# Software Engineering Manager
**Role:** Software Engineering Manager · **Level:** L5
**Company:** [Notion](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/notion)
**Difficulty:** High
**Salary:** US$170000 - US$220000
**Experience:** 5 - 10
**Timeline:** ~14 days
This interview process is designed to assess candidates for the Software Engineering Manager (L5) role at Notion. It evaluates technical leadership, people management, strategic thinking, and cultural fit.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/notion/l5-software-engineering-manager
---
## Overall evaluation

- Technical Acumen
- People Leadership
- Strategic Impact
- Cultural Fit & Communication

## Questions asked

- Tell me about a time you had to make a difficult decision that impacted your team. What was the outcome?
- How do you foster a culture of psychological safety within your team?
- Describe your approach to performance management and career development for your engineers.
- How do you handle underperformance on your team?
- Walk me through a complex technical challenge your team faced and how you led them through it.
- How do you prioritize competing demands and manage your team's roadmap?
- Describe a time you had to manage a conflict between team members. How did you resolve it?
- How do you stay updated on industry trends and ensure your team is adopting relevant technologies?
- What is your philosophy on giving and receiving feedback?
- How do you balance the needs of your team with the broader goals of the organization?
- Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
- How do you delegate tasks effectively?
- How do you measure the success of your team?
- Describe your experience with hiring and onboarding new engineers.
- How do you foster innovation and creativity within your team?

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Deeply understand Notion's mission, values, and product.
- Review common software engineering management interview questions, focusing on people, strategy, and execution.
- Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions.
- Brush up on system design principles and be ready to discuss trade-offs.
- Familiarize yourself with agile methodologies and best practices.
- Think about your leadership philosophy and how you foster a positive team culture.
- Understand how to manage conflict, provide feedback, and drive performance.
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with scaling teams and processes.
- Research Notion's engineering blog and recent company news.
- Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Company & Foundational Knowledge","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Focus on Notion's product, mission, and values. Understand the company culture and recent developments. 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.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Notion culture, values, product. Core SE principles. STAR method for behavioral questions."}
- {"title":"People Management & Leadership","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Deep dive into people management topics. Study coaching, mentoring, performance reviews, feedback delivery, and conflict resolution strategies. Practice articulating your leadership philosophy and how you build high-performing teams. Prepare examples for managing difficult conversations.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: People management, coaching, performance, conflict resolution. Leadership philosophy."}
- {"title":"Strategy & Execution","longDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Focus on strategic thinking and execution. Review product strategy, roadmap planning, prioritization frameworks, and stakeholder management. Practice system design questions and be ready to discuss architectural trade-offs. Understand how to align team goals with company objectives.","shortDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Strategy, roadmap, prioritization, stakeholders. System design. Team alignment."}
- {"title":"Mock Interviews & Refinement","longDescription":"Week 7: Mock interviews. Practice answering questions under timed conditions, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and impact. Get feedback on your responses and refine your approach. Review any areas you feel less confident in.","shortDescription":"Week 7: Mock interviews, feedback, refinement."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"Remote","differences":{"tips":["Highlight experience with remote team leadership and tools.","Provide specific examples of how you've successfully managed remote engineers.","Emphasize your ability to foster a strong team culture despite geographical distance."],"interviewFocus":["Remote team management strategies","Cross-functional collaboration in a distributed environment","Building trust and psychological safety remotely","Effective communication strategies for remote teams"],"commonQuestions":["How do you handle performance issues with a direct report in a remote setting?","Describe a time you had to manage a conflict between engineers on your team.","What are your strategies for fostering collaboration and innovation in a distributed team?","How do you ensure alignment with company-wide goals when your team is remote?","What tools and processes do you use to track team progress and identify bottlenecks in a remote environment?"]}}
- {"location":"Hybrid","differences":{"tips":["Showcase your ability to manage diverse work arrangements effectively.","Provide examples of how you've successfully integrated remote and in-office team members.","Discuss your understanding of the challenges and benefits of hybrid work models."],"interviewFocus":["Hybrid team dynamics and management","Balancing in-office and remote collaboration","Ensuring fairness and inclusion in a hybrid setup","Cross-time zone team management"],"commonQuestions":["How do you manage stakeholder expectations with teams located in different time zones?","Describe your experience with managing hybrid teams (mix of in-office and remote).","How do you ensure equitable opportunities and visibility for both in-office and remote team members?","What are your strategies for onboarding new engineers into a hybrid team structure?","How do you balance in-person collaboration with the need for asynchronous communication?"]}}
- {"location":"Office-based","differences":{"tips":["Highlight your experience in building cohesive and high-performing teams in an office setting.","Provide examples of how you've fostered a positive and collaborative office culture.","Emphasize your ability to drive results through effective in-person team management."],"interviewFocus":["In-office team leadership and culture building","Leveraging in-person collaboration for productivity","Managing team dynamics in a co-located environment","Driving innovation through face-to-face interaction"],"commonQuestions":["How do you foster a strong team culture and sense of belonging in an office environment?","Describe your approach to managing team performance and career growth for engineers working in close proximity.","How do you leverage the benefits of in-person collaboration for problem-solving and innovation?","What are your strategies for managing office-based team dynamics and resolving interpersonal conflicts?","How do you ensure effective communication and knowledge sharing within an office setting?"]}}

## Round 1: Recruiter Screen
**Type:** HR Screening · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Initial screening to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.
This initial screening call with a recruiter or HR representative aims to assess your overall fit for the role and Notion. They will ask about your background, motivations for applying, and understanding of the company. It's also an opportunity for you to ask initial questions about the role and the interview process.
**Interviewers look for:** Enthusiasm for Notion; Clear communication; Alignment with company values; Basic understanding of the role
**Evaluation criteria:** Communication skills; Cultural fit; Understanding of Notion's values; Motivation for the role
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of clear communication; Inability to provide specific examples; Poor understanding of people management principles; Difficulty articulating leadership philosophy; Not demonstrating alignment with Notion's values
## Questions

- Tell me about yourself.
- Why are you interested in Notion?
- Why are you looking to move from your current role?
- What are your salary expectations?
- What do you know about the Software Engineering Manager role here?

## Preparation tips

- Research Notion's mission, values, and product.
- Prepare a concise summary of your experience and why you're interested in this role.
- Have questions ready about the company culture, team, and role.
- Be prepared to discuss your salary expectations.

## Round 2: Technical & System Design Interview
**Type:** Technical Interview / System Design · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 60 min
Assesses technical depth, system design, and problem-solving skills.
This round focuses on your technical expertise and system design skills. You'll be asked to discuss your experience with designing scalable and robust systems, solving complex technical problems, and making sound architectural decisions. Expect a deep dive into your technical background and how you approach technical challenges.
**Interviewers look for:** Strong understanding of software architecture and design patterns; Ability to break down complex problems; Sound judgment in technical decision-making; Experience with scaling systems
**Evaluation criteria:** Technical depth and breadth; Problem-solving methodology; System design capabilities; Ability to lead technical discussions
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of technical depth; Inability to articulate technical decisions; Poor problem-solving approach; Weak system design skills; Difficulty explaining complex technical concepts
## Questions

- Design a system for [specific problem, e.g., a real-time notification service].
- How would you scale a web application to handle millions of users?
- Describe a challenging technical problem you solved. What was your approach?
- What are the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases?
- How do you approach code reviews and ensure code quality?

## Preparation tips

- Review system design principles (scalability, reliability, availability, performance).
- Practice designing common systems (e.g., URL shortener, social media feed, chat application).
- Be prepared to discuss trade-offs in design decisions.
- Brush up on data structures and algorithms, especially as they apply to system design.
- Think about your past technical challenges and how you overcame them.

## Round 3: Hiring Manager Interview
**Type:** People Management & Leadership Interview · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 60 min
Evaluates people management, leadership, and strategic thinking skills.
This interview focuses on your people management and leadership capabilities. You'll be asked behavioral questions about how you manage teams, develop talent, handle conflicts, and drive strategic initiatives. The interviewer will assess your ability to build and lead high-performing engineering teams.
**Interviewers look for:** Proven ability to lead and grow engineering teams; Effective communication and interpersonal skills; Strategic mindset and ability to align team with business goals; Empathy and understanding of team dynamics
**Evaluation criteria:** People management skills; Coaching and mentoring abilities; Conflict resolution strategies; Strategic thinking and planning; Team motivation and development
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to provide concrete examples of people management; Poor conflict resolution skills; Lack of strategic thinking; Difficulty in articulating team vision; Not demonstrating leadership potential
## Questions

- Describe your approach to managing a team of engineers.
- Tell me about a time you had to manage a difficult team member. How did you handle it?
- How do you foster career growth and development for your team members?
- What is your strategy for setting team goals and ensuring accountability?
- How do you handle disagreements within your team?
- Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders outside of your direct team.
- How do you ensure your team is productive and motivated?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for questions about managing people, conflict resolution, and strategic planning.
- Think about your leadership philosophy and how you foster a positive team culture.
- Be ready to discuss how you set goals, provide feedback, and manage performance.
- Consider how you align team objectives with broader business strategies.
- Reflect on your experience in hiring, onboarding, and retaining talent.

## Round 4: Peer/Cross-functional Interview
**Type:** Cross-functional Collaboration & Culture Fit · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Assesses collaboration skills and cultural alignment with peers.
This round assesses your ability to collaborate with peers and cross-functional partners. You'll discuss how you work with product managers, designers, and other engineering teams to achieve shared goals. It also evaluates your cultural fit and how you embody Notion's values.
**Interviewers look for:** Ability to collaborate effectively with peers and stakeholders; Strong communication and interpersonal skills; Alignment with Notion's values and culture; Proactive and solution-oriented mindset
**Evaluation criteria:** Collaboration skills; Cross-functional communication; Problem-solving approach; Cultural alignment; Growth mindset
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of alignment with Notion's culture; Poor collaboration skills; Inability to articulate vision; Not demonstrating a growth mindset; Poor communication with cross-functional partners
## Questions

- How do you collaborate with Product Managers?
- Describe a time you had a disagreement with a peer manager. How did you resolve it?
- How do you ensure alignment between engineering and product roadmaps?
- What does 'customer obsession' mean to you in an engineering context?
- How do you contribute to a positive team culture?

## Preparation tips

- Think about your experience working with product, design, and other engineering teams.
- Prepare examples of successful cross-functional collaborations.
- Reflect on how you handle disagreements with peers.
- Understand Notion's core values and how you demonstrate them in your work.
- Be ready to discuss your approach to problem-solving in a collaborative environment.

## Round 5: Director/VP of Engineering Interview
**Type:** Executive / Leadership Interview · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 60 min
Final interview with senior leadership to assess strategic vision and leadership.
This final interview with a senior leader (Director or VP) is to assess your strategic thinking, leadership vision, and overall fit for managing teams at Notion. They will probe your ability to think long-term, align with company strategy, and lead at a higher level. This is your chance to demonstrate your potential impact on the organization.
**Interviewers look for:** Long-term vision for engineering teams; Ability to influence and drive change; Sound judgment and decision-making; Understanding of business strategy and its impact on engineering
**Evaluation criteria:** Strategic thinking and vision; Leadership presence; Alignment with company goals; Ability to manage and grow a department; Decision-making at a higher level
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of strategic vision; Poor alignment with company direction; Inability to articulate long-term plans; Not demonstrating executive presence; Misalignment on team structure or priorities
## Questions

- What is your vision for an engineering team at Notion in the next 3-5 years?
- How would you approach building and scaling a new engineering team from scratch?
- How do you balance innovation with delivering on current commitments?
- What are the biggest challenges facing engineering leaders today, and how do you address them?
- How do you measure the success of your engineering managers?

## Preparation tips

- Understand Notion's long-term business strategy and how engineering contributes.
- Prepare to discuss your vision for growing and scaling engineering teams.
- Think about how you would contribute to the overall engineering organization's success.
- Be ready to discuss your leadership philosophy at a strategic level.
- Articulate how you handle ambiguity and drive results in a fast-paced environment.