This interview process is designed to assess candidates for the Software Engineering Manager (L5) role at Samsara. It evaluates technical leadership, people management skills, strategic thinking, and cultural fit.
Rounds·5
Timeline·~14d
Experience·6 - 10 yrs
Comp band·US$170000 - US$220000
Interview time·270 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Research Samsara, IoT industry. Review system design basics.
Weeks 1-2: Deep dive into Samsara's business, products, and engineering culture. Review company blog posts, press releases, and open-source contributions. Familiarize yourself with the IoT and connected operations space. Begin reviewing foundational system design concepts and common architectural patterns.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: People management principles, STAR method for behavioral questions.
Weeks 3-4: Focus on people management principles. Study topics like performance management, conflict resolution, coaching, career development, and effective feedback. Prepare behavioral examples using the STAR method for common management scenarios.
Phase 03 of 04
Weeks 5-6: Technical leadership, distributed systems, system design practice.
Weeks 5-6: Concentrate on technical leadership and strategy. Review distributed systems, scalability, reliability, and common technology stacks relevant to Samsara. Practice articulating technical vision and roadmap planning. Prepare for system design questions related to large-scale applications.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 7: Mock interviews, refine answers, focus on leadership philosophy.
Week 7: Mock interviews focusing on all aspects: technical, behavioral, and managerial. Seek feedback and refine your answers. Ensure you can clearly articulate your leadership philosophy and how you align with Samsara's values.
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 Samsara. They will assess your general fit for the role and the company culture, and provide an overview of the interview process. Be prepared to discuss your resume and why you're 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 Samsara and this Software Engineering Manager role?
What are your salary expectations?
What are you looking for in your next role?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Technical Interview / System Design · 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, discuss architectural trade-offs, and solve complex technical problems. The interviewer will assess your ability to think through requirements, constraints, and potential solutions in a structured manner.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system to handle real-time analytics for a fleet of vehicles.
How would you design a notification service for a large-scale application?
Discuss the trade-offs between SQL and NoSQL databases for a specific use case.
How would you approach debugging a performance issue in a distributed system?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
People Management Interview · 60 min · Director of Engineering / Senior Engineering Manager
This interview focuses on your people management and leadership skills. You'll be asked behavioral questions about how you've managed teams, handled conflicts, developed engineers, and driven team performance. The interviewer wants to understand your leadership philosophy and your ability to build and maintain a high-performing engineering team.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had to manage an underperforming engineer. What steps did you take?
How do you foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning within your team?
Describe a situation where you had to resolve a conflict between team members. What was your approach?
How do you prioritize tasks and projects for your team?
What is your approach to mentoring and career development for your engineers?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Managerial / Strategic Interview · 60 min · Director/VP of Engineering or Product
This interview assesses your strategic thinking, product sense, and ability to collaborate across functions. You'll discuss how you align engineering efforts with business goals, contribute to product strategy, and work with other departments like Product Management and Design. The interviewer wants to see if you can operate effectively at a higher level and contribute to the company's overall success.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
How would you work with Product Management to define and prioritize the roadmap for your team?
Describe a time you had to make a difficult technical decision that impacted the product. How did you approach it?
How do you ensure your team's work is aligned with the company's overall business objectives?
What are your thoughts on the future of connected operations and Samsara's role in it?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Executive/Final Interview · 45 min · Senior Leader (e.g., VP of Engineering, CTO)
This final interview is typically with a senior leader at Samsara. It's a chance for them to get to know you better, assess your leadership philosophy, and ensure you are a strong cultural fit for the company. They will also be looking for your vision and passion for the role and Samsara's mission. This is also your opportunity to ask high-level questions about the company's direction.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
What are Samsara's core values, and how do you embody them in your leadership?
What is your vision for an engineering team at Samsara in the next 2-3 years?
Tell me about a time you had to lead through significant change or uncertainty.
What motivates you as a leader?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Samsara loops
Other guides
