# Software Engineering Manager
**Role:** Software Engineering Manager · **Level:** 13
**Company:** [Huawei](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/huawei)
**Difficulty:** High
**Salary:** US$180000 - US$250000
**Experience:** 8 - 15
**Timeline:** ~14 days
This interview process is for a Software Engineering Manager (Level 13) at Huawei. It assesses leadership, technical expertise, strategic thinking, and people management skills.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/huawei/13-software-engineering-manager
---
## Overall evaluation

- Leadership and Management
- Technical Acumen
- People Management
- Strategic Thinking

## Questions asked

- Tell me about a time you had to manage a difficult stakeholder. How did you handle it?
- Describe your approach to hiring and building a high-performing engineering team.
- How do you balance the need for innovation with the pressure to deliver on time?
- What is your strategy for mentoring and developing engineers on your team?
- How do you handle technical debt and ensure code quality within your team?
- Describe a situation where you had to make a difficult decision that impacted your team. What was the outcome?
- How do you foster a culture of collaboration and psychological safety within your team?
- What are your thoughts on the current trends in cloud computing and AI, and how would you leverage them?
- How do you measure the success of your team and your own performance as a manager?
- Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Thoroughly review your resume and be prepared to discuss every project and responsibility in detail.
- Understand Huawei's mission, values, and recent technological advancements.
- Research common software engineering management challenges and best practices.
- Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions.
- Familiarize yourself with agile development methodologies and your role within them.
- Practice articulating your leadership philosophy and management style.
- Be ready to discuss your approach to technical decision-making and problem-solving.
- Consider potential questions about managing conflict, motivating teams, and handling underperformance.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Foundation and Research","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Deep dive into Huawei's company culture, products, and recent news. Review your own career history, identifying key achievements and leadership experiences. Focus on understanding the core responsibilities of a Software Engineering Manager at Huawei. Begin researching common interview questions for management roles.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Huawei research, career review, management role understanding, initial interview question research."}
- {"title":"Leadership and People Management","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Focus on leadership and people management. Study theories on team dynamics, motivation, conflict resolution, and performance management. Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for behavioral questions related to these topics. Practice articulating your leadership philosophy.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Leadership theories, people management, STAR method practice, leadership philosophy articulation."}
- {"title":"Technical and Strategic Acumen","longDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Concentrate on technical and strategic aspects. Refresh your knowledge of software architecture, system design, and relevant technologies. Think about how you would set technical direction for a team and align it with business objectives. Prepare to discuss your approach to technical decision-making and problem-solving.","shortDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Technical refresh (architecture, system design), technical strategy, business alignment, problem-solving approach."}
- {"title":"Mock Interviews and Refinement","longDescription":"Week 7: Mock interviews. Practice answering common management questions, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and impact. Seek feedback from peers or mentors. Refine your answers and delivery based on the feedback. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer.","shortDescription":"Week 7: Mock interviews, feedback incorporation, question preparation for interviewer."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"North America","differences":{"tips":["Highlight experience with remote work tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Jira).","Emphasize your ability to foster team cohesion and engagement remotely.","Be prepared to discuss strategies for effective asynchronous communication."],"interviewFocus":["Remote team management strategies","Cross-cultural communication","Tools and techniques for distributed collaboration"],"commonQuestions":["How do you handle underperforming team members in a remote setting?","Describe a time you had to adapt your leadership style for a geographically distributed team.","What are the key challenges of managing a team across different time zones, and how do you mitigate them?"]}}
- {"location":"China","differences":{"tips":["Showcase your understanding of Huawei's organizational culture and values.","Provide examples of how you have successfully driven projects to completion.","Be ready to discuss your approach to performance management and feedback."],"interviewFocus":["Team motivation and alignment","Mentorship and career development","Execution and delivery in a structured environment"],"commonQuestions":["How do you ensure alignment and motivation within a team that has a strong hierarchical structure?","Describe your experience in mentoring junior engineers to take on leadership roles.","How do you balance project delivery with employee development in a fast-paced environment?"]}}

## Round 1: HR Screening and Cultural Fit
**Type:** HR Screening · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
HR screening to assess cultural fit and basic qualifications.
This initial round is conducted by an HR representative to assess your overall fit with Huawei's culture and values. They will explore your career aspirations, motivation for applying, and basic understanding of management principles. It's an opportunity to showcase your communication skills and enthusiasm for the role.
**Interviewers look for:** Enthusiasm for the role and Huawei; Basic understanding of management principles; Good communication and interpersonal skills; Alignment with company values
**Evaluation criteria:** Communication skills; Leadership potential; Cultural fit; Motivation and enthusiasm
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of clear leadership vision; Inability to articulate management philosophy; Poor communication skills; Failure to provide specific examples of leadership
## Questions

- Tell me about yourself and your career journey.
- Why are you interested in this Software Engineering Manager role at Huawei?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses as a manager?
- How do you stay updated with the latest technology trends?

## Preparation tips

- Research Huawei's mission, vision, and values.
- Prepare to talk about your career goals and why you are interested in this specific role.
- Be ready to share a brief overview of your management experience.
- Practice articulating your strengths and how they align with the job description.

## Round 2: Technical and System Design Interview
**Type:** Technical Interview · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 60 min
In-depth technical discussion on system design, architecture, and problem-solving.
This technical interview focuses on your ability to lead engineering teams from a technical perspective. You will be expected to discuss your experience with system design, architecture, and problem-solving. The interviewer will assess your technical judgment and your ability to guide your team through complex technical challenges.
**Interviewers look for:** Strong understanding of software architecture and design patterns; Ability to lead technical discussions and make sound technical decisions; Experience in mentoring and guiding engineers on technical challenges; Knowledge of best practices in software development
**Evaluation criteria:** Technical depth and breadth; System design capabilities; Problem-solving approach; Ability to mentor technical staff
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of technical depth in relevant areas; Inability to design scalable and robust systems; Poor problem-solving skills; Difficulty explaining technical concepts clearly
## Questions

- Design a system for [e.g., a URL shortener, a social media feed, a distributed cache]. Discuss scalability, reliability, and trade-offs.
- Describe a complex technical problem you encountered and how you solved it.
- How would you mentor a junior engineer who is struggling with a particular technology?
- What are your thoughts on microservices vs. monolithic architectures?

## Preparation tips

- Review common system design interview questions.
- Brush up on data structures, algorithms, and relevant programming languages.
- Think about challenging technical problems you've solved and how you approached them.
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with cloud technologies, distributed systems, and scalability.
- Understand the trade-offs involved in different technical decisions.

## Round 3: Leadership and People Management Interview
**Type:** Managerial Interview · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 60 min
Assessment of leadership, people management, and strategic thinking skills.
This round focuses on your leadership, people management, and strategic thinking capabilities. You'll discuss how you build and manage teams, set direction, handle performance issues, and contribute to the broader business strategy. The interviewer will assess your ability to operate at a managerial level and drive results through your team.
**Interviewers look for:** Proven ability to lead and motivate teams; Strategic vision for product development; Experience in managing performance and career development; Sound judgment and decision-making skills
**Evaluation criteria:** Leadership and people management skills; Strategic thinking and business acumen; Conflict resolution abilities; Decision-making process
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to demonstrate strategic thinking; Poor people management skills; Lack of experience in managing budgets or resources; Difficulty in handling conflict or difficult conversations
## Questions

- Describe a time you had to manage a conflict within your team. How did you resolve it?
- How do you set goals and measure the performance of your team?
- What is your strategy for developing the careers of your team members?
- How do you balance project deadlines with the need for innovation and technical excellence?
- Describe a time you had to deliver difficult feedback to a team member. How did you approach it?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare examples of how you have successfully managed teams, resolved conflicts, and driven projects to completion.
- Think about your leadership philosophy and how you foster a positive team environment.
- Be ready to discuss your approach to performance management, feedback, and career development.
- Consider how you align technical strategy with business goals.
- Practice articulating your vision for a team and its contribution to the company.

## Round 4: Offer and Compensation Discussion
**Type:** Offer and Compensation Discussion · **Difficulty:** Low · **Duration:** 15 min
Discussion on salary, benefits, and final logistics.
This is typically the final stage where HR discusses compensation, benefits, and any remaining logistical details. It's a chance to confirm mutual interest and ensure all expectations are aligned before extending an offer.
**Interviewers look for:** Confirmation of salary expectations; Understanding of the offered package; Final candidate interest and commitment
**Evaluation criteria:** Alignment on compensation and benefits; Candidate's understanding of the role's value
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of alignment on salary expectations; Unrealistic salary demands; Poor understanding of the role's compensation structure
## Questions

- What are your salary expectations for this role?
- Do you have any questions about the compensation or benefits package?

## Preparation tips

- Research typical salary ranges for Software Engineering Managers at your experience level in the relevant location.
- Be prepared to discuss your salary expectations.
- Understand the components of the compensation package (base salary, bonus, stock options, etc.).