What is the interview process for Software Engineering Manager at Atlassian?

The Software Engineering Manager (M100) interview at Atlassian is designed to assess a candidate's leadership capabilities, technical acumen, people management skills, and strategic thinking. This role requires a blend of technical depth and strong people leadership to guide and mentor engineering teams effectively. The interview process is rigorous and aims to identify individuals who can drive innovation, foster a positive team culture, and deliver high-quality software solutions.

How many interview rounds does Atlassian have for Software Engineering Manager?

Atlassian has 5 interview rounds for the Software Engineering Manager position: Recruiter Screen, People Management Interview, Technical & System Design Interview, Hiring Manager Interview, Cross-functional/Team Fit Interview.

Software Engineering Manager (M100) at Atlassian - Interview Guide

Evaluation

What they measure.

Leadership and people management skills
Technical depth and understanding
Strategic thinking and business acumen
Communication and interpersonal skills
Problem-solving and decision-making abilities
Cultural fit and alignment with Atlassian values

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

Deeply understand Atlassian's products, mission, and values.
Review common leadership frameworks and methodologies (e.g., Situational Leadership, servant leadership).
Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions.
Brush up on your understanding of software development best practices, agile methodologies, and DevOps principles.
Think about your career journey and key leadership experiences.
Research the specific team and product area you are interviewing for.
Practice articulating your leadership philosophy and how you build and manage high-performing teams.
Be ready to discuss your approach to technical strategy, roadmap planning, and execution.
Prepare questions to ask the interviewers about the role, team, and Atlassian's culture.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 03 phases

01 / 03

01

Phase 01 of 03

Foundation & Self-Reflection

Weeks 1-2: Atlassian research, career reflection, STAR method prep.

Weeks 1-2: Deep dive into Atlassian's culture, values, products (Jira, Confluence, Trello, Bitbucket, etc.), and recent news. Understand Atlassian's approach to software development and team management. Review your own career history, identifying key leadership achievements and challenges. Start preparing STAR method examples for common leadership and behavioral questions.

Questions

Commonly asked.

Tell me about a time you had to manage a difficult team member. How did you handle it?
Describe your leadership philosophy.
How do you foster innovation within your team?
How do you balance technical debt with feature delivery?
Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn?
How do you prioritize competing demands from different stakeholders?
Describe a situation where you had to influence without direct authority.
How do you measure the success of your team?
What is your approach to performance management and career development for your engineers?
How do you ensure your team stays aligned with the company's strategic goals?
Tell me about a complex technical challenge your team faced and how you guided them through it.
How do you handle conflict within your team?
What are your thoughts on remote vs. in-office work for engineering teams?
How do you stay current with technology trends?
Describe a time you had to make a difficult decision that impacted your team.
How do you build trust and psychological safety within a team?
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a leader?
How do you delegate tasks effectively?
Tell me about a time you had to manage a significant change within your team.
How do you ensure the quality and reliability of the software your team produces?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

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Location

Remote/Distributed Teams

Interview focus

Remote team management strategiesCross-cultural communication and collaborationBuilding trust and psychological safety in a distributed teamTools and techniques for effective remote collaboration

Common questions

How do you handle underperforming engineers in a remote setting?
Describe a time you had to manage a conflict between team members in different time zones.
What strategies do you use to foster team cohesion and collaboration in a distributed environment?
How do you ensure effective communication and knowledge sharing across geographically dispersed teams?
What are the unique challenges of managing a remote engineering team, and how do you overcome them?

Tips

Highlight your experience with remote or hybrid team leadership.
Be prepared to discuss specific tools and methodologies you've used for remote collaboration.
Emphasize your ability to build strong relationships and foster a sense of belonging regardless of location.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.

High

HR/Recruiter Screen · 45 min · Recruiter/HR

This initial round is conducted by a recruiter or HR representative to assess your overall fit for the role and Atlassian. They will explore your background, motivations, and high-level leadership experience. This is also an opportunity for you to learn more about the role and the company culture. Expect questions about your career aspirations, why you're interested in Atlassian, and your general approach to management.

What they look for

Enthusiasm for the role and AtlassianClear communication styleBasic understanding of leadership principlesAlignment with Atlassian values

Evaluation

Leadership potential
Communication clarity
Cultural alignment
Initial assessment of experience

Sample questions

Tell me about your background and why you're interested in this Software Engineering Manager role at Atlassian.
BehavioralMotivation
What do you know about Atlassian's products and culture?
Company KnowledgeMotivation
Describe your leadership style.
LeadershipBehavioral
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a manager?
Self-AwarenessBehavioral
Why are you looking to leave your current role?
MotivationBehavioral

Prep for this round

01Research Atlassian's mission, values, and products.
02Be prepared to talk about your career journey and key achievements.
03Practice articulating why you are a good fit for the role and company.
04Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the role and culture.

Common rejection reasons

×Lack of clear leadership vision
×Inability to articulate people management strategies
×Poor communication or interpersonal skills
×Lack of strategic thinking or business acumen
×Failure to provide specific examples using STAR method
×Not demonstrating alignment with Atlassian values

High

People Management Interview · 60 min · Senior Engineering Manager or Director

This round focuses on your people management and leadership capabilities. You'll be asked behavioral questions designed to elicit specific examples of how you've managed teams, coached individuals, resolved conflicts, and driven performance. The interviewer will assess your ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing engineering teams.

What they look for

Demonstrated ability to develop and motivate engineersExperience in handling performance issuesEffective conflict resolution techniquesUnderstanding of career development frameworksAbility to foster a positive team environment

Evaluation

People management skills
Coaching and mentoring abilities
Conflict resolution
Performance management
Team building strategies

Sample questions

Tell me about a time you had to manage an underperforming engineer. What steps did you take, and what was the outcome?
People ManagementPerformance ManagementBehavioral
Describe a situation where you had to resolve a conflict between team members. How did you approach it?
Conflict ResolutionTeamworkBehavioral
How do you approach career development and growth for your engineers?
CoachingMentoringPeople Management
Tell me about a time you had to give difficult feedback to a team member. How did you deliver it?
FeedbackCommunicationBehavioral
How do you foster a sense of psychological safety and inclusivity within your team?
Team CultureInclusivityLeadership

Prep for this round

01Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for common people management scenarios (e.g., performance issues, conflict, career development).
02Think about your philosophy on coaching, mentoring, and feedback.
03Be ready to discuss how you foster a positive and inclusive team culture.
04Consider how you handle difficult conversations and performance management.

Common rejection reasons

×Inability to provide concrete examples of leadership impact
×Lack of depth in people management strategies
×Poor conflict resolution skills
×Difficulty in articulating technical vision or strategy
×Failure to demonstrate strategic thinking
×Weak problem-solving or decision-making skills

High

Technical & System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Engineer or Architect

This round assesses your technical leadership and strategic thinking. You'll discuss your experience with software architecture, system design, technical decision-making, and driving technical excellence. Expect questions about how you guide your team's technical direction, manage technical debt, and ensure the quality and scalability of the software produced.

What they look for

Sound judgment on technical trade-offsAbility to guide teams on technical directionUnderstanding of scalability, reliability, and performanceExperience with modern software development practicesAbility to balance technical excellence with business needs

Evaluation

Technical depth and breadth
System design and architecture understanding
Strategic technical decision-making
Understanding of software development lifecycle and best practices
Ability to drive technical roadmap and execution

Sample questions

Describe a complex system you helped design or significantly improve. What were the key challenges and your approach?
System DesignArchitectureTechnical Leadership
How do you balance the need for new features with the importance of addressing technical debt?
Technical StrategyPrioritizationExecution
Tell me about a time you had to make a significant technical decision that involved trade-offs. How did you evaluate the options?
Decision MakingTechnical StrategyBehavioral
What are your thoughts on CI/CD, automated testing, and DevOps practices?
Technical PracticesDevOps
How do you ensure the scalability and reliability of the systems your team builds?
ScalabilityReliabilitySystem Design

Prep for this round

01Review software architecture principles, design patterns, and scalability concepts.
02Think about how you've made significant technical decisions in the past.
03Be prepared to discuss your approach to managing technical debt and ensuring code quality.
04Consider how you align technical strategy with business objectives.
05Practice explaining complex technical concepts clearly.

Common rejection reasons

×Lack of strategic vision
×Inability to connect technical decisions to business goals
×Weak understanding of software architecture and scalability
×Poor prioritization skills
×Difficulty in articulating technical strategy
×Not demonstrating leadership in technical decision-making

High

Hiring Manager Interview · 60 min · Hiring Manager (Director/Senior Manager)

This interview is typically with the hiring manager, often a Director or Senior Manager. It focuses on your strategic thinking, business acumen, and ability to align engineering efforts with product and company goals. You'll discuss how you set vision, manage stakeholders, collaborate with product management, and drive the overall success of the team and its products.

What they look for

Ability to connect engineering work to business outcomesUnderstanding of product development lifecycleExperience working with product managers and other stakeholdersCapacity to set a clear vision and strategy for the teamStrong communication and influencing skills

Evaluation

Strategic thinking
Business acumen
Product understanding
Stakeholder management
Cross-functional collaboration
Vision setting

Sample questions

How do you ensure your team's work is aligned with the company's strategic objectives?
StrategyAlignmentBusiness Acumen
Describe your experience working with product management. How do you collaborate to define roadmaps and priorities?
CollaborationProduct ManagementStakeholder Management
Tell me about a time you had to influence stakeholders outside of your direct team to achieve a goal.
InfluenceStakeholder ManagementBehavioral
What is your vision for a successful engineering team at Atlassian?
VisionLeadershipStrategy
How do you prioritize work when faced with competing demands from different parts of the business?
PrioritizationDecision MakingStrategy

Prep for this round

01Understand Atlassian's business strategy and how your team contributes.
02Think about how you collaborate with product managers and other cross-functional partners.
03Prepare examples of how you've driven strategic initiatives or influenced product direction.
04Be ready to discuss your vision for a high-performing engineering team.
05Practice articulating how you measure success beyond just technical metrics.

Common rejection reasons

×Lack of strategic alignment with business goals
×Inability to articulate a clear vision for the team
×Poor stakeholder management skills
×Difficulty in handling ambiguity or making decisions under pressure
×Not demonstrating leadership in cross-functional collaboration
×Failure to align engineering efforts with product strategy

DSA

Coding questions at Atlassian.

Frequently reported on Atlassian loops

View all at Atlassian

Software Engineering Manager

What they measure.

How to prepare.

Foundation & Self-Reflection

People Management & Technical Practices

Strategy & Execution

Commonly asked.

Regional differences.

Remote/Distributed Teams

Enterprise/Large Organizations

Round-by-round.

Coding questions at Atlassian.

More at Atlassian.