The Software Engineering Manager interview at Chewy is designed to assess a candidate's leadership capabilities, technical expertise, and ability to drive team performance and deliver high-quality software solutions. The process evaluates a candidate's experience in managing engineering teams, fostering a positive team culture, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Rounds·5
Timeline·~14d
Experience·7 - 15 yrs
Comp band·US$160000 - US$220000
Interview time·240 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 03 phases
01 / 03Phase 01 of 03
Weeks 1-2: Chewy's business, personal project review, leadership examples, STAR method.
Weeks 1-2: Deep dive into Chewy's business, products, and engineering culture. Review your past projects and identify key achievements and leadership examples. Focus on understanding Chewy's approach to software development and team management. Prepare STAR method examples for common leadership scenarios.
Phase 02 of 03
Weeks 3-4: Technical leadership, system design, cloud, CI/CD, technical challenges.
Weeks 3-4: Focus on technical leadership and system design. Refresh your knowledge of scalable architectures, cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP), CI/CD pipelines, and modern software development practices. Prepare to discuss technical challenges you've overcome and your approach to technical decision-making.
Phase 03 of 03
Weeks 5-6: People management, team building, conflict resolution, performance management, behavioral questions.
Weeks 5-6: Concentrate on people management and behavioral aspects. Study leadership theories, team building strategies, conflict resolution, performance management, and career development. Prepare to discuss your management style and how you foster a positive and productive team environment. Practice behavioral interview questions.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 02 locations
01 / 02Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
HR Screening · 30 min · Recruiter/HR
This initial screening call with HR or a recruiter is to assess your overall fit for the role and Chewy. They will review your resume, discuss your career goals, and ask about your experience in software engineering management. This is also an opportunity for you to learn more about the role and the company.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Can you tell me about your background in software engineering management?
What interests you about this role at Chewy?
What are your salary expectations?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Technical & System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Engineering Manager / Director of Engineering
This round focuses on your technical leadership and system design capabilities. You will be asked to discuss your experience with designing scalable and robust systems, making technical trade-offs, and guiding your team through complex technical challenges. Expect questions related to architecture, distributed systems, and best practices in software development.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system for [specific Chewy use case, e.g., a recommendation engine].
How would you approach migrating a monolithic application to microservices?
Describe a time you had to make a significant technical decision that had long-term implications.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
People Management & Behavioral Interview · 60 min · Hiring Manager / Director of Engineering
This round focuses on your people management and leadership skills. You'll be asked behavioral questions about how you manage teams, handle conflicts, develop talent, and foster a positive work environment. The interviewer will want to understand your philosophy on leadership and how you empower your team to succeed.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Describe your approach to performance management and career development for your team members.
Tell me about a time you had to manage a difficult team member. What was the situation and outcome?
How do you foster collaboration and communication within your team and with other departments?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Strategic & Business Acumen Interview · 45 min · Director/VP of Engineering or Product
This round assesses your strategic thinking and business acumen. You'll discuss how you align your team's work with the company's overall strategy, how you prioritize initiatives, and how you collaborate with product management and other stakeholders. The interviewer wants to see that you can think beyond day-to-day tasks and contribute to the broader business goals.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
How do you ensure your team's roadmap aligns with the company's strategic priorities?
Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders to adopt a new technical approach or strategy.
What are your thoughts on the future of e-commerce technology and how would you position your team for success?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Executive / Final Round · 45 min · Senior Director / VP of Engineering
This final round is typically with a senior leader (Director or VP) to assess your overall leadership capabilities, strategic vision, and cultural fit at a higher level. They will want to understand your long-term aspirations and how you envision leading and growing engineering teams within Chewy. This is your chance to demonstrate your executive presence and strategic thinking.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
What is your vision for a high-performing software engineering team at Chewy?
How do you stay current with industry trends and drive innovation within your teams?
What are the most important qualities of an effective engineering leader in today's tech landscape?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Chewy loops
Other guides
