Scale Engineer

L6

Software Engineering ManagerSr Eng ManagerHigh

This interview process is designed to assess candidates for a Senior Engineering Manager (L6) role at Uber. It evaluates technical leadership, people management, strategic thinking, and execution capabilities.

Rounds·4

Timeline·~4d

Experience·8 - 15 yrs

Comp band·US$180000 - US$250000

Interview time·210 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Technical depth and breadth
  • Problem-solving skills
  • System design and architecture understanding
  • Ability to make sound technical judgments

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Deeply understand Uber's mission, values, and recent product developments.
  2. Prepare to discuss your leadership philosophy and how you build and manage high-performing teams.
  3. Review common software engineering management challenges and how you've addressed them.
  4. Be ready to articulate your technical background and how it informs your management style.
  5. Practice explaining complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  6. Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions.
  7. Research common system design principles and be prepared to discuss trade-offs.
  8. Understand Uber's engineering culture and how you would contribute to it.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04
01

Phase 01 of 04

Management Fundamentals

Weeks 1-2: Leadership & Management Fundamentals. Study leadership theories, team dynamics, performance management, conflict resolution. Read 'The Manager's Path', 'Radical Candor'.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on foundational management principles. Study leadership theories, team dynamics, performance management frameworks, and conflict resolution strategies. Read books like 'The Manager's Path' and 'Radical Candor'.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Tell me about a time you had to make a difficult technical decision that impacted your team. What was the outcome?
  • How do you foster a culture of innovation and psychological safety within your team?
  • Describe your approach to hiring and building a diverse engineering team.
  • How do you handle underperforming engineers? Provide a specific example.
  • Walk me through a complex project you managed from inception to delivery. What were the key challenges and how did you overcome them?
  • How do you balance technical debt with new feature development?
  • Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders or senior leadership to adopt your team's technical vision.
  • How do you stay current with emerging technologies and ensure your team is leveraging them effectively?
  • What is your philosophy on code reviews and ensuring code quality?
  • Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
  • How do you prioritize work for your team when faced with competing demands?
  • Describe your experience with agile methodologies and how you adapt them to your team's needs.

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Remote/Hybrid

Interview focus

Remote team managementCross-time zone collaborationHybrid work culture

Common questions

  • How do you handle underperforming engineers in a remote setting?
  • Describe a time you had to drive a technical decision across multiple time zones.
  • What are your strategies for fostering team cohesion and collaboration in a hybrid work environment?

Tips

  • Highlight experience with distributed teams and asynchronous communication.
  • Provide examples of successfully managing projects with geographically dispersed teams.
  • Emphasize your ability to build strong relationships and foster a positive team culture remotely.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.

Med

HR / Hiring Manager Screen · 45 min · Hiring Manager / Recruiter

This is typically the first or last round, conducted by HR or the hiring manager. It focuses on your overall fit with Uber's culture, your motivations for joining, and your career aspirations. They will also assess your communication style and ensure you have a good understanding of the role and the company. This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions.

What they look for

Alignment with Uber's core valuesPassion for technology and leadershipClear communication and interpersonal skillsEnthusiasm for the role and the company

Evaluation

  • Cultural alignment
  • Motivation and career goals
  • Communication skills
  • Problem-solving approach

Sample questions

  • Why Uber?

    BehavioralMotivationCompany Fit

  • What are your strengths and weaknesses as a manager?

    BehavioralSelf-awareness

  • Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

    BehavioralCareer Goals

Prep for this round

  1. 01Research Uber's mission, vision, and values.
  2. 02Be prepared to discuss why you are interested in Uber and this specific role.
  3. 03Think about your career goals and how this role aligns with them.
  4. 04Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer.

Common rejection reasons

  • ×Poor cultural fit
  • ×Lack of alignment with Uber's values
  • ×Inability to articulate career aspirations
  • ×Weak communication skills

DSA

Coding questions at Uber.

Frequently reported on Uber loops

View all at Uber

Other guides

More at Uber.