# Manager 1
**Role:** Software Engineering Manager · **Level:** M1
**Company:** [DoorDash](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/doordash)
**Difficulty:** High
**Salary:** US$180000 - US$250000
**Experience:** 5 - 10
**Timeline:** ~4 days
The Software Engineering Manager (M1) interview at DoorDash is designed to assess a candidate's technical leadership, people management, strategic thinking, and execution capabilities. It evaluates their ability to build and lead high-performing engineering teams, drive technical strategy, and deliver impactful results in a fast-paced environment.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/doordash/m1-software-engineering-manager
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## Overall evaluation

- Technical and Leadership Competencies
- Strategic Impact and Execution
- People Management and Development
- Cultural Alignment and Collaboration

## Questions asked

- Tell me about a time you had to make a difficult technical decision. What was the situation, what were the options, and what was the outcome?
- How do you prioritize work for your team when faced with competing demands?
- Describe your approach to mentoring and developing engineers on your team.
- How do you handle underperformance within your team?
- Tell me about a time you had to influence stakeholders or other teams to adopt your technical vision.
- How do you foster a culture of innovation and psychological safety within your team?
- What are your strategies for ensuring the quality and reliability of the software your team delivers?
- Describe a time you had to manage a project that was falling behind schedule. What steps did you take?
- How do you stay current with emerging technologies and trends?
- What are your thoughts on the balance between building new features and maintaining technical debt?
- Tell me about a time you had to resolve a conflict within your team.
- How do you measure the success of your team and your own performance as a manager?
- What is your experience with hiring and onboarding new engineers?
- How do you delegate tasks effectively?
- Describe a time you failed. What did you learn from it?

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Deeply understand DoorDash's mission, values, and business. Research recent news and product launches.
- Review common software engineering management interview questions, focusing on leadership, strategy, and execution.
- Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions.
- Brush up on system design principles and be ready to discuss architectural trade-offs.
- Understand key metrics and how to measure team performance and project success.
- Practice articulating your leadership philosophy and management style.
- Be ready to discuss your experience with hiring, performance reviews, and career development.
- Consider how you would handle common challenges faced by engineering managers, such as conflict resolution, underperformance, and stakeholder management.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Foundation and Behavioral Preparation","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Focus on understanding DoorDash's business, culture, and technical landscape. Review core software engineering principles and common management frameworks (e.g., Agile, Scrum). Begin preparing STAR method examples for behavioral questions related to leadership, team building, and conflict resolution.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: DoorDash business & culture, SE fundamentals, behavioral prep (STAR)."}
- {"title":"Technical Deep Dive","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Deep dive into system design and architecture. Practice designing scalable and reliable systems. Prepare to discuss trade-offs and technical decision-making. Review common technical interview questions for managers, focusing on areas like distributed systems, databases, and cloud technologies.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: System design, architecture, technical decision-making."}
- {"title":"Management and Strategy Focus","longDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Focus on people management and strategic thinking. Prepare examples related to hiring, performance management, career development, and strategic planning. Practice articulating your vision for a team and how you would align it with business goals. Simulate mock interviews to refine your responses and delivery.","shortDescription":"Weeks 5-6: People management, strategic planning, mock interviews."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"Remote/Hybrid","differences":{"tips":["Highlight experience with remote or hybrid team leadership.","Be prepared to discuss specific tools and processes used for remote collaboration.","Emphasize your ability to build trust and rapport virtually.","Showcase examples of successfully managing distributed projects."],"interviewFocus":["Remote team management strategies","Cross-time zone collaboration","Building virtual team culture","Tools and techniques for remote productivity"],"commonQuestions":["How do you handle underperforming engineers in a remote setting?","Describe a time you had to adapt your management style for a distributed team.","What are your strategies for fostering team cohesion and culture remotely?","How do you ensure effective communication and collaboration across different time zones?"]}}
- {"location":"On-site (e.g., San Francisco, New York)","differences":{"tips":["Provide examples of successful in-person team leadership.","Discuss your experience with in-office collaboration tools and techniques.","Emphasize your ability to create an inclusive and productive physical work environment.","Showcase how you've leveraged in-person interactions to drive project success."],"interviewFocus":["In-person team dynamics","Cross-functional collaboration within an office","Driving consensus and alignment","Mentoring and developing engineers in a physical workspace"],"commonQuestions":["How do you manage stakeholder expectations in a highly collaborative office environment?","Describe your approach to fostering innovation within a co-located team.","How do you balance individual contributions with team synergy in an office setting?","What are your strategies for driving alignment and decision-making in face-to-face meetings?"]}}

## Round 1: Technical and System Design Interview
**Type:** Technical Deep Dive / System Design · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 45 min
Assess technical skills and system design capabilities.
This round focuses on assessing your core technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and system design thinking. You will be presented with a technical problem or a system design challenge, and you'll need to articulate your thought process, discuss trade-offs, and propose a scalable and robust solution. The interviewer will evaluate your ability to think critically, communicate technical ideas clearly, and demonstrate a solid understanding of software architecture.
**Interviewers look for:** Structured thinking; Technical curiosity; Ability to break down complex problems; Sound judgment; Potential to learn and adapt
**Evaluation criteria:** Clarity of thought and communication; Problem-solving methodology; Technical depth and breadth; Ability to articulate trade-offs; Potential for growth
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of clear communication; Inability to provide specific examples; Poor problem-solving approach; Lack of strategic thinking; Difficulty in articulating technical concepts; Failure to demonstrate leadership potential
## Questions

- Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
- How would you design a notification system for a large-scale application?
- Given a large dataset of user activity, how would you identify the top K most active users?

## Preparation tips

- Review data structures and algorithms.
- Practice system design problems, focusing on scalability, reliability, and maintainability.
- Be prepared to discuss trade-offs in design choices.
- Think about how you would lead a team through a technical challenge.

## Round 2: People Management and Strategy Interview
**Type:** Managerial and Behavioral Interview · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 45 min
Assess people management, leadership, and strategic thinking.
This round focuses on your people management, leadership, and strategic capabilities. You'll be asked behavioral questions about your experience leading teams, managing performance, developing talent, and driving projects to completion. The interviewer will assess your ability to set a vision, motivate your team, handle challenging situations, and align your team's work with broader business objectives.
**Interviewers look for:** Proven ability to lead and motivate teams; Experience in developing and mentoring engineers; Strategic vision and execution capability; Strong communication and collaboration skills; Alignment with DoorDash's values
**Evaluation criteria:** Leadership and team building skills; People management experience; Strategic thinking and planning; Execution and delivery track record; Communication and interpersonal skills; Cultural fit
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of concrete examples; Inability to demonstrate leadership impact; Poor conflict resolution skills; Difficulty in managing team dynamics; Failure to show strategic thinking; Not aligning with DoorDash's values
## Questions

- Tell me about a time you had to manage a conflict between two engineers on your team.
- How do you approach performance management and career development for your team members?
- Describe a time you had to set a strategic direction for your team. How did you communicate it and ensure buy-in?
- How do you balance the need for innovation with the need for stability and operational excellence?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for leadership, team management, and strategic initiatives.
- Think about your management philosophy and how you foster a positive team culture.
- Be ready to discuss how you handle conflict, underperformance, and difficult conversations.
- Understand how to set goals, prioritize, and measure success for your team.

## Round 3: Cultural Fit and Behavioral Interview
**Type:** Cultural Fit / Behavioral Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 30 min
Assess cultural alignment and collaboration skills.
This round, often conducted by an HR representative or a senior leader, focuses on assessing your cultural fit and alignment with DoorDash's values. You'll discuss your motivations for joining DoorDash, your understanding of the company culture, and how you approach collaboration and teamwork. The goal is to ensure you'll thrive in the DoorDash environment and contribute positively to the team and organization.
**Interviewers look for:** Alignment with DoorDash's core values (e.g., 'Think Customer First', 'Be an Owner', 'Embrace the Challenge'); Ability to collaborate effectively across different functions; Positive attitude and enthusiasm; Clear and concise communication; Passion for DoorDash's mission
**Evaluation criteria:** Cultural fit with DoorDash; Collaboration and teamwork ability; Communication style; Enthusiasm and motivation; Alignment with company values
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of alignment with company culture; Poor communication or collaboration skills; Inability to articulate vision or strategy; Not demonstrating a passion for DoorDash's mission; Resistance to feedback or different perspectives
## Questions

- What do you know about DoorDash and why are you interested in working here?
- How do you handle ambiguity and change in a fast-paced environment?
- Describe a time you had to work with someone with a very different working style. How did you manage the relationship?
- What are your long-term career goals, and how does this role fit into them?

## Preparation tips

- Research DoorDash's mission, vision, and values thoroughly.
- Reflect on how your own values and work style align with DoorDash's culture.
- Prepare to discuss why you are interested in DoorDash specifically.
- Think about examples of how you've demonstrated collaboration and teamwork in previous roles.