Scale Engineer

Software Engineering Manager

Software Engineering ManagerM90High

This interview process is designed to assess candidates for the Software Engineering Manager (M90) role at Atlassian. It evaluates technical leadership, people management skills, strategic thinking, and cultural fit.

Rounds·5

Timeline·~14d

Experience·8 - 15 yrs

Comp band·US$180000 - US$250000

Interview time·240 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Technical depth and breadth
  • Problem-solving abilities
  • System design and architecture understanding
  • Ability to mentor and develop engineers

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Deeply understand Atlassian's mission, values, and products.
  2. Review common software engineering management frameworks and best practices.
  3. Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions.
  4. Brush up on system design principles and scalability concepts.
  5. Think about your leadership philosophy and how you develop talent.
  6. Research current trends in software development and management.
  7. Understand the challenges and opportunities of managing distributed or hybrid teams.
  8. Be ready to discuss your experience with Agile methodologies and DevOps practices.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 05 phases

01 / 05
01

Phase 01 of 05

Company & Self-Assessment

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

Weeks 1-2: Focus on Atlassian's culture, values, and products. Understand their business model and competitive landscape. Review your resume and identify key achievements and leadership experiences. Begin preparing STAR method examples for common management scenarios (e.g., conflict resolution, performance issues, project delivery).

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Tell me about a time you had to make a difficult decision that impacted your team. What was the outcome?
  • How do you foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within your team?
  • Describe your approach to managing underperforming engineers.
  • How do you balance technical debt with delivering new features?
  • Walk me through a complex system you designed or significantly contributed to.
  • How do you ensure your team is aligned with the company's strategic goals?
  • Tell me about a time you had to manage a conflict within your team or with another team.
  • How do you mentor and develop the careers of your engineers?
  • What is your experience with Agile methodologies and DevOps practices?
  • How do you prioritize work when faced with competing demands?
  • Describe a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
  • How do you stay current with technology trends?
  • What are your thoughts on building a diverse and inclusive team?
  • How do you handle stakeholder management and communication?
  • What are your expectations for this role and Atlassian?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Remote/Distributed Teams

Interview focus

Remote team management strategiesCross-time zone collaborationBuilding culture in a distributed workforce

Common questions

  • How do you handle underperforming team members in a remote setting?
  • Describe a time you had to manage a conflict between team members across different time zones.
  • What are your strategies for fostering team cohesion and collaboration in a hybrid work environment?

Tips

  • Highlight experience with distributed teams and asynchronous communication.
  • Be prepared to discuss tools and techniques for remote team engagement.
  • Emphasize your ability to build trust and psychological safety remotely.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

DSA

Coding questions at Atlassian.

Frequently reported on Atlassian loops

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Other guides

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