Verkada's Software Engineering Manager (L3) interview process is designed to assess a candidate's technical leadership, people management skills, and strategic thinking. The process typically involves multiple rounds, including HR screening, technical interviews, system design, behavioral interviews, and a final managerial interview. The goal is to identify candidates who can effectively lead engineering teams, drive technical excellence, and contribute to Verkada's growth.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~14d
Experience·4 - 7 yrs
Comp band·US$170000 - US$220000
Interview time·195 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 03 phases
01 / 03Phase 01 of 03
Weeks 1-2: Verkada research, resume review, STAR method practice, CS fundamentals.
Weeks 1-2: Deep dive into Verkada's company, products, and recent news. Review your own career history, identifying key achievements and leadership examples. Begin practicing behavioral questions using the STAR method, focusing on leadership, conflict resolution, and team building. Study core computer science concepts and data structures.
Phase 02 of 03
Weeks 3-4: System design practice, management scenarios, hiring and performance review prep.
Weeks 3-4: Focus on system design principles and common architectural patterns. Practice designing scalable and reliable systems. Review common software engineering manager interview questions related to team management, hiring, performance reviews, and project planning. Prepare specific examples for each.
Phase 03 of 03
Week 5: Mock interviews, question preparation, final review.
Week 5: Conduct mock interviews with peers or mentors, simulating the actual interview environment. Refine your answers and delivery. Prepare a list of insightful questions to ask the interviewers. Final review of all preparation materials.
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.
HR Screening · 30 min · Recruiter/HR
This initial round is conducted by a recruiter or HR representative to assess your overall fit for the role and Verkada. They will discuss your background, career aspirations, and motivation for applying. This is also an opportunity for you to learn more about the company and the specific role. Expect questions about your resume, why you're interested in Verkada, and your general management philosophy.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about yourself and your career journey.
Why are you interested in Verkada and this Software Engineering Manager role?
What are your salary expectations?
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a manager?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Technical Interview / System Design · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer or Engineering Manager
This round focuses on your technical expertise and problem-solving abilities. You'll likely be asked to discuss past technical challenges, design systems, or solve coding problems. The interviewer will assess your ability to think critically, break down complex problems, and communicate technical solutions effectively. For an SEM role, this might involve discussing how you'd guide your team through technical decisions.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a URL shortening service like TinyURL.
Given a large dataset, how would you find the top K most frequent elements?
Describe a complex technical problem you solved. What was your approach?
How would you evaluate the performance of a distributed caching system?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Managerial Interview · 60 min · Director of Engineering or Senior Engineering Manager
This round delves into your experience as a people manager. You'll be asked behavioral questions about how you've handled various management scenarios, such as motivating your team, resolving conflicts, managing performance, and fostering career growth. 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
Describe a time you had to manage a conflict within your team. What was your approach and the outcome?
How do you motivate engineers who are facing challenging projects or deadlines?
Walk me through your process for hiring new engineers.
Tell me about a time you had to give difficult feedback to an engineer. How did you handle it?
How do you delegate tasks effectively to your team members?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Managerial / Leadership Interview · 45 min · Director of Engineering or VP of Engineering
This final round assesses your strategic thinking, product sense, and ability to collaborate across different 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 at a higher level, influencing decisions and driving impact across the organization.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
How would you prioritize features for a new product launch, balancing technical feasibility and market needs?
Describe a time you had a disagreement with a Product Manager. How did you resolve it?
What is your vision for a high-performing engineering team at Verkada?
How do you stay updated on industry trends and incorporate them into your team's work?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Verkada loops
Other guides
