Scale Engineer

Software Engineering Manager

Software Engineering ManagerL2High

Verkada's Software Engineering Manager (L2) interview process is designed to assess a candidate's technical leadership, people management skills, and strategic thinking. It evaluates their ability to build and lead high-performing engineering teams, drive technical excellence, and contribute to the company's overall product vision.

Rounds·5

Timeline·~14d

Experience·5 - 8 yrs

Comp band·US$170000 - US$220000

Interview time·240 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Leadership and team building capabilities
  • Technical expertise and architectural vision
  • Problem-solving and decision-making skills
  • Communication and interpersonal skills
  • Strategic thinking and business acumen
  • Cultural fit and alignment with Verkada's values

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Deeply understand Verkada's mission, values, and products.
  2. Review common software engineering management interview questions, focusing on behavioral and situational examples.
  3. Prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to illustrate your experience.
  4. Brush up on system design principles, scalability, and distributed systems.
  5. Think about your leadership philosophy and how you foster a positive and productive team environment.
  6. Be ready to discuss your approach to hiring, performance management, and career development for engineers.
  7. Familiarize yourself with agile methodologies and project management best practices.
  8. Consider potential challenges in managing engineering teams and how you would address them.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 03 phases

01 / 03
01

Phase 01 of 03

Company & Behavioral Foundation

Weeks 1-2: Verkada culture, behavioral prep (STAR), core SWE principles.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on understanding Verkada's business, product, and engineering culture. Review company blogs, press releases, and product documentation. Begin preparing behavioral questions related to leadership, team management, conflict resolution, and decision-making using the STAR method. Study core software engineering principles and common interview topics.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Tell me about a time you had to manage a difficult stakeholder relationship. How did you handle it?
  • Describe your approach to hiring and building a high-performing engineering team.
  • How do you foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within your team?
  • Walk me through a complex technical project you led from conception to completion. What were the key challenges and how did you overcome them?
  • How do you balance the need for speed with the importance of code quality and technical debt?
  • Describe a situation where you had to make a significant technical decision with incomplete information. What was your process?
  • How do you mentor and develop engineers on your team, particularly those who are struggling or looking to grow?
  • What is your philosophy on performance management and providing constructive feedback?
  • How do you stay current with emerging technologies and ensure your team is leveraging the right tools?
  • Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it, and how did it change your approach?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Remote/Hybrid

Interview focus

Adaptability to remote/hybrid management stylesCross-cultural communication and collaborationTools and strategies for managing distributed teams

Common questions

  • How do you handle underperforming engineers in a remote setting?
  • Describe a time you had to manage a conflict between engineers on different continents.
  • What are your strategies for fostering team cohesion and collaboration in a hybrid work environment?

Tips

  • Highlight experience with global teams and remote work best practices.
  • Be prepared to discuss specific tools and methodologies for managing distributed engineering efforts.
  • Emphasize your ability to build strong relationships and foster a positive team culture regardless of location.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

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

Med

Recruiter Screen · 30 min · Recruiter/HR

This initial screening call with a recruiter aims to assess your overall fit for the role and Verkada. The recruiter will discuss your background, career aspirations, and motivation for applying. They will also provide an overview of the company and the interview process. This is a good opportunity to ask clarifying questions about the role and the company culture.

What they look for

Positive attitudeClear communicationGenuine interest in VerkadaAlignment with company values

Evaluation

  • Communication skills
  • Cultural fit
  • Enthusiasm for the role and company
  • Basic understanding of the role's requirements

Sample questions

  • Tell me about yourself and your career path.

    BehavioralIntroduction

  • Why are you interested in Verkada and this Software Engineering Manager role?

    BehavioralMotivation

  • What are your salary expectations?

    Logistics

  • What are your strengths and weaknesses as a manager?

    BehavioralSelf-awareness

Prep for this round

  1. 01Research Verkada's mission, values, and recent news.
  2. 02Prepare a concise summary of your career journey and why you're interested in this specific role.
  3. 03Be ready to discuss your salary expectations.
  4. 04Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the recruiter.

Common rejection reasons

  • ×Lack of clear communication
  • ×Inability to provide specific examples
  • ×Poor listening skills
  • ×Negative attitude or lack of enthusiasm

DSA

Coding questions at Verkada.

Frequently reported on Verkada loops

View all at Verkada

Other guides

More at Verkada.