# Software Engineering Manager
**Role:** Software Engineering Manager · **Level:** VP
**Company:** [Expedia](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/expedia)
**Difficulty:** Very High
**Salary:** US$180000 - US$250000
**Experience:** 10 - 15
**Timeline:** ~6 days
Expedia is looking for a seasoned Software Engineering Manager at the VP level to lead and inspire a team of talented engineers. This role is critical in driving technical strategy, fostering innovation, and ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality software solutions that impact millions of travelers worldwide. The ideal candidate will possess a strong blend of technical expertise, leadership acumen, and a deep understanding of the travel industry.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/expedia/vp-software-engineering-manager
---
## Overall evaluation

- Leadership & Strategy
- Technical Acumen
- People Management
- Communication & Influence

## Questions asked

- Describe your experience leading engineering teams through periods of significant growth or change.
- How do you balance the need for rapid feature development with maintaining system stability and reducing technical debt?
- Tell me about a time you had to make a difficult decision that impacted your team. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?
- What is your approach to fostering innovation and encouraging experimentation within your engineering teams?
- How do you identify and develop high-potential engineers and future leaders?
- Describe a complex technical problem you solved as a leader. What was your role, and what was the impact?
- How do you ensure your team's work is aligned with the company's overall business objectives?
- What are your strategies for managing remote or distributed engineering teams effectively?
- Tell me about a time you had to manage a conflict within your team or between teams. How did you resolve it?
- How do you stay current with emerging technologies and assess their potential value for the organization?
- Describe your experience with budget management and resource allocation for engineering departments.
- How do you foster a culture of accountability and high performance within your teams?
- What are the key metrics you use to measure the success and health of your engineering teams?
- Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it, and how did it change your approach?
- How do you approach performance reviews and provide constructive feedback to your direct reports?

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Deeply understand Expedia's mission, values, and business strategy, particularly within the travel industry.
- Review your past projects and identify key leadership challenges, technical decisions, and their outcomes.
- Prepare to discuss your leadership philosophy and how you build and develop high-performing engineering teams.
- Brush up on system design principles, scalability, and distributed systems, especially as they relate to large-scale consumer platforms.
- Familiarize yourself with common software engineering management frameworks and best practices.
- Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, especially when discussing complex technical or leadership scenarios.
- Research current trends in travel technology and how they might impact Expedia's future.
- Prepare questions to ask the interviewers that demonstrate your strategic thinking and interest in the role and company.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Foundation & Self-Assessment","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Deep dive into Expedia's business, market position, and strategic goals. Understand their product offerings and customer base. Review your career history, identifying key leadership achievements and challenges. Focus on articulating your leadership philosophy and management style. Begin reviewing core system design principles and distributed systems concepts.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Expedia Business & Strategy, Leadership Philosophy, System Design Fundamentals."}
- {"title":"Technical Deep Dive & Behavioral Preparation","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Focus on technical depth. Review advanced system design patterns, microservices architecture, cloud technologies (AWS/Azure/GCP), and scalability strategies. Prepare to discuss specific examples of technical challenges you've overcome. Practice behavioral questions related to team management, conflict resolution, and driving innovation.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Advanced System Design, Cloud Technologies, Scalability, Behavioral Scenarios."}
- {"title":"Refinement & Practice","longDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Refine your communication and presentation skills. Practice articulating your experience and thought process clearly. Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Research common interview questions for VP-level engineering management roles and tailor your responses to Expedia's context. Prepare insightful questions for the interviewers.","shortDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Communication Skills, STAR Method Practice, Mock Interviews, Question Preparation."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"Seattle, USA","differences":{"tips":["Be prepared to discuss specific examples of large-scale system design and operational challenges you've overcome.","Highlight your experience in building and scaling high-performing engineering teams.","Emphasize your strategic approach to technology roadmapping and innovation.","Showcase your understanding of financial management and its intersection with engineering decisions.","Research Expedia's current technology stack and recent product launches to tailor your answers."],"interviewFocus":["Deep understanding of distributed systems and microservices architecture relevant to travel platforms.","Experience with cloud-native technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their application in scaling large-scale systems.","Proven ability to manage and mentor senior engineers and technical leads.","Strategic thinking around technology adoption and its impact on business goals.","Financial acumen and experience in managing engineering budgets and resource allocation."],"commonQuestions":["How do you handle a major production incident impacting a critical customer-facing feature in a distributed system?","Describe a time you had to make a difficult trade-off between technical debt and feature delivery. What was your process and outcome?","How do you foster a culture of psychological safety and continuous learning within your engineering teams?","In a rapidly evolving market like travel, how do you ensure your team's technical roadmap remains agile and responsive to business needs?","Tell me about a time you had to manage a significant budget for your team or department. What were your key considerations and how did you ensure ROI?"]}}
- {"location":"London, UK","differences":{"tips":["Provide examples of successful global project execution and team collaboration.","Demonstrate your understanding of the product development lifecycle and how engineering contributes to business success.","Articulate your approach to managing complex trade-offs between innovation and stability.","Prepare to discuss your experience in influencing senior leadership and driving strategic change.","Share your philosophy on talent management and leadership development."],"interviewFocus":["Global team management and distributed workforce leadership.","Experience in product development lifecycle and go-to-market strategies for travel tech.","Ability to balance innovation with operational excellence in a high-traffic environment.","Stakeholder management and executive communication skills.","Talent development and succession planning for engineering leadership."],"commonQuestions":["How do you approach building and scaling engineering teams in a global context, considering diverse talent pools and time zones?","Describe your experience in managing cross-functional projects involving product, design, and engineering teams to launch new travel products.","How do you balance the need for innovation with the operational stability of a platform serving millions of users?","Tell me about a time you had to influence stakeholders at a senior executive level to adopt a new technology or architectural approach.","What are your strategies for identifying and developing future technical leaders within your organization?"]}}
- {"location":"Gurugram, India","differences":{"tips":["Illustrate how you foster collaboration and shared technical vision across teams.","Share your experience in navigating and leading teams through organizational changes.","Be ready to discuss your methods for performance evaluation and driving accountability.","Highlight your ability to use data to inform strategy and measure outcomes.","Prepare to discuss your experience with managing external technology partners."],"interviewFocus":["Cross-team technical alignment and collaboration strategies.","Change management and leadership during organizational transitions.","Performance management and accountability frameworks.","Data-driven decision-making and key performance indicators (KPIs) for engineering.","Vendor management and third-party integration expertise."],"commonQuestions":["How do you ensure technical alignment and collaboration across multiple engineering teams working on different aspects of a travel platform?","Describe a situation where you had to lead your team through a significant organizational change or restructuring.","What is your approach to performance management and ensuring accountability within your engineering teams?","How do you leverage data and metrics to drive engineering decisions and measure team success?","Tell me about a time you had to manage a challenging vendor relationship or integration for a critical technology component."]}}

## Round 1: Recruiter / HR Screening Call
**Type:** HR Screening · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 45 min
Initial screening to assess overall fit, motivation, and basic qualifications.
This initial screening call with a recruiter or HR Business Partner is designed to assess your overall fit for the role and Expedia. They will explore your career trajectory, leadership experience, motivations for applying, and understanding of the position. This is also an opportunity for you to learn more about the role and the company culture. Be prepared to discuss your high-level accomplishments and why you are interested in this specific opportunity.
**Interviewers look for:** A clear understanding of leadership principles.; The ability to think strategically and connect technology to business outcomes.; Strong communication and interpersonal skills.; Alignment with Expedia's core values.
**Evaluation criteria:** Leadership potential and vision.; Strategic alignment with business goals.; Communication clarity.; Cultural fit.
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of clear leadership vision.; Inability to articulate strategic thinking.; Poor communication or stakeholder management skills.; Insufficient experience in managing large or complex teams.; Failure to demonstrate alignment with company values.
## Questions

- Can you walk me through your resume and highlight your most significant leadership accomplishments?
- What interests you most about this Software Engineering Manager role at Expedia?
- How do you define successful leadership in an engineering context?
- What are your salary expectations for this role?

## Preparation tips

- Research Expedia's mission, values, and recent news.
- Prepare a concise summary of your career highlights and leadership experience.
- Be ready to articulate your reasons for seeking a new role and why Expedia is a good fit.
- Have questions prepared about the role, team, and company culture.

## Round 2: Technical & System Design Interview
**Type:** Technical & System Design · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 60 min
Assesses strategic thinking, technical depth, and system design capabilities.
This interview focuses on your strategic thinking, technical leadership, and ability to architect and scale complex systems. You will be asked to discuss your approach to technical strategy, roadmap planning, and managing technical debt. Expect questions about system design, distributed systems, and how you would tackle specific technical challenges relevant to Expedia's platform. The interviewer will assess your ability to lead technical direction and make sound architectural decisions.
**Interviewers look for:** A strategic mindset and the ability to connect technology to business goals.; Deep understanding of software architecture, scalability, and distributed systems.; A structured approach to problem-solving.; Experience in making sound technical decisions.
**Evaluation criteria:** Strategic thinking and business acumen.; Technical depth and system design capabilities.; Problem-solving approach.; Ability to manage technical challenges.
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of strategic thinking.; Inability to articulate technical vision.; Poor problem-solving skills.; Weak understanding of system design principles.; Difficulty in managing technical trade-offs.
## Questions

- Design a scalable hotel booking system for a global travel platform.
- 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 your decision-making process?
- How do you ensure the reliability and availability of a large-scale distributed system?

## Preparation tips

- Review system design principles, microservices, and distributed systems concepts.
- Prepare to discuss your experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
- Think about how you would design a scalable system for a travel-related problem.
- Be ready to articulate your approach to managing technical debt and driving innovation.
- Practice explaining complex technical concepts clearly and concisely.

## Round 3: People Management & Behavioral Interview
**Type:** People Management & Behavioral · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 60 min
Focuses on people management skills, team building, and behavioral competencies.
This interview focuses on your people management philosophy and experience. You'll be asked about how you build teams, mentor engineers, handle performance issues, resolve conflicts, and foster a positive and productive team culture. Expect behavioral questions that require you to draw upon specific examples from your past experiences. The interviewer wants to understand your approach to developing talent and creating an environment where engineers can thrive.
**Interviewers look for:** Proven ability to build, mentor, and manage high-performing engineering teams.; Skills in performance management, feedback, and conflict resolution.; A focus on fostering a positive and inclusive team environment.; Strong emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
**Evaluation criteria:** People management skills.; Team building and development.; Conflict resolution.; Emotional intelligence.; Culture building.
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to manage and develop people effectively.; Poor conflict resolution skills.; Lack of empathy or emotional intelligence.; Difficulty in fostering a positive team culture.; Failure to demonstrate accountability.
## Questions

- Describe your approach to performance management and providing feedback to your team members.
- Tell me about a time you had to manage a difficult team member. What steps did you take?
- How do you foster a culture of psychological safety and encourage open communication within your team?
- What are your strategies for identifying and developing future technical leaders within your organization?
- How do you handle disagreements or conflicts between team members?

## Preparation tips

- Reflect on your experiences in hiring, onboarding, and retaining talent.
- Prepare examples of how you've coached engineers, managed performance issues, and resolved team conflicts.
- Think about how you foster collaboration, psychological safety, and continuous learning.
- Be ready to discuss your approach to diversity and inclusion within your teams.
- Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.

## Round 4: Executive & Strategic Alignment Interview
**Type:** Executive & Strategic · **Difficulty:** Very High · **Duration:** 60 min
Focuses on strategic vision, stakeholder management, and executive-level thinking.
This interview is with a senior leader (VP of Engineering or CTO) and focuses on your strategic vision, ability to influence stakeholders, and how you partner with other functions like Product Management. You'll discuss your experience in driving organizational change, managing cross-functional initiatives, and aligning engineering efforts with broader business objectives. This is a high-level discussion about your leadership philosophy and your ability to operate effectively at the executive level.
**Interviewers look for:** Ability to partner effectively with Product Management and other senior leaders.; Strong communication and influencing skills across different levels and functions.; A clear vision for the engineering organization and its contribution to business goals.; Executive presence and the ability to represent the engineering function.; Understanding of how to drive alignment and collaboration across departments.
**Evaluation criteria:** Alignment with senior leadership.; Stakeholder management and influence.; Cross-functional collaboration.; Vision and strategic partnership.; Executive presence.
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of alignment with senior leadership.; Inability to influence stakeholders.; Poor communication with cross-functional partners.; Failure to demonstrate a clear vision for the department.; Lack of strategic partnership with Product Management.
## Questions

- How do you partner with Product Management to define and execute a technology roadmap?
- Describe a time you had to influence senior leadership to adopt a new technology or strategic direction.
- What is your vision for a world-class engineering organization at a company like Expedia?
- How do you ensure engineering priorities are aligned with business priorities?
- Tell me about a significant organizational change you led or were a part of. What was your role and the outcome?

## Preparation tips

- Understand Expedia's overall business strategy and how engineering contributes to it.
- Prepare examples of successful cross-functional collaborations, especially with Product Management.
- Think about how you influence stakeholders and drive alignment on technical and strategic decisions.
- Articulate your vision for an engineering organization at Expedia's scale.
- Be prepared to discuss your experience in managing budgets and resources at a strategic level.

## Round 5: Culture Fit & Hiring Manager Interview
**Type:** Cultural Fit & Final Interview · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 30 min
Final assessment of cultural fit, values alignment, and overall enthusiasm.
This is often the final interview, sometimes referred to as a 'culture fit' or 'hiring manager' interview. It's a chance for the hiring manager and potentially a senior team member to get a final read on your fit with the team and the company culture. They will assess your alignment with Expedia's values, your passion for the travel industry, and your overall enthusiasm for the role. This is also your opportunity to ask any remaining questions and ensure this is the right move for you.
**Interviewers look for:** Alignment with Expedia's core values (e.g., Serve Customers, Make it Happen, Thrive with Change, Grow Together).; Genuine interest in the travel industry and Expedia's mission.; Enthusiasm and positive attitude.; Thoughtful questions that demonstrate engagement and critical thinking.
**Evaluation criteria:** Cultural fit.; Alignment with Expedia's values.; Passion for the travel industry.; Enthusiasm and engagement.; Candidate's questions.
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of alignment with company values.; Poor cultural fit.; Inability to demonstrate passion for the travel industry.; Lack of enthusiasm or engagement.; Failure to ask thoughtful questions.
## Questions

- How do you embody Expedia's core values in your leadership approach?
- What excites you most about the future of travel and Expedia's place in it?
- What are you looking for in your next team and work environment?
- Do you have any questions for me about the role, the team, or Expedia?

## Preparation tips

- Revisit Expedia's core values and think about how your experiences align with them.
- Express genuine enthusiasm for the travel industry and Expedia's role within it.
- Prepare thoughtful questions about the team's dynamics, challenges, and future opportunities.
- Be yourself and let your personality shine through.