Engineering Manager, AI Products

To qualify for the Engineering Manager role at CallRail, candidates should have previous leadership experience as an engineering manager or significant operations team lead experience. Essential skills include managing software engineers, experience in agile project management, and familiarity with AI-enabled products. Additionally, a record of building and fostering diverse, healthy teams is preferred, along with experience in developing secure software for a Software-as-a-Service product.

As the Engineering Manager for AI Products at CallRail, your key responsibilities will include leading a team of software engineers, managing agile project delivery, and collaborating closely with product teams. You'll also be tasked with advocating for technical projects, providing mentorship and support to team members, and ensuring that communication is clear across all parties involved. Balancing feature delivery and technical debt management will be crucial in this role.

Team culture at CallRail is built on collaboration, inclusivity, and respect. As an Engineering Manager for AI Products, you will play a vital role in fostering a supportive environment where team members feel valued and empowered. The company emphasizes open communication, learning opportunities, and shared success, making it an ideal place for those who thrive on teamwork and shared goals.

CallRail is committed to the professional development of its employees, including the Engineering Manager for AI Products. From a robust educational allowance of $2,000 annually to on-the-job mentorship and growth opportunities, the company offers numerous resources to help you advance your skills and knowledge. Regular check-ins and team retrospectives also facilitate continuous improvement in both processes and personal development.

Working as an Engineering Manager in a hybrid setup at CallRail provides the best of both worlds. You enjoy flexibility in your schedule while also having the opportunity to collaborate in person on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This arrangement allows for balance between focused work time at home and productive meetings in the office, fostering team connection and collaboration essential for successful project execution.

When responding to this question, draw from your past experiences as an engineering manager. Highlight your leadership style, how you motivate your team, and specific techniques you have employed to support their growth. Share examples of how you have successfully managed both projects and team dynamics.

Discuss your approach to project prioritization, emphasizing your agility in assessing teams’ workload and business goals. Explain how you communicate priorities to your team and involve them in the decision-making process. Providing a clear methodology, such as using tools like Agile frameworks, will showcase your organizational skills.

Share your passion for inclusivity and team diversity. Detail any programs, initiatives, or practices you’ve implemented in the past that helped cultivate a diverse work environment. Consider mentioning how diversity contributes to creativity, problem-solving, and innovation within a team.

Choose a project that clearly illustrates your strengths as a manager. Describe what challenges arose, how you addressed them and the outcomes achieved. Focus on your leadership qualities and decision-making processes in navigating these obstacles effectively.

Highlight your strategies for establishing and maintaining open lines of communication. Mention tools you use for collaboration, how you facilitate regular check-ins, and how you ensure that feedback is shared in both directions. Your ability to translate technical details to non-technical stakeholders will also showcase your communication skills.

Reflect on any previous experience working with AI-enabled products, discussing specific technologies or projects you have been involved in. Talk about your understanding of the unique challenges associated with AI development and how you can leverage that experience at CallRail.

Share your philosophy on recognizing and celebrating team accomplishments. Describe specific instances where you have acknowledged team efforts, whether through formal recognition programs or informal gatherings, illustrating how you build team morale and cohesion.

Discuss your understanding of technical debt and its implications for project timelines and product quality. Outline your method for incorporating technical debt management into your project planning, ensuring it's understood as a critical aspect of software development.

Talk about your preferred project management tools and emphasize what makes them effective, such as enhancing visibility, collaboration, and accountability. Describe how these tools align with your agile development experience and contribute to successful project delivery.

Explain your mentoring philosophy and how you identify areas for employee growth. Discuss the specific techniques you use to engage with your team to improve their skills and career paths, such as one-on-one meetings, skill assessments, and personalized development plans.