# M
**Role:** Software Engineering Manager · **Level:** Senior Manager
**Company:** [Expedia](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/expedia)
**Difficulty:** High
**Salary:** US$180000 - US$250000
**Experience:** 8 - 15
**Timeline:** ~4 days
Expedia is looking for a seasoned Software Engineering Manager to lead a team of talented engineers. This role is crucial for driving technical excellence, fostering innovation, and ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality software solutions that impact millions of travelers worldwide. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in software development, a proven track record of managing engineering teams, and a passion for building scalable and robust systems.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/expedia/senior-manager-software-engineering-manager
---
## Overall evaluation

- Leadership & People Management
- Technical & Architectural Acumen
- Strategic Thinking & Business Alignment
- Communication & Collaboration
- Problem Solving & Decision Making
- Cultural Fit
- {"list":["Alignment with Expedia's core values (e.g., customer focus, integrity, innovation).","Demonstrated ability to foster a positive and inclusive team environment.","Adaptability and resilience in a fast-paced environment."],"title":""}

## Questions asked

- Tell me about a time you had to manage a significant technical challenge or crisis. How did you lead your team through it?
- How do you foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within your engineering team?
- Describe your approach to performance management, including how you handle underperformance and recognize high performers.
- How do you balance the need for delivering new features with maintaining the quality and stability of existing systems?
- Tell me about a time you had to make a difficult decision that impacted your team. What was the outcome?
- How do you stay current with emerging technologies and ensure your team is adopting relevant advancements?
- Describe your experience in hiring and onboarding new engineers. What do you look for in a candidate?
- How do you manage stakeholder expectations and communicate technical progress to non-technical audiences?
- What is your philosophy on technical debt, and how do you prioritize its management?
- How do you promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within your team?
- Describe a situation where you had to resolve a conflict within your team. What was your approach?
- How do you delegate tasks effectively and empower your team members?
- What are your thoughts on the current state of the travel industry and the role of technology within it?
- How do you ensure your team's work aligns with the broader company strategy and product roadmap?
- Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from that experience?

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Deeply understand Expedia's mission, values, and business objectives.
- Review your past projects and identify key leadership challenges and successes.
- Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions.
- Familiarize yourself with common software engineering management frameworks and best practices.
- Research current trends in the travel industry and technology.
- Understand Expedia's engineering culture and technology stack.
- Practice articulating your leadership philosophy and management style.
- Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers about the role, team, and company.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Company & Business Understanding","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Focus on understanding Expedia's business, products, and strategic goals. Review company reports, press releases, and the Expedia careers site. Begin to map your experience to Expedia's stated needs and values. Start outlining key leadership achievements and challenges.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Business & Strategy Immersion. Map experience to Expedia's needs."}
- {"title":"Leadership & Management Skills","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Deep dive into software engineering management principles. Review topics such as agile methodologies, team building, performance management, conflict resolution, technical debt management, and architectural best practices. Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for common management scenarios.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Management Principles & STAR Method. Prepare examples."}
- {"title":"Technical Acumen","longDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Focus on technical leadership and system design. Refresh your knowledge of scalable architectures, cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP), microservices, CI/CD pipelines, and data management. Be prepared to discuss technical trade-offs and strategic technology decisions.","shortDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Technical Leadership & System Design. Refresh cloud & architecture knowledge."}
- {"title":"Communication & Interview Practice","longDescription":"Week 7: Practice your communication and presentation skills. Conduct mock interviews focusing on behavioral questions, technical discussions, and strategic thinking. Refine your answers and ensure they are concise, impactful, and tailored to the role.","shortDescription":"Week 7: Mock Interviews & Communication Practice. Refine answers."}
- {"title":"Final Preparation","longDescription":"Week 8: Final review of all materials. Prepare insightful questions for the interviewers. Ensure you are well-rested and mentally prepared for the interview process.","shortDescription":"Week 8: Final Review & Question Preparation. Rest and prepare."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"London","differences":{"tips":["Research Expedia's presence and operations in the specific location.","Be prepared to discuss your experience managing distributed or international teams.","Highlight any experience you have with cross-cultural communication and collaboration."],"interviewFocus":["Adaptability to diverse work environments and cultural nuances.","Understanding of global talent markets and compensation strategies.","Experience with remote team management and fostering collaboration across different time zones."],"commonQuestions":["How do you handle performance issues within your team, especially when dealing with remote employees?","Describe a time you had to adapt your leadership style to a new cultural context. What did you learn?","What are the key differences in managing a team in a high-cost-of-living area versus a lower-cost area, and how do you address compensation and retention?"]}}
- {"location":"Seattle","differences":{"tips":["Emphasize your experience with agile methodologies and continuous delivery.","Be ready to discuss how you leverage technology to bridge geographical gaps.","Showcase your understanding of the Seattle tech ecosystem and its talent pool."],"interviewFocus":["Driving innovation and technical leadership in a competitive tech landscape.","Experience with managing hybrid or fully remote teams.","Ability to foster a strong team culture and collaboration across distances."],"commonQuestions":["How do you foster innovation and creativity within a team located in a major tech hub like Seattle?","Describe your experience with managing teams that are geographically dispersed, with some members in different states or countries.","What strategies do you employ to ensure alignment and productivity when your team is spread across multiple time zones?"]}}
- {"location":"Chicago","differences":{"tips":["Highlight your successes in building high-performing teams.","Be prepared to discuss your approach to performance management and feedback.","Showcase your understanding of Expedia's growth strategy and how your team contributes to it."],"interviewFocus":["Talent management, including hiring, onboarding, and retention strategies.","Experience in building and scaling engineering teams.","Focus on mentorship and career development for team members."],"commonQuestions":["How do you approach talent acquisition and retention in a market with a high demand for engineering talent?","Describe your experience in building and scaling engineering teams from the ground up.","What are your strategies for mentoring and developing junior engineers into future leaders?"]}}

## Round 1: HR Phone Screen
**Type:** HR Screening · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Initial call with HR to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.
This initial screening call with an HR representative is designed to assess your overall fit for the role and Expedia. They will discuss your background, career aspirations, and motivation for applying. It's also an opportunity for you to learn more about the company culture and the specifics of the hiring process. Be prepared to talk about your management experience and why you're interested in this particular opportunity.
**Interviewers look for:** Enthusiasm for Expedia and the role.; Clear communication of career goals.; Alignment with company values.; Basic understanding of the responsibilities of a manager.
**Evaluation criteria:** Communication skills.; Cultural fit.; Basic understanding of management principles.; Motivation for the role and company.
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of clear communication.; Inability to provide specific examples of leadership.; Poor understanding of team dynamics or conflict resolution.; Failure to demonstrate strategic thinking.; Not aligning with Expedia's values.
## Questions

- Tell me about your experience as a software engineering manager.
- Why are you interested in Expedia?
- What are your salary expectations?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses as a manager?
- Describe your ideal work environment.

## Preparation tips

- Research Expedia's mission, values, and recent news.
- Prepare a concise summary of your career history and key achievements.
- Be ready to articulate why you are interested in this specific role and company.
- Have questions prepared for the recruiter about the role, team, and interview process.

## Round 2: Hiring Manager Interview
**Type:** Management Interview · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 60 min
In-depth discussion on leadership, team management, and strategic thinking.
This interview focuses on your leadership capabilities and experience in managing engineering teams. The hiring manager will delve into your past roles, asking for specific examples of how you've handled team challenges, managed performance, driven technical initiatives, and fostered a positive team culture. Expect behavioral questions and scenario-based questions designed to assess your management style and effectiveness.
**Interviewers look for:** Proven ability to lead and mentor engineering teams.; Experience in managing performance and career development.; Strategic thinking and ability to align team goals with business objectives.; Effective communication and conflict resolution skills.; Proactive approach to team building and problem-solving.
**Evaluation criteria:** Leadership and people management skills.; Problem-solving and decision-making abilities.; Strategic thinking and business alignment.; Communication clarity.; Ability to handle complex management situations.
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to provide concrete examples of leadership.; Lack of strategic thinking or business acumen.; Poor communication of technical concepts.; Difficulty in handling hypothetical management scenarios.; Not demonstrating a proactive approach to team development.
## Questions

- Describe a time you had to manage a difficult team member. What steps did you take?
- How do you prioritize work for your team when faced with competing demands?
- Tell me about a project where you had to influence stakeholders to adopt a new technology or approach.
- How do you foster a culture of psychological safety and inclusivity on your team?
- What is your approach to performance reviews and career development for your engineers?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare detailed examples using the STAR method for common management scenarios (e.g., conflict resolution, performance issues, project delivery).
- Think about your leadership philosophy and how you empower your team.
- Be ready to discuss your experience with hiring, onboarding, and retaining talent.
- Understand how to align team efforts with business goals.
- Prepare questions about the team's current challenges and opportunities.

## Round 3: Technical Deep Dive
**Type:** Technical & System Design Interview · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 60 min
Evaluation of technical leadership, system design, and problem-solving skills.
This round assesses your technical leadership and architectural understanding. You'll likely discuss past technical challenges, system designs, and your approach to technical decision-making. The interviewer will want to understand your ability to guide your team through complex technical problems, ensure the scalability and reliability of systems, and stay abreast of technological advancements.
**Interviewers look for:** Strong understanding of software architecture and design patterns.; Ability to guide technical discussions and make sound technical decisions.; Experience with scaling systems and ensuring reliability.; Knowledge of modern development practices (e.g., CI/CD, cloud).; Ability to mentor engineers on technical topics.
**Evaluation criteria:** Technical depth and breadth.; System design and architectural thinking.; Problem-solving skills.; Ability to guide technical decisions.; Understanding of software development best practices.
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of depth in technical problem-solving.; Inability to articulate technical trade-offs clearly.; Weak understanding of system design principles.; Difficulty in leading technical discussions.; Not demonstrating a forward-thinking technical vision.
## Questions

- Design a system for [a relevant Expedia product, e.g., flight search, hotel booking]. Discuss scalability, reliability, and potential bottlenecks.
- How would you approach migrating a monolithic application to a microservices architecture?
- Describe a time you had to make a significant technical trade-off. What was the decision and its impact?
- How do you ensure the quality and maintainability of the codebase within your team?
- What are your thoughts on containerization (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) and its role in modern development?

## Preparation tips

- Review common system design patterns and architectural principles.
- Be prepared to discuss trade-offs in technical decisions.
- Refresh your knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and microservices architecture.
- Think about how you've managed technical debt and ensured code quality.
- Prepare to discuss your experience with CI/CD, testing strategies, and monitoring.

## Round 4: Senior Leadership Interview
**Type:** Executive / Strategic Interview · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 60 min
Discussion on strategic thinking, business alignment, and cross-functional collaboration with a senior leader.
In this final round, you'll meet with a senior leader to discuss your strategic thinking, business acumen, and ability to collaborate across functions. They will assess how you align engineering efforts with broader company goals and how you contribute to the overall success of Expedia. This is also an opportunity for you to demonstrate your understanding of the business and ask high-level strategic questions.
**Interviewers look for:** Ability to connect technical strategy with business objectives.; Experience working effectively with product managers, designers, and other stakeholders.; Capacity to lead initiatives that span multiple teams or departments.; Understanding of the travel industry and Expedia's market position.; Vision for the future of engineering at Expedia.
**Evaluation criteria:** Strategic thinking and business acumen.; Cross-functional collaboration skills.; Ability to influence and drive change.; Understanding of product development lifecycle.; Alignment with Expedia's long-term vision.
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of alignment with Expedia's strategic vision.; Inability to articulate how their team contributes to business goals.; Poor understanding of cross-functional collaboration.; Failure to demonstrate leadership beyond their immediate team.; Not asking insightful questions about the business or strategy.
## Questions

- How do you ensure your team's roadmap is aligned with the product roadmap and overall business strategy?
- Describe a time you had to collaborate with a challenging stakeholder or cross-functional team. How did you manage the relationship?
- What do you see as the biggest technological opportunities or challenges facing Expedia in the next 3-5 years?
- How would you contribute to fostering a culture of innovation across the engineering organization?
- Imagine you have budget constraints. How would you decide which projects to prioritize for your team?

## Preparation tips

- Understand Expedia's business model, competitive landscape, and strategic priorities.
- Think about how your team's work directly impacts business outcomes.
- Prepare examples of successful cross-functional collaboration.
- Be ready to discuss your vision for engineering leadership at Expedia.
- Formulate thoughtful questions about the company's future direction and challenges.