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

The Software Engineering Manager (M60) interview at Atlassian is a comprehensive process designed to assess a candidate's leadership capabilities, technical acumen, people management skills, and strategic thinking. It evaluates their ability to lead and grow engineering teams, drive technical excellence, and contribute to Atlassian's mission and values.

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

Atlassian has 5 interview rounds for the Software Engineering Manager position: HR Screening, Technical Deep Dive, People Management, Strategic Leadership, Values & Culture Alignment.

Software Engineering Manager (M60) at Atlassian - Interview Guide

Evaluation

What they measure.

Demonstrates strong leadership and ability to inspire and motivate teams.
Effectively manages and develops engineers, fostering their career growth.
Possesses sound technical judgment and can guide technical strategy.
Drives execution and delivers results through their team.
Exhibits excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Aligns with Atlassian's values and culture.

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

Understand Atlassian's mission, values, and products deeply.
Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions.
Review common software engineering management challenges and best practices.
Think about your leadership philosophy and how you build and manage high-performing teams.
Research the specific challenges and opportunities relevant to the team you are interviewing for.
Practice articulating your technical vision and decision-making process.
Be ready to discuss your experience with Agile methodologies, performance management, and conflict resolution.
Network with current Atlassian Engineering Managers to gain insights.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 03 phases

01 / 03

01

Phase 01 of 03

Foundation & Self-Reflection

Weeks 1-2: Atlassian culture, values, products. Personal career review. STAR method prep.

Weeks 1-2: Deep dive into Atlassian's culture, values, products (Jira, Confluence, Trello, Bitbucket), and recent news. Understand Atlassian's approach to leadership and management. Review your own career history and identify key achievements and leadership moments. 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 stakeholder. How did you handle it?
How do you foster a culture of innovation and psychological safety within your team?
Describe your approach to performance management and career development for your engineers.
What are your strategies for balancing short-term delivery with long-term technical vision?
Tell me about a time you had to make a significant technical decision. What was your process and the outcome?
How do you handle conflict within your team?
Describe a situation where you had to lead your team through a period of significant change or uncertainty.
How do you ensure your team is aligned with the company's strategic goals?
What is your experience with Agile methodologies and continuous improvement?
How do you approach hiring and building a diverse and high-performing team?
Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
How do you delegate tasks effectively?
What are your thoughts on technical debt and how do you manage it?
How do you motivate your team, especially during challenging times?
Describe your leadership style.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 03 locations

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Location

Sydney

Interview focus

Leadership and team buildingTechnical strategy and executionPeople management and developmentCross-functional collaborationUnderstanding of Atlassian's products and culture

Common questions

Describe a time you had to manage a conflict within your team. How did you resolve it?
How do you foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within your team?
Tell me about a challenging technical decision you had to make as a manager. What was the outcome?
How do you approach performance management and career development for your engineers?
In Sydney, there's a strong emphasis on collaboration with product management and design teams. Be prepared to discuss how you build these cross-functional relationships.

Tips

Highlight experience with Agile methodologies and scaling teams.
Showcase your ability to mentor and develop engineers at various career stages.
Be ready to discuss your approach to hiring and building diverse teams.
For Sydney, emphasize your experience working with distributed or global teams if applicable.

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 career history, motivations for applying, and high-level understanding of management principles. This is also an opportunity for you to learn more about the role and the company culture.

What they look for

Enthusiasm for Atlassian and the role.Clear communication and ability to articulate their background.Alignment with core Atlassian values.Basic understanding of management principles.

Evaluation

Leadership potential
Communication skills
Cultural fit
Initial assessment of experience

Sample questions

Tell me about yourself and your career journey.
BehavioralIntroduction
Why are you interested in this Software Engineering Manager role at Atlassian?
MotivationCompany Fit
What do you know about Atlassian's products and culture?
Company KnowledgeCultural Fit
What are your salary expectations?
Compensation

Prep for this round

01Research Atlassian's mission, values, and products.
02Prepare your 'elevator pitch' about your career and why you're interested in this role.
03Be ready to discuss your resume and key accomplishments.
04Think about why you want to work at Atlassian specifically.

Common rejection reasons

×Lack of clear examples demonstrating leadership impact.
×Inability to articulate a coherent people management strategy.
×Poor communication or inability to connect with the interviewer.
×Lack of strategic thinking or understanding of business context.
×Failure to demonstrate alignment with Atlassian's values.

High

Technical Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Architect

This technical interview focuses on your ability to understand and guide complex technical challenges. You'll be asked to discuss system design, architecture, scalability, and problem-solving scenarios. The interviewer will assess your technical judgment, your ability to make sound trade-offs, and your understanding of software development best practices.

What they look for

Strong understanding of software architecture and design patterns.Ability to discuss trade-offs and make sound technical decisions.Experience with scaling systems and performance optimization.Knowledge of various technology stacks relevant to Atlassian.Ability to mentor engineers on technical topics.

Evaluation

Technical depth and breadth
System design and architecture skills
Problem-solving abilities
Ability to guide technical strategy
Understanding of software development best practices

Sample questions

Design a system for [e.g., real-time collaboration, issue tracking, code repository management]. Discuss scalability, reliability, and trade-offs.
System DesignArchitectureScalability
How would you approach optimizing the performance of a large-scale web application?
PerformanceOptimizationSystem Design
Describe a challenging technical problem you solved. What was your approach?
Problem SolvingTechnical Depth
How do you manage technical debt within a team?
Technical DebtManagement
What are your thoughts on microservices vs. monolithic architectures?
ArchitectureTrade-offs

Prep for this round

01Review system design principles, common architectural patterns, and scalability concepts.
02Practice designing scalable and reliable systems.
03Be prepared to discuss your experience with specific technologies and how you've used them.
04Think about how you would approach technical challenges faced by Atlassian's products.
05Brush up on data structures and algorithms, though the focus will be on application in a management context.

Common rejection reasons

×Lack of structured approach to problem-solving.
×Inability to articulate technical decisions or trade-offs clearly.
×Insufficient depth in technical knowledge relevant to the role.
×Poor communication of technical concepts.
×Failure to demonstrate ownership or accountability for technical outcomes.

High

People Management Interview · 60 min · Engineering Manager / Director

This round focuses entirely on your people management capabilities. You'll be asked behavioral questions about how you lead, mentor, develop, and manage engineers. The interviewer will probe into your experience with performance reviews, career pathing, conflict resolution, and building a strong team culture.

What they look for

Proven ability to hire, develop, and retain talent.Experience in performance management and providing constructive feedback.Skills in conflict resolution and mediation.Strategies for motivating and engaging teams.Understanding of how to create an inclusive and psychologically safe environment.

Evaluation

People management skills
Team building and development
Conflict resolution
Coaching and mentoring abilities
Fostering a positive team culture

Sample questions

Describe a time you had to manage an underperforming engineer. What steps did you take?
People ManagementPerformance Management
How do you approach career development and growth for your team members?
People ManagementMentoring
Tell me about a time you had to resolve a conflict between team members.
Conflict ResolutionPeople Management
How do you foster a culture of accountability and ownership within your team?
Team CultureAccountability
What is your strategy for hiring and onboarding new engineers?
HiringTeam Building

Prep for this round

01Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for scenarios related to hiring, firing, performance improvement, conflict resolution, and team building.
02Think about your philosophy on people management and team development.
03Consider how you foster diversity and inclusion within your teams.
04Be ready to discuss how you handle underperformance and motivate individuals.

Common rejection reasons

×Inability to provide specific examples of people management.
×Lack of a clear strategy for team development and performance.
×Poor handling of conflict or difficult conversations.
×Failure to demonstrate empathy or understanding of team dynamics.
×Not showing a proactive approach to fostering a positive team culture.

High

Managerial / Leadership Interview · 60 min · Director of Engineering / VP of Engineering

This interview assesses your strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and ability to influence across the organization. You'll discuss how you set direction for your team, collaborate with other functions (like Product Management and Design), manage stakeholders, and contribute to broader business goals. This is often with a more senior leader.

What they look for

Ability to set a clear vision and strategy for their team.Experience collaborating with product management, design, and other departments.Skills in influencing stakeholders and driving alignment across teams.Understanding of business objectives and how engineering contributes.Demonstrated leadership in driving initiatives and achieving results.

Evaluation

Strategic thinking and vision
Cross-functional collaboration
Stakeholder management
Influence and impact
Leadership presence

Sample questions

How do you align your team's roadmap with the company's strategic objectives?
StrategyAlignmentLeadership
Describe a time you had to influence a decision with stakeholders outside your direct team.
InfluenceStakeholder ManagementCollaboration
What is your vision for a high-performing engineering team in the next 1-2 years?
VisionStrategyLeadership
How do you balance competing priorities from different stakeholders?
PrioritizationStakeholder Management
Tell me about a time you had to drive a significant change within your team or organization.
Change ManagementLeadershipExecution

Prep for this round

01Think about how your team's work aligns with Atlassian's overall business strategy.
02Prepare examples of successful cross-functional collaborations.
03Consider how you influence decisions and drive alignment across different teams.
04Be ready to discuss your long-term vision for an engineering team.
05Understand the challenges and opportunities facing Atlassian's product areas.

Common rejection reasons

×Lack of strategic vision or inability to connect team's work to business goals.
×Poor communication of strategy or vision.
×Inability to influence stakeholders or drive alignment.
×Not demonstrating leadership beyond their immediate team.
×Failure to show adaptability and resilience in leadership.

Med

Cultural Fit / Values Interview · 45 min · Peer Engineering Manager / Cross-functional Partner

This round is often with a peer Engineering Manager or a key cross-functional partner (e.g., Product Manager, Design Lead). It focuses on assessing your cultural fit, collaboration style, and alignment with Atlassian's core values. They'll look for how you work with others, your approach to teamwork, and your overall alignment with the company's ethos.

What they look for

Demonstration of Atlassian's core values in past experiences.Ability to work effectively with others.Genuine enthusiasm for Atlassian's mission.Self-awareness and a growth mindset.Alignment with the team and company culture.

Evaluation

Alignment with Atlassian's values (Teamwork, আগ্রression, Customer Focus, Best Outcome, Humility)
Self-awareness
Collaboration style
Cultural fit
Motivation and passion

Sample questions

Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with a Product Manager. How did you resolve it?
CollaborationConflict ResolutionValues
How do you ensure your team is customer-focused?
Customer FocusValues
Describe a situation where you had to demonstrate humility.
ValuesBehavioral
How do you foster teamwork within your own team and with other teams?
TeamworkCollaborationValues
What does 'Best Outcome' mean to you in a professional context?
ValuesDecision Making

Prep for this round

01Understand Atlassian's core values (Teamwork, আগ্রression, Customer Focus, Best Outcome, Humility) and prepare examples that demonstrate them.
02Think about how you collaborate with Product Managers, Designers, and other functions.
03Reflect on your own values and how they align with Atlassian's.
04Be prepared to discuss how you build positive working relationships.

Common rejection reasons

×Lack of alignment with Atlassian's core values.
×Poor demonstration of collaboration and teamwork.
×Inability to articulate personal values and how they align with the company.
×Lack of self-awareness regarding strengths and weaknesses.
×Not showing genuine interest or passion for the role and company.

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 & Technical Management Skills

Strategic Thinking & Practice

Commonly asked.

Regional differences.

Sydney

Austin

Bangalore

Round-by-round.

Coding questions at Atlassian.

More at Atlassian.