The Software Engineering Manager interview at MakeMyTrip is designed to assess a candidate's leadership capabilities, technical expertise, people management skills, and strategic thinking. It evaluates their ability to lead engineering teams, drive technical projects, foster a positive engineering culture, and contribute to the company's overall technical vision.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~14d
Experience·7 - 15 yrs
Comp band·US$180000 - US$250000
Interview time·210 min
Evaluation
What they measure.
Leadership potential and vision
Ability to inspire and motivate teams
Strategic thinking and decision-making
Communication and interpersonal skills
Technical depth and breadth
Understanding of software development lifecycle
Ability to guide technical architecture and design
Problem-solving skills
People management skills
Performance management and feedback
Team building and conflict resolution
Mentorship and career development
Alignment with MakeMyTrip's values and culture
Adaptability and resilience
Business acumen and understanding of product goals
Collaboration and stakeholder management
Preparation
How to prepare.
Tips
01Deeply understand MakeMyTrip's business, products, and engineering challenges.
02Review common software engineering management interview questions and practice your answers.
03Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to illustrate your experience.
04Brush up on your technical fundamentals, especially in areas relevant to MakeMyTrip's technology stack.
05Think about your leadership philosophy and how you build and manage high-performing teams.
06Be ready to discuss your experiences with scaling teams, managing budgets, and driving technical strategy.
07Understand the company's culture and values, and be prepared to articulate how you align with them.
08Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers about the role, team, and company.
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 05 phases
01 / 05
01
Phase 01 of 05
Company and Technical Foundation
Understand MakeMyTrip's business and tech. Review SE principles.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on understanding MakeMyTrip's business model, key products (flights, hotels, holiday packages), recent news, and competitive landscape. Research their technology stack and engineering culture. Review core software engineering principles and best practices.
02
Phase 02 of 05
Leadership and People Management
Study leadership and people management. Prepare STAR examples.
Weeks 3-4: Dive deep into leadership and people management concepts. Study topics like team building, performance management, conflict resolution, delegation, motivation, and career development. Prepare examples using the STAR method for common management scenarios.
03
Phase 03 of 05
Technical Strategy and System Design
Focus on technical strategy and system design. Practice system design.
Weeks 5-6: Focus on technical strategy and system design. Understand how to scale systems, manage technical debt, and make architectural decisions. Review common system design interview questions relevant to e-commerce and travel platforms. Practice articulating technical trade-offs.
04
Phase 04 of 05
Behavioral and Situational Preparedness
Prepare for behavioral and situational questions. Practice articulating decisions.
Week 7: Prepare for behavioral and situational questions. Think about your past experiences related to handling failure, managing difficult stakeholders, driving change, and fostering innovation. Practice articulating your thought process and decision-making.
05
Phase 05 of 05
Mock Interviews and Final Preparation
Conduct mock interviews and refine answers. Prepare questions.
Week 8: Mock interviews with peers or mentors. Simulate the interview environment and get feedback on your responses, communication style, and overall presentation. Refine your answers and prepare insightful questions for the interviewers.
Questions
Commonly asked.
Describe your experience in managing software engineering teams. What is your leadership philosophy?
How do you foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within your team?
Tell me about a time you had to deal with a conflict within your team. How did you resolve it?
How do you prioritize technical initiatives and manage competing demands?
Describe a challenging project you led. What were the key challenges, and how did you overcome them?
How do you ensure the quality and scalability of the software developed by your team?
What is your approach to performance management and career development for your engineers?
How do you stay updated with the latest technology trends and ensure your team is leveraging them effectively?
Describe a time you had to make a difficult technical decision with incomplete information.
How do you balance the need for speed with the need for quality and stability?
What are your strategies for attracting and retaining top engineering talent?
How do you collaborate with product managers and other stakeholders to achieve business goals?
Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
How do you handle underperforming team members?
What are your thoughts on agile methodologies and how do you implement them effectively?
Locations
Regional differences.
Fig · Regions — 02 locations
01 / 02
Location
Gurugram
Interview focus
Remote team management strategiesCross-cultural communicationBuilding team cohesion in a distributed environment
Common questions
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 and benefits of managing a hybrid engineering team at MakeMyTrip's scale?
Tips
Highlight experience with remote collaboration tools and methodologies.
Provide examples of successfully managing diverse and distributed teams.
Showcase understanding of MakeMyTrip's global presence and its implications for engineering management.
Location
Bangalore
Interview focus
Talent acquisition and retention strategiesBuilding high-performing teams in a competitive marketDriving innovation and technical excellence
Common questions
How do you foster innovation within a team located in a specific tech hub like Bangalore?
Describe your experience in scaling engineering teams in a competitive talent market.
What are the unique challenges and opportunities of managing an engineering team in India's startup ecosystem?
Tips
Emphasize your track record in hiring and retaining top engineering talent.
Share examples of how you've fostered a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
Demonstrate knowledge of the Indian tech landscape and MakeMyTrip's position within it.
Rounds
Round-by-round.
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
Med
HR Screening · 45 min · HR Recruiter
This initial round is conducted by an HR representative to assess your overall fit with MakeMyTrip's culture and values. They will explore your career aspirations, motivation for applying, and general understanding of the role. It's an opportunity to showcase your personality and enthusiasm for joining the company.
What they look for
Enthusiasm for the role and MakeMyTripClear communicationBasic understanding of management principlesAlignment with company values
Evaluation
Communication skills
Leadership potential
Cultural fit
Initial assessment of management style
Sample questions
Tell me about yourself and your career journey.
BehavioralIntroduction
Why are you interested in MakeMyTrip and this Engineering Manager role?
MotivationCompany Fit
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a leader?
Self-awarenessLeadership
Describe a time you had to work with a difficult colleague. How did you handle it?
BehavioralConflict Resolution
What are your salary expectations?
Compensation
Prep for this round
01Research MakeMyTrip's mission, vision, and values.
02Prepare to talk about your career goals and why you're interested in this specific role.
03Be ready to share examples of how you've demonstrated leadership and teamwork in previous roles.
04Practice articulating your strengths and how they align with the requirements of an Engineering Manager.
05Prepare questions to ask the HR representative about the company culture, team, and the interview process.
Common rejection reasons
×Lack of clear leadership vision
×Inability to articulate management philosophy
×Poor communication or interpersonal skills
×Lack of empathy or understanding of team dynamics
High
Technical And System Design · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Architect
This round focuses on your technical expertise and system design capabilities. You'll be asked to design a system or solve complex technical problems relevant to MakeMyTrip's domain (e.g., booking systems, recommendation engines). The interviewer will assess your ability to think critically, make sound technical decisions, and communicate your thought process effectively.
What they look for
Strong understanding of software architecture and design patternsAbility to design scalable and reliable systemsLogical thinking and problem-solving skillsClear communication of technical ideas
Evaluation
Technical depth and breadth
System design capabilities
Problem-solving approach
Ability to articulate technical solutions
Sample questions
Design a flight booking system for MakeMyTrip.
System DesignScalabilityConcurrency
How would you design a recommendation engine for hotel suggestions?
System DesignMachine LearningData Engineering
Discuss the trade-offs between microservices and monolithic architectures in the context of a travel platform.
ArchitectureTrade-offs
How would you ensure high availability and fault tolerance for MakeMyTrip's website?
System DesignReliabilityDevOps
Given a scenario of sudden traffic surge, how would you scale the booking system?
ScalabilityPerformance Tuning
Prep for this round
01Review system design principles, scalability, availability, and reliability concepts.
02Practice designing common systems like ride-sharing apps, social media feeds, or e-commerce platforms.
03Understand trade-offs in system design (e.g., consistency vs. availability).
04Be prepared to discuss your experience with various technologies and architectural patterns.
05Think about how to apply these concepts to MakeMyTrip's specific business needs.
Common rejection reasons
×Lack of technical depth
×Inability to design scalable systems
×Poor problem-solving skills
×Difficulty in explaining technical concepts clearly
High
People Management And Leadership · 60 min · Hiring Manager (Director/VP of Engineering)
This round is with the hiring manager, who will delve deeper into your people management and leadership experience. You'll discuss how you build and motivate teams, handle performance issues, foster a positive work environment, and align team goals with business objectives. Expect behavioral questions focused on your past management experiences.
What they look for
Proven ability to build, lead, and mentor engineering teamsEffective strategies for performance management and feedbackSkills in conflict resolution and team buildingUnderstanding of career development paths for engineers
Evaluation
People management skills
Team leadership and motivation
Performance management
Conflict resolution
Strategic thinking in team development
Sample questions
Describe your approach to performance management. How do you give feedback?
People ManagementFeedback
Tell me about a time you had to manage an underperforming engineer. What steps did you take?
BehavioralPerformance Management
How do you motivate your team, especially during challenging times?
LeadershipMotivation
Describe a situation where you had to resolve a conflict between team members.
BehavioralConflict Resolution
How do you foster career growth and development within your team?
People ManagementMentorship
How do you delegate tasks effectively?
LeadershipDelegation
Prep for this round
01Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for scenarios involving team management, conflict resolution, performance reviews, and career development.
02Think about your philosophy on building high-performing teams.
03Be ready to discuss how you delegate tasks and empower your team members.
04Consider how you foster a culture of psychological safety and continuous learning.
05Prepare to talk about your experience with hiring and onboarding new team members.
Common rejection reasons
×Inability to manage team performance effectively
×Poor conflict resolution skills
×Lack of strategic thinking in people management
×Difficulty in motivating and developing engineers
High
Strategic And Leadership · 45 min · Senior Leadership (Director/VP/CTO)
In this round, you'll meet with senior leadership to discuss your strategic thinking, business acumen, and ability to align engineering with broader company goals. They will assess your understanding of the travel industry, your vision for the engineering team, and how you handle cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management. This is a high-level discussion about your potential impact on the organization.
What they look for
Ability to think strategically and align engineering efforts with business objectivesExperience in influencing stakeholders and driving changeUnderstanding of product roadmaps and market dynamicsCapacity to manage budgets and resources effectively
Evaluation
Strategic thinking
Business acumen
Cross-functional collaboration
Problem-solving at a higher level
Alignment with company strategy
Sample questions
What is your vision for the engineering team at MakeMyTrip in the next 2-3 years?
VisionStrategy
How do you balance technical debt with the need to deliver new features quickly?
StrategyTechnical Debt
Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders outside of engineering. How did you approach it?
BehavioralStakeholder Management
How do you measure the success of your engineering team?
MetricsPerformance Measurement
What are the biggest challenges facing the travel tech industry today, and how can MakeMyTrip address them?
Industry TrendsBusiness Acumen
Prep for this round
01Understand MakeMyTrip's business strategy, market position, and future growth plans.
02Think about how technology can drive business value and competitive advantage.
03Prepare examples of how you've influenced product roadmaps or strategic decisions.
04Be ready to discuss your experience in managing budgets, resources, and cross-functional projects.
05Articulate your vision for an engineering team at MakeMyTrip.