# Software Engineering Manager
**Role:** Software Engineering Manager · **Level:** Software Engineering Manager
**Company:** [AppFolio](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/appfolio)
**Difficulty:** High
**Salary:** US$160000 - US$220000
**Experience:** 7 - 15
**Timeline:** ~14 days
The Software Engineering Manager interview at AppFolio is designed to assess a candidate's leadership capabilities, technical acumen, people management skills, and strategic thinking. It evaluates their ability to lead teams, drive technical projects, foster a positive engineering culture, and contribute to the company's overall goals.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/appfolio/software-engineering-manager-software-engineering-manager
---
## Overall evaluation

- Leadership and Management
- Technical Acumen
- People Management
- Strategic and Business Thinking

## Questions asked

- Tell me about a time you had to manage a difficult stakeholder. How did you handle it?
- Describe your approach to hiring and onboarding new engineers.
- How do you foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement within your team?
- Walk me through a challenging project you led. What were the key challenges, and how did you overcome them?
- How do you balance the need for innovation with the need for stability and reliability?
- What is your experience with performance management and career development for engineers?
- How do you handle conflicts within your team?
- Describe a time you had to make a difficult technical decision. What was your process?
- How do you ensure your team is aligned with the company's strategic goals?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses as a manager?
- How do you delegate tasks effectively?
- What metrics do you use to measure the success of your team and your projects?
- How do you stay current with industry trends and new technologies?
- Describe a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
- How would you handle an engineer who is consistently underperforming?

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Review AppFolio's mission, values, and products.
- Understand the challenges and opportunities in the property management software industry.
- Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions.
- Brush up on your knowledge of software development best practices, Agile methodologies, and system design principles.
- Think about your leadership philosophy and how you motivate and develop engineering teams.
- Be ready to discuss your experience in managing budgets, project timelines, and technical debt.
- Consider how you would handle common management scenarios, such as performance issues, team conflicts, and hiring decisions.
- Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers about the role, the team, and AppFolio's engineering culture.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Company and Industry Research","longDescription":"Week 1: Deep dive into AppFolio's company culture, values, products, and recent news. Research the property management industry and its technological landscape. Familiarize yourself with AppFolio's engineering blog and open-source contributions if available. Start outlining key career achievements and leadership experiences using the STAR method.","shortDescription":"Week 1: AppFolio research, industry overview, STAR method preparation."}
- {"title":"Leadership and Management Skills","longDescription":"Week 2: Focus on leadership and people management. Review common leadership frameworks, performance management techniques, and strategies for building high-performing teams. Prepare examples of how you've mentored engineers, resolved conflicts, and fostered a positive team environment. Study Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and your experience implementing them.","shortDescription":"Week 2: Leadership, people management, Agile methodologies."}
- {"title":"Technical Strategy and Design","longDescription":"Week 3: Concentrate on technical strategy and system design. Refresh your understanding of software architecture patterns, scalability, reliability, and security. Think about how you would define a technical roadmap, manage technical debt, and make architectural decisions. Prepare to discuss your experience with different technology stacks and their trade-offs.","shortDescription":"Week 3: Technical strategy, system design, architecture."}
- {"title":"Behavioral Practice and Final Preparation","longDescription":"Week 4: Practice behavioral and situational questions. Conduct mock interviews with peers or mentors, focusing on articulating your experiences clearly and concisely using the STAR method. Prepare questions to ask the interviewers. Finalize your understanding of AppFolio's business and how engineering contributes to its success.","shortDescription":"Week 4: Mock interviews, behavioral questions, prepare questions for interviewers."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"Remote","differences":{"tips":["Be prepared to discuss your experience with managing remote or hybrid teams.","Highlight your proficiency with collaboration and communication tools.","Emphasize your ability to create an inclusive and productive remote work environment."],"interviewFocus":["Remote team management strategies","Virtual collaboration tools and techniques","Building trust and engagement in a distributed environment"],"commonQuestions":["How do you handle underperforming engineers in a remote setting?","Describe a time you had to manage a conflict between remote team members.","What strategies do you use to ensure effective communication and collaboration with a distributed team?","How do you foster team cohesion and culture when team members are not co-located?"]}}
- {"location":"On-site","differences":{"tips":["Be ready to share examples of how you've driven projects involving multiple teams.","Showcase your understanding of performance management cycles and feedback mechanisms.","Demonstrate your ability to adapt and optimize Agile processes."],"interviewFocus":["Cross-functional collaboration","Stakeholder management","Performance management and career growth","Agile development practices"],"commonQuestions":["How do you balance the needs of individual team members with the goals of the larger organization?","Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders outside of your direct reporting line.","How do you approach performance reviews and career development for your team?","What is your experience with Agile methodologies and how do you implement them effectively?"]}}

## Round 1: HR/Recruiter Screen
**Type:** HR/Recruiter Screen · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Initial screening to assess cultural fit and basic qualifications.
This initial round is conducted by a recruiter or HR representative to assess your overall fit with AppFolio's culture and values. They will explore your career background, motivations for applying, and general understanding of the Software Engineering Manager role. This is also an opportunity for you to learn more about AppFolio and the position.
**Interviewers look for:** Enthusiasm for AppFolio; Clear communication; Alignment with company values; Basic understanding of the role
**Evaluation criteria:** Communication skills; Cultural alignment; Understanding of AppFolio's values; Motivation for the role
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of clear communication; Inability to provide specific examples; Poor cultural fit; Lack of strategic thinking; Inability to articulate leadership philosophy
## Questions

- Tell me about yourself and your career progression.
- Why are you interested in AppFolio and this specific role?
- What do you know about our company and our products?
- What are your salary expectations?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses as a manager?

## Preparation tips

- Research AppFolio's mission, vision, and values.
- Be prepared to talk about your career journey and why you're interested in this specific role.
- Practice articulating your strengths and how they align with the company's needs.
- Prepare questions about the company culture, team structure, and growth opportunities.

## Round 2: Technical Deep Dive
**Type:** Technical Interview · **Difficulty:** High · **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 be asked to discuss your experience with system design, architecture, and problem-solving. Expect questions that probe your understanding of software development best practices, scalability, and performance.
**Interviewers look for:** Strong technical background; Ability to think critically and solve complex problems; Experience in designing scalable and reliable systems; Understanding of modern software engineering practices; Ability to guide and mentor technical teams
**Evaluation criteria:** Technical leadership capabilities; System design and architecture knowledge; Problem-solving approach; Ability to mentor engineers on technical challenges; Understanding of software development lifecycle and best practices
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of technical depth; Inability to articulate technical vision; Poor problem-solving skills; Weak understanding of system design principles; Difficulty explaining technical concepts clearly
## Questions

- Design a system for [specific problem, e.g., a URL shortener, a social media feed].
- How would you ensure the scalability and reliability of a distributed system?
- Describe a time you had to refactor a complex codebase. What was your approach?
- What are your thoughts on microservices vs. monolithic architectures?
- How do you approach technical debt management?

## Preparation tips

- Review system design principles, common architectural patterns, and trade-offs.
- Practice explaining complex technical concepts clearly and concisely.
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with various technologies and their applications.
- Think about how you would approach technical challenges and guide your team through them.

## Round 3: Leadership and People Management
**Type:** People Management Interview · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 60 min
Focuses on leadership, people management, and team development skills.
This round evaluates your people management and leadership capabilities. You'll discuss your philosophy on managing teams, developing talent, handling performance issues, and fostering a positive engineering culture. Expect behavioral questions that require you to share specific examples of your leadership experiences.
**Interviewers look for:** Proven ability to lead and manage engineering teams; Empathy and strong interpersonal skills; Experience in coaching and mentoring; Ability to foster collaboration and psychological safety; Strategic approach to team development
**Evaluation criteria:** People management philosophy and experience; Ability to motivate and develop engineers; Conflict resolution skills; Team building and fostering a positive culture; Strategic thinking for team growth and alignment
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to provide concrete examples of leadership; Poor people management skills; Difficulty handling team conflicts; Lack of strategic vision for a team; Inability to articulate how they develop talent
## Questions

- Describe your approach to performance management and career development for your team.
- Tell me about a time you had to manage a conflict between team members. How did you resolve it?
- How do you motivate your team, especially during challenging times?
- What is your strategy for hiring and retaining top engineering talent?
- How do you foster a culture of psychological safety and inclusivity on your team?

## Preparation tips

- Reflect on your leadership style and management philosophy.
- Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for questions about hiring, performance management, conflict resolution, and team motivation.
- Think about how you foster a culture of feedback and continuous improvement.
- Consider how you align team goals with broader organizational objectives.

## Round 4: Strategic and Business Alignment
**Type:** Hiring Manager Interview · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 60 min
Assesses strategic thinking, business alignment, and project management.
In this final round, you'll meet with the hiring manager, likely a Director or VP of Engineering. This interview focuses on your strategic thinking, business acumen, and ability to align engineering efforts with the company's overall goals. You'll discuss how you manage projects, prioritize initiatives, and collaborate with other departments.
**Interviewers look for:** Understanding of business strategy and how engineering supports it; Ability to prioritize effectively and manage resources; Strong communication and collaboration skills with non-technical stakeholders; Data-driven decision-making; Vision for how the team contributes to company success
**Evaluation criteria:** Strategic thinking and business acumen; Ability to align engineering efforts with business objectives; Project and resource management skills; Cross-functional collaboration and communication; Decision-making and problem-solving in a business context
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of strategic alignment with business goals; Inability to prioritize effectively; Poor communication with cross-functional teams; Difficulty in making data-driven decisions; Not demonstrating a clear vision for the team's contribution to the business
## Questions

- How do you prioritize competing demands from different stakeholders?
- Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders outside of your direct reporting line.
- How do you measure the success of your team and its projects in relation to business goals?
- What is your approach to managing budgets and resources?
- Imagine we are launching a new product. What is your role as an engineering manager in this process?

## Preparation tips

- Understand AppFolio's business model and strategic priorities.
- Think about how engineering drives business value.
- Prepare examples of how you've managed projects, allocated resources, and made strategic decisions.
- Be ready to discuss your experience working with product management, sales, and marketing teams.
- Articulate your vision for the engineering team and its contribution to the company's success.