This interview process is designed to assess candidates for a Software Engineering Manager (M3 level) position at Workday. It evaluates technical leadership, people management skills, strategic thinking, and cultural fit.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~14d
Experience·8 - 15 yrs
Comp band·US$180000 - US$250000
Interview time·210 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Workday research, Agile/Scrum, leadership theories.
Weeks 1-2: Deep dive into Workday's business, products, and engineering culture. Review company values and recent news. Familiarize yourself with common Agile/Scrum practices and leadership theories.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: Behavioral preparation (STAR method), leadership examples.
Weeks 3-4: Focus on behavioral interview preparation. Identify key leadership and management experiences and structure them using the STAR method. Practice articulating your strengths and weaknesses.
Phase 03 of 04
Weeks 5-6: Technical concepts, system design, scalability, code quality.
Weeks 5-6: Prepare for technical and system design discussions. Review common architectural patterns, scalability challenges, and performance optimization techniques. Think about how you would manage technical debt and ensure code quality.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 7: Strategic thinking, business alignment, budget management, question preparation.
Week 7: Focus on strategic thinking and business acumen. Consider how you align engineering efforts with business goals, manage budgets, and make strategic decisions. Prepare questions for the interviewers.
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/Recruiter Screen · 45 min · Recruiter/HR
This initial round is conducted by a recruiter or HR representative to assess your overall fit with Workday's culture and values, your career aspirations, and your basic qualifications for the Software Engineering Manager role. They will also provide an overview of the interview process and answer any initial questions you may have.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about yourself and your career journey.
Why are you interested in Workday and this specific role?
What are your salary expectations?
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a manager?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Technical Deep Dive / System Design · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer/Architect
This round focuses on your technical depth and system design capabilities. You will be asked to discuss architectural choices, trade-offs, scalability considerations, and how you would approach technical challenges. This may involve a live coding exercise or a system design problem.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system for [specific problem, e.g., a URL shortener, a social media feed]. Discuss scalability, reliability, and trade-offs.
How would you approach optimizing the performance of a slow-running application?
Describe your experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their services.
Walk me through a challenging technical problem you solved and your thought process.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Managerial / Behavioral · 60 min · Hiring Manager / Director of Engineering
This round is with the hiring manager or a director, focusing on your people management philosophy, leadership style, and strategic approach to building and managing engineering teams. You'll discuss your experience with hiring, performance reviews, conflict resolution, and how you foster a positive and productive team environment.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Describe your approach to performance management and providing feedback to your team.
Tell me about a time you had to make a difficult decision that impacted your team. What was the outcome?
How do you foster a culture of psychological safety and inclusivity within your team?
What are your strategies for developing the careers of your engineers?
How do you prioritize work for your team when faced with competing demands?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Executive/Senior Leadership · 45 min · Director/VP of Engineering
In this final round, you'll meet with a senior leader (Director or VP) to discuss your strategic thinking, leadership vision, and how you align with the broader organizational goals. This is an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to think at a higher level and contribute to Workday's long-term success.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
What is your long-term vision for an engineering team at Workday?
How do you stay current with industry trends and incorporate them into your team's strategy?
Describe a time you had to influence senior leadership to adopt a new technical direction or strategy.
How do you measure the success of your engineering teams beyond just code delivery?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Workday loops
Other guides
