Software Engineering Manager
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.
5
~14 days
8 - 15 yrs
US$180000 - US$250000
240 min
Overall Evaluation Criteria
Technical Acumen
People Leadership
Strategic & Business Impact
Cultural Fit & Communication
Preparation Tips
Study Plan
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).
People Leadership
Weeks 3-4: People management principles (performance, coaching, hiring, conflict).
Weeks 3-4: Deep dive into people management principles. Study topics like performance management, coaching, mentoring, hiring, team dynamics, and conflict resolution. Read articles and books on effective leadership. Prepare examples related to these areas.
Technical & System Design
Weeks 5-6: System design, architecture, scalability. Technical strategy.
Weeks 5-6: Refresh your knowledge of software architecture, system design, and scalability. Practice designing complex systems and discussing trade-offs. Consider common challenges in distributed systems and cloud-native architectures. Prepare to discuss technical strategy and roadmap planning.
Strategy & Business Acumen
Weeks 7-8: Strategic thinking, product sense, business acumen. Prioritization.
Weeks 7-8: Focus on strategic thinking, product management basics, and business acumen. Understand how engineering contributes to business goals. Prepare to discuss project prioritization, roadmap development, and stakeholder management. Practice articulating your vision and strategy.
Mock Interviews & Final Prep
Week 9: Mock interviews. Refine STAR stories. Prepare questions.
Week 9: Mock interviews focusing on all aspects covered. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Refine your STAR stories and ensure they highlight leadership impact. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers.
Commonly Asked Questions
Location-Based Differences
Remote/Distributed Teams
Interview Focus
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
Startup/Growth-focused Environments
Interview Focus
Common Questions
How do you balance the needs of a fast-growing startup with established processes?
Describe your experience in scaling engineering teams and infrastructure.
How do you foster innovation while maintaining operational excellence?
Tips
Process Timeline
Interview Rounds
5-step process with detailed breakdown for each round
Recruiter Screen
Initial screening to assess basic qualifications, motivation, and cultural fit.
This initial screening call with a recruiter aims to understand your background, career aspirations, and motivation for applying to Atlassian. They will assess your general fit for the role and the company culture, covering your experience, leadership style, and why you're interested in this specific opportunity. Be prepared to discuss your resume highlights and your understanding of the Software Engineering Manager role.
What Interviewers Look For
Evaluation Criteria
Questions Asked
Tell me about yourself and your career journey.
Why are you interested in Atlassian and this specific role?
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a manager?
Describe your leadership style.
What are your salary expectations?
Preparation Tips
Common Reasons for Rejection
Technical & System Design Interview
Assesses technical depth, system design skills, and architectural thinking.
This round focuses on your technical expertise and system design capabilities. You'll be asked to discuss your experience with designing scalable, reliable, and maintainable systems. Expect questions about architectural patterns, trade-offs, performance considerations, and distributed systems. You might also be asked to whiteboard a system design problem.
What Interviewers Look For
Evaluation Criteria
Questions Asked
Design a system like Twitter's news feed.
How would you design a rate limiter?
Discuss the trade-offs between microservices and monolithic architectures.
How do you approach performance optimization in a large-scale application?
Explain the CAP theorem and its implications.
Preparation Tips
Common Reasons for Rejection
People Management Interview
Evaluates people management, leadership, team building, and conflict resolution skills.
This interview 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, developed individuals, handled conflicts, and driven performance. The interviewer will assess your ability to build and lead high-performing engineering teams.
What Interviewers Look For
Evaluation Criteria
Questions Asked
Describe a time you had to manage a conflict between team members. How did you resolve it?
How do you motivate your team during challenging projects?
Tell me about a time you had to let go of an underperforming employee. What was your process?
How do you delegate tasks effectively?
What is your philosophy on career development for your team members?
Preparation Tips
Common Reasons for Rejection
Strategic & Product Thinking Interview
Evaluates strategic thinking, product sense, business acumen, and cross-functional collaboration.
This round assesses your strategic thinking, product sense, and ability to align engineering efforts with business objectives. You'll discuss how you prioritize initiatives, manage roadmaps, collaborate with product management and other stakeholders, and contribute to the overall business strategy. Expect questions about your experience in driving product success through engineering leadership.
What Interviewers Look For
Evaluation Criteria
Questions Asked
How do you prioritize features when there are competing demands from product, sales, and engineering?
Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders to adopt a particular technical direction.
How do you ensure your team understands the 'why' behind the work they are doing?
What is your approach to managing technical debt?
How do you collaborate with Product Management?
Preparation Tips
Common Reasons for Rejection
Executive Interview
Final discussion with a senior leader to assess overall fit, vision, and executive presence.
This final interview is typically with a senior leader at Atlassian. It's a chance to discuss your broader leadership philosophy, strategic vision, and how you see yourself contributing to the company at a higher level. They will assess your overall fit, executive presence, and potential for growth within the organization. Be prepared to discuss your long-term career aspirations and your vision for engineering leadership.
What Interviewers Look For
Evaluation Criteria
Questions Asked
What is your long-term vision for an engineering organization?
How do you foster a culture of accountability?
What are the biggest challenges facing engineering leaders today?
How would you contribute to Atlassian's strategic goals?
What questions do you have for me?
Preparation Tips
Common Reasons for Rejection
Commonly Asked DSA Questions
Frequently asked coding questions at Atlassian