This interview process is designed to assess candidates for the Software Engineering Manager (L3) role at Notion. It evaluates technical leadership, people management skills, strategic thinking, and cultural fit within Notion's collaborative and fast-paced environment.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~14d
Experience·5 - 10 yrs
Comp band·US$180000 - US$250000
Interview time·210 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Notion's culture, product, core SE principles, STAR method for behavioral questions.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on Notion's company culture, values, and product. Understand their engineering challenges and how they approach development. Review core software engineering principles and best practices. Begin preparing STAR method examples for common behavioral questions related to leadership, conflict resolution, and team building.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: System design, architecture, scalability, technical decision-making.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into system design and architecture. Study scalability, distributed systems, and common design patterns. Practice explaining complex technical concepts and trade-offs. Prepare for questions on technical decision-making and how you guide teams through architectural challenges.
Phase 03 of 04
Weeks 5-6: People management, hiring, coaching, conflict resolution, team motivation.
Weeks 5-6: Concentrate on people management and leadership. Review topics like performance management, hiring, coaching, mentoring, conflict resolution, and fostering a positive team environment. Prepare specific examples of your successes and challenges in these areas. Understand how to motivate and develop engineers at different career stages.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 7: Mock interviews, refining answers, career aspirations.
Week 7: Conduct mock interviews focusing on all aspects covered. Practice articulating your thoughts and responses clearly and concisely. Seek feedback and refine your answers. Ensure you are comfortable discussing your career progression and aspirations.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 02 locations
01 / 02Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
Recruiter Screen · 45 min · Recruiter/HR
This initial screening call with a recruiter aims to understand your background, career aspirations, and motivation for applying to Notion. They will assess your communication skills, cultural fit, and provide an overview of the role and the interview process. Be prepared to discuss your resume and why you are interested in this specific opportunity.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about yourself and your career journey.
Why are you interested in Notion and this specific role?
What are your salary expectations?
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a manager?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Technical & System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Engineering Manager
This round focuses on your technical expertise and system design capabilities. You will likely be asked to design a scalable system or solve a complex technical problem. The interviewer will assess your ability to break down problems, consider trade-offs, and communicate your design choices effectively.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system for [e.g., a real-time collaboration tool, a notification service].
How would you scale [a specific feature or service] to handle millions of users?
Discuss the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases for a given scenario.
How do you approach diagnosing and resolving performance bottlenecks in a distributed system?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
People Management & Leadership Interview · 60 min · Director of Engineering / VP of Engineering
This interview focuses on your people management and leadership philosophy. You'll be asked behavioral questions about how you manage teams, handle conflicts, develop talent, and drive strategic initiatives. The interviewer will assess your ability to build and lead high-performing engineering teams.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Describe a time you had to manage a conflict within your team. How did you resolve it?
How do you motivate your team during challenging projects?
Tell me about your experience with performance reviews and career development for engineers.
How do you ensure your team is aligned with the company's strategic goals?
Describe a time you had to make a difficult decision that impacted your team. What was the outcome?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Hiring Manager / Cross-Functional Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager (likely a peer or senior manager)
This interview, often with the hiring manager or a peer manager, assesses your overall fit within the team and Notion's culture. It will involve a mix of behavioral and situational questions, focusing on how you collaborate with other departments, handle ambiguity, and contribute to the broader engineering organization's goals.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
How do you collaborate with Product Managers and Designers?
Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders without direct authority.
How do you handle ambiguity and changing priorities?
What are your thoughts on the future of [relevant technology or industry]?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Notion loops
Other guides
