# Software Engineering Manager
**Role:** Software Engineering Manager · **Level:** M8
**Company:** [Unity](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/unity)
**Difficulty:** High
**Salary:** US$180000 - US$250000
**Experience:** 8 - 15
**Timeline:** ~14 days
This interview process is designed to assess candidates for a Software Engineering Manager (M8 level) position at Unity. It evaluates technical leadership, people management skills, strategic thinking, and cultural fit within Unity's collaborative and innovative environment.
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/interviews/unity/m8-software-engineering-manager
---
## Overall evaluation

- Technical and Leadership Capabilities
- Problem Solving and Adaptability

## Questions asked

- Describe a time you had to make a difficult decision that impacted your team. What was the outcome?
- How do you balance the need for technical excellence with the pressure to deliver features quickly?
- Tell me about a time you had to manage a conflict within your team. How did you resolve it?
- What is your approach to mentoring and developing engineers at different career stages?
- How do you foster a culture of innovation and psychological safety within your team?
- Describe a situation where you had to influence stakeholders outside of your direct reporting line.
- How do you measure the success of your team?
- What are your strategies for attracting and retaining top engineering talent?
- Tell me about a significant technical challenge your team faced and how you guided them through it.
- How do you stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies?

## Preparation tips

### lists

- Review Unity's mission, values, and recent product developments.
- Understand the challenges and opportunities facing game development and real-time 3D.
- Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions.
- Brush up on core software engineering principles and management best practices.
- Think about your leadership philosophy and how it aligns with Unity's culture.
- Research common challenges faced by engineering managers at scale.

### studyPlan

- {"title":"Technical Foundation and Company Understanding","longDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Deep dive into Unity's technology stack, products (Unity Engine, Unity Cloud, etc.), and strategic direction. Understand the competitive landscape. Review core software engineering principles and common architectural patterns. Focus on understanding the M8 level expectations for technical leadership and decision-making.","shortDescription":"Weeks 1-2: Unity Tech & Strategy, Software Engineering Fundamentals."}
- {"title":"People Management and Leadership Skills","longDescription":"Weeks 3-4: Focus on people management skills. Study leadership theories, performance management, conflict resolution, coaching, and career development frameworks. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams, mentored individuals, and fostered a positive team culture. Review common challenges in managing engineering teams.","shortDescription":"Weeks 3-4: People Management, Leadership, Coaching."}
- {"title":"Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving","longDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Develop strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. Practice articulating your vision for an engineering team, aligning it with business goals. Prepare for questions related to project management, resource allocation, risk assessment, and cross-functional collaboration. Consider how you would scale teams and processes.","shortDescription":"Weeks 5-6: Strategic Thinking, Problem Solving, Project Management."}
- {"title":"Final Preparation and Mock Interviews","longDescription":"Week 7: Final preparation. Conduct mock interviews focusing on behavioral questions, technical scenarios, and leadership challenges. Refine your STAR method responses. Ensure you have clear examples for each key competency. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers.","shortDescription":"Week 7: Mock Interviews, STAR Method Refinement, Question Preparation."}

## Location differences

- {"location":"Remote/Hybrid","differences":{"tips":["Highlight experience with distributed teams and asynchronous communication.","Be prepared to discuss tools and methodologies for remote collaboration.","Emphasize your ability to build strong relationships without physical proximity."],"interviewFocus":["Remote team management strategies","Cross-cultural communication","Building trust in a distributed environment"],"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 team members located in different time zones.","What are your strategies for fostering team cohesion and collaboration in a hybrid work model?"]}}
- {"location":"On-site (e.g., San Francisco, Copenhagen)","differences":{"tips":["Provide examples of how you've leveraged in-person interactions for team building and problem-solving.","Discuss your experience with agile methodologies in a co-located setting.","Showcase your ability to create an engaging and productive office environment."],"interviewFocus":["On-site team dynamics","Mentorship and career development for co-located engineers","Driving productivity in a shared workspace"],"commonQuestions":["How do you foster innovation within a co-located engineering team?","Describe your approach to managing a team with a mix of junior and senior engineers in an office environment.","How do you ensure alignment and efficient communication within a physical team space?"]}}

## Round 1: HR Screening
**Type:** HR/Recruiter Screen · **Difficulty:** Medium · **Duration:** 45 min
Initial screening with HR to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.
This initial round is conducted by a member of our Talent Acquisition team. The goal is to understand your background, career aspirations, and motivation for joining Unity. We'll discuss your resume in detail, assess your communication skills, and determine if there's a mutual fit for the role and our company culture. This is also an opportunity for you to learn more about Unity and the specific position.
**Interviewers look for:** Enthusiasm for Unity and the role; Clear communication style; Basic alignment with company values; Professionalism
**Evaluation criteria:** Communication skills; Cultural alignment; Motivation and enthusiasm; Basic understanding of the role
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of clear communication; Inability to provide specific examples using STAR method; Poor cultural fit; Lack of demonstrated leadership potential
## Questions

- Tell me about yourself and your career progression.
- Why are you interested in this Software Engineering Manager role at Unity?
- What do you know about Unity and our products?
- Describe your ideal work environment.

## Preparation tips

- Be ready to talk about your career journey and why you're interested in this specific role at Unity.
- Prepare concise answers to common behavioral questions.
- Have questions ready about the role, the team, and Unity's culture.

## Round 2: Technical Interview
**Type:** Technical Deep Dive · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 60 min
Assesses technical depth, system design capabilities, and problem-solving skills.
This round focuses on your technical expertise and ability to lead technical initiatives. You'll be asked to discuss your experience with software architecture, system design, and technical problem-solving. Expect questions that probe your understanding of complex technical challenges and how you guide your teams to find robust solutions. This may involve discussing past projects or hypothetical scenarios.
**Interviewers look for:** Strong technical foundation; Ability to think critically and analytically; Experience in designing scalable systems; Leadership in technical contexts
**Evaluation criteria:** Technical leadership and decision-making; Problem-solving skills; System design and architecture understanding; Ability to guide technical discussions
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of technical depth; Inability to articulate technical solutions clearly; Poor problem-solving approach; Weak understanding of system design principles
## Questions

- Design a system for [specific Unity-related feature, e.g., a collaborative editing tool]. Discuss scalability, reliability, and potential bottlenecks.
- Describe a complex technical problem you solved as a manager. What was your role?
- How do you ensure code quality and maintainability within your team?
- Walk me through a challenging debugging scenario you managed.

## Preparation tips

- Review common system design patterns and architectural principles.
- Be prepared to discuss technical challenges you've faced and how you overcame them.
- Think about how you delegate technical tasks and ensure quality.
- Refresh your knowledge on scalability, performance, and reliability concepts.

## Round 3: People Management Interview
**Type:** People Management Interview · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 60 min
Focuses on leadership, team management, conflict resolution, and career development.
This interview focuses on your experience and approach to managing engineering teams. We'll delve into your leadership style, how you handle performance issues, motivate your team, foster collaboration, and develop individual careers. Expect behavioral questions that require you to share specific examples of your management successes and challenges.
**Interviewers look for:** Proven ability to lead and develop people; Strong understanding of team dynamics; Empathy and emotional intelligence; Strategic vision for team growth and alignment
**Evaluation criteria:** People management skills; Leadership philosophy; Conflict resolution; Mentorship and career development; Strategic team building
**Common rejection reasons:** Inability to provide concrete examples of people management; Lack of empathy or understanding of team dynamics; Poor conflict resolution skills; Failure to demonstrate strategic thinking for team growth
## Questions

- Tell me about a time you had to manage an underperforming employee. What steps did you take?
- How do you motivate your team, especially during challenging projects?
- Describe a time you had to resolve a conflict between team members.
- How do you approach career development and mentorship for your engineers?
- What is your strategy for building a diverse and inclusive engineering team?

## Preparation tips

- Prepare detailed examples using the STAR method for common people management scenarios (e.g., performance improvement, conflict resolution, motivation).
- Think about your philosophy on building and scaling engineering teams.
- Be ready to discuss how you delegate, provide feedback, and conduct performance reviews.
- Consider how you foster a positive and inclusive team culture.

## Round 4: Strategic and Managerial Interview
**Type:** Managerial / Director Interview · **Difficulty:** High · **Duration:** 60 min
Assesses strategic thinking, business acumen, and cross-functional collaboration.
In this final technical and strategic discussion, you'll meet with a senior leader to discuss your overall approach to engineering management, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration. We'll explore your vision for the team, how you align engineering efforts with business objectives, and your ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics. This is a chance to demonstrate your leadership potential at a higher level.
**Interviewers look for:** Ability to think strategically and connect team goals to business objectives; Experience working with product management, design, and other departments; Understanding of the broader business context; A clear vision for leading an engineering team at Unity
**Evaluation criteria:** Strategic thinking and planning; Cross-functional collaboration; Business acumen; Alignment with Unity's long-term goals; Vision for the team's future
**Common rejection reasons:** Lack of strategic vision; Poor alignment with company goals; Inability to articulate a clear plan for the team; Insufficient experience in cross-functional collaboration
## Questions

- How would you align your team's roadmap with Unity's product strategy?
- Describe a time you collaborated effectively with Product Management or other departments. What was the outcome?
- What is your vision for the future of engineering at Unity?
- How do you handle competing priorities from different stakeholders?

## Preparation tips

- Think about how you would set goals and priorities for an engineering team at Unity.
- Prepare examples of successful cross-functional projects you've led.
- Understand Unity's business strategy and how engineering contributes to it.
- Be ready to discuss your long-term vision for an engineering team.