# Software Engineering Manager
**Role:** Software Engineering Manager · **Level:** L2
**Company:** [Groupon](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/groupon)
**Difficulty:** Medium to Hard
**Salary:** US$140000 - US$180000
**Experience:** 5 - 10
**Timeline:** ~14 days
This interview process is designed to assess candidates for a Software Engineering Manager (L2) position at Groupon. It evaluates technical leadership, people management skills, strategic thinking, and cultural fit.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/groupon/l2-software-engineering-manager
---
## Overall evaluation

- Technical Acumen
- People Management
- Strategic & Business Acumen
- Cultural Fit & Communication

## Questions asked

- Tell me about a time you had to manage a difficult stakeholder. How did you handle it?
- Describe your approach to setting technical direction for a team.
- How do you foster a culture of psychological safety within your team?
- Walk me through a challenging project you managed from inception to completion.
- How do you balance delivering on short-term goals with investing in long-term technical health?
- What are your strategies for attracting and retaining top engineering talent?
- Describe a time you had to make a significant technical decision with incomplete information.
- How do you measure the success of your team?
- Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
- How do you handle underperforming engineers?
- What is your experience with Agile methodologies?
- How do you prioritize competing demands on your team's resources?
- Describe your leadership philosophy.
- How do you stay current with technology trends?
- What are your thoughts on code reviews and quality assurance?

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Review Groupon's mission, values, and recent news.
- Understand the responsibilities of an L2 Software Engineering Manager.
- Prepare STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) examples for behavioral questions.
- Brush up on core software engineering principles and best practices.
- Think about your leadership philosophy and how you develop teams.
- Consider common challenges in managing engineering teams and how you've overcome them.
- Be ready to discuss your experience with agile methodologies and project management.
- Prepare questions to ask the interviewers about the role, team, and company culture.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Company & Role Immersion","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Deep dive into Groupon's business, products, and engineering culture. Understand the company's strategic goals and how engineering contributes. Review common L2 SEM responsibilities and expectations. Start preparing STAR examples for core behavioral competencies like leadership, conflict resolution, and team building.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Groupon's business, SEM role, STAR method basics."}
- {"title":"People Management Skills","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Focus on people management skills. Study leadership theories, performance management techniques, coaching, and mentoring strategies. Prepare examples related to hiring, onboarding, performance reviews, and career development. Review common challenges in managing engineers and your approaches to solving them.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: People management, coaching, performance, team development."}
- {"title":"Technical Leadership & Strategy","longDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Strengthen technical leadership and system design understanding. Review software development lifecycle, architectural patterns, scalability, and reliability concepts. Prepare to discuss technical decision-making processes, code quality, and technical debt management. Consider how you guide technical strategy for a team.","shortDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Technical leadership, system design, SDLC, architecture."}
- {"title":"Behavioral & Strategic Practice","longDescription":"Weeks 7-8: Practice behavioral and situational questions. Refine STAR examples for a wide range of scenarios including conflict resolution, dealing with ambiguity, driving change, and stakeholder management. Prepare to discuss your strategic thinking and how you align engineering efforts with business objectives. Finalize questions for the interviewers.","shortDescription":"Weeks 7-8: Behavioral practice, strategic alignment, final prep."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"Remote/Hybrid","differences":{"tips":["Highlight experience with remote management tools and techniques.","Provide specific examples of successfully managing distributed teams.","Emphasize your understanding of asynchronous communication best practices."],"interviewFocus":["Remote team management","Cross-time zone collaboration","Hybrid work environment strategies","Communication in distributed teams"],"commonQuestions":["How do you handle underperforming engineers in a remote setting?","Describe a time you had to manage a conflict between team members working across different time zones.","What strategies do you use to foster team cohesion and collaboration in a hybrid work environment?"]}}
- {"location":"On-site (e.g., Chicago)","differences":{"tips":["Showcase your understanding of the local tech ecosystem.","Provide examples of driving business impact through engineering initiatives.","Discuss your approach to building strong relationships with stakeholders in a physical office setting."],"interviewFocus":["On-site team dynamics","Local market understanding","Business alignment","Innovation culture"],"commonQuestions":["How do you ensure alignment between engineering teams and business objectives in a fast-paced market?","Describe your experience with local hiring market trends and talent acquisition.","How do you foster a culture of innovation within a geographically concentrated team?"]}}

## Round 1: HR Screening
**Type:** HR/Recruiter Screen · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 30 min
Initial screening to assess basic qualifications, motivation, and cultural fit.
This initial screening call with a recruiter aims to assess your overall fit for the role and Groupon. They will discuss your background, career aspirations, and motivation for applying. It's also an opportunity for you to learn more about the company and the interview process. Expect questions about your resume, why you're interested in this specific role, and your salary expectations.
**Interviewers look for:** Enthusiasm for Groupon; Clear and concise communication; Alignment with company values; Basic understanding of management principles
**Evaluation criteria:** Communication skills; Cultural alignment; Motivation for the role and company; Basic understanding of the role's requirements
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of clear communication; Inability to provide specific examples; Poor cultural fit; Lack of demonstrated leadership potential
## Questions

- Tell me about yourself and your career progression.
- Why are you interested in this Software Engineering Manager role at Groupon?
- What are your salary expectations?
- What do you know about Groupon?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses as a manager?

## Preparation tips

- Research Groupon's mission, values, and recent news.
- Be prepared to articulate why you are interested in this specific role and company.
- Have your salary expectations clearly defined.
- Practice your 'elevator pitch' about your career journey.
- Prepare questions to ask the recruiter.

## Round 2: Technical Deep Dive
**Type:** Technical & System Design · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 60 min
Assesses technical leadership, system design skills, and problem-solving abilities.
This round focuses on your technical leadership and system design expertise. You'll be asked to discuss your experience in architecting complex systems, making technical trade-offs, and guiding teams through technical challenges. Expect scenario-based questions related to scaling applications, ensuring reliability, and managing technical debt. You might also be asked to design a system or discuss a past technical project in detail.
**Interviewers look for:** Strategic technical thinking; Ability to design scalable and reliable systems; Sound judgment in technical decision-making; Understanding of software development best practices
**Evaluation criteria:** Technical leadership capabilities; System design and architecture knowledge; Problem-solving methodology; Ability to guide technical decisions
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to articulate technical vision; Lack of structured problem-solving approach; Poor understanding of system design principles; Weak delegation or mentorship skills
## Questions

- Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
- How would you improve the performance of a slow-loading web application?
- Describe a time you had to make a significant technical trade-off. What was the outcome?
- How do you ensure code quality and maintainability within a team?
- What are your thoughts on microservices vs. monolithic architectures?

## Preparation tips

- Review common system design patterns (e.g., microservices, caching, load balancing).
- Practice designing scalable systems for various use cases.
- Be prepared to discuss trade-offs in technical decisions.
- Refresh your knowledge of distributed systems concepts.
- Think about how you would lead a team through a complex technical initiative.

## Round 3: Hiring Manager Interview
**Type:** People Management & Leadership · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 60 min
Focuses on people management, leadership style, and team development.
This interview with your potential hiring manager will delve into your people management and leadership experience. You'll discuss how you build, motivate, and develop engineering teams, handle performance issues, foster collaboration, and drive strategic initiatives. Be prepared with specific examples using the STAR method to illustrate your skills in areas like delegation, conflict resolution, performance management, and career development.
**Interviewers look for:** Proven ability to lead and grow engineering teams; Effective communication and interpersonal skills; Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities; Alignment with Groupon's management principles
**Evaluation criteria:** People management philosophy and practice; Leadership effectiveness; Conflict resolution skills; Team development and coaching abilities; Strategic thinking and execution
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to provide concrete examples of people management; Poor conflict resolution skills; Lack of strategic thinking; Difficulty in motivating or developing teams
## Questions

- Describe a time you had to manage a conflict between two engineers on your team.
- How do you motivate your team during challenging projects?
- Walk me through your process for performance reviews and career development for your engineers.
- Tell me about a time you had to deliver difficult feedback to an engineer.
- How do you foster innovation and creativity within your team?
- How do you prioritize work for your team when faced with competing demands?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare detailed STAR examples for common management scenarios.
- Think about your leadership philosophy and how you empower your team.
- Consider how you handle difficult conversations and performance issues.
- Be ready to discuss your approach to hiring and retaining talent.
- Understand how you align team goals with broader business objectives.

## Round 4: Cross-functional Collaboration
**Type:** Cross-functional & Cultural Fit · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Evaluates collaboration, cultural alignment, and strategic thinking with peers.
This round assesses your ability to collaborate with peers and cross-functional partners, as well as your alignment with Groupon's culture. You'll likely discuss how you work with product managers, designers, and other engineering teams. Questions will focus on collaboration, communication, conflict resolution in a team setting, and your understanding of how engineering fits into the broader business strategy. You'll also be evaluated on your cultural fit and growth mindset.
**Interviewers look for:** Alignment with Groupon's core values; Ability to collaborate effectively across teams; Strategic perspective; Adaptability and learning agility
**Evaluation criteria:** Cultural alignment; Collaboration and teamwork; Strategic thinking; Problem-solving approach; Growth mindset
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of alignment with company culture; Poor collaboration skills; Inability to articulate strategic vision; Not demonstrating growth mindset
## Questions

- Describe a time you had a disagreement with a Product Manager. How did you resolve it?
- How do you ensure effective communication between your team and other departments?
- What is your approach to balancing technical debt with feature delivery?
- Tell me about a time you had to influence stakeholders without direct authority.
- How do you foster a culture of continuous learning within your team?

## Preparation tips

- Reflect on your collaboration experiences with non-engineering roles.
- Think about how you handle disagreements and find common ground.
- Understand Groupon's cultural values and how you embody them.
- Prepare examples that showcase your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills in a collaborative context.

## Round 5: Executive Interview
**Type:** Executive & Strategic · **Difficulty:** Hard · **Duration:** 45 min
Final discussion with senior leadership on strategic vision and overall fit.
This final interview is typically with a senior leader (e.g., VP of Engineering or CTO). The focus is on your strategic thinking, leadership vision, and overall fit within the company's senior leadership team. They will assess your ability to think big picture, align with the company's long-term goals, and lead effectively at a higher level. Be prepared to discuss your vision for engineering at Groupon and how you would contribute to the company's success.
**Interviewers look for:** High-level strategic thinking; Ability to lead and inspire larger groups; Alignment with company's long-term vision; Strong communication and influencing skills
**Evaluation criteria:** Strategic vision and alignment; Leadership potential; Executive presence; Cultural alignment at a senior level
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of alignment with senior leadership vision; Inability to articulate strategic priorities; Poor fit with senior leadership's expectations; Concerns about overall leadership potential
## Questions

- What is your vision for a high-performing engineering organization at Groupon?
- How would you contribute to Groupon's long-term strategic goals?
- Describe a time you had to lead a significant organizational change.
- What are the biggest challenges facing engineering leaders today?
- How do you foster a culture of accountability and high performance?

## Preparation tips

- Understand Groupon's overall business strategy and challenges.
- Formulate your vision for an engineering team at Groupon.
- Be prepared to discuss high-level technical and people strategies.
- Demonstrate executive presence and confidence.
- Ask insightful questions about the company's future direction.