnb's core values; Collaborative mindset; Genuine interest in the company and role; Thoughtful questions about the team and company
**Evaluation criteria:** Cultural fit; Collaboration skills; Alignment with Airbnb's values; Candidate's questions and engagement
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of alignment with company values; Poor cultural fit; Inability to demonstrate collaborative spirit; Not asking thoughtful questions
## Questions

- 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

- Review Airbnb's core values (e.g., Belong Anywhere, Champion the Mission, Embrace the Mess).
- Prepare questions that demonstrate your understanding of the role and your interest in collaboration.
- Think about how you contribute to a positive and inclusive team environment.