Engineering Manager, Traffic Engineering

The Engineering Manager for Traffic Engineering at Cloudflare is responsible for hiring, mentoring, and coaching a distributed team of Software Engineers. This role involves collaborating closely with Product Managers and other engineering leaders to set the team's roadmap, influence project scopes, and handle production services including incident response. The manager plays a key role in fostering a culture of learning and growth within the team while overseeing project execution to meet deadlines.

To be considered for the Engineering Manager, Traffic Engineering position at Cloudflare, applicants should have over three years of experience managing a team of Software Engineers, along with a strong technical background in Layer 3 and Layer 4 networking. Familiarity with systems languages like Rust and Go is also essential. The ideal candidate demonstrates excellent communication skills and has a proven track record of mentoring teams to success.

An Engineering Manager at Cloudflare will thrive in a fast-paced yet sensible work environment that fosters curiosity and empathetic leadership. The role emphasizes teamwork and collaboration, with a focus on developing innovative solutions to complex problems. This hybrid position allows for flexibility between in-office collaboration and remote work, providing a balanced work-life experience.

At Cloudflare, supporting the professional development of Engineering Managers is a priority. The company provides opportunities for mentorship, ongoing training, and access to the latest technologies. By encouraging team members to pursue continuous learning and skill enhancement, Cloudflare ensures that Engineering Managers can lead effectively while adapting to the dynamic landscape of technology and software development.

Cloudflare stands out as a desirable place to work due to its mission-driven culture and commitment to building a better Internet. The company values diversity and inclusion and offers opportunities for significant career growth within a collaborative environment. With innovative projects that have a real-world impact and a supportive organizational culture, Engineering Managers will find their roles fulfilling and their contributions valued.

When answering this question, share specific examples from your past roles where you successfully managed a team. Highlight your approach to hiring, training, and mentoring, illustrating how you inspired your team to achieve their goals while fostering a positive work environment.

Discuss your methods for prioritization, such as using frameworks like OKRs or Agile methodologies. Emphasize your ability to balance team workload and project deadlines while ensuring that technical and strategic goals are met effectively.

Provide a detailed example of a challenging project, outlining the obstacles faced and the strategies you employed to overcome them. Focus on your leadership and problem-solving skills, as well as how you collaborated with your team and stakeholders to achieve a successful outcome.

It’s essential to discuss your technical background, particularly in Layer 3 and Layer 4 networking. Mention any programming experiences, specifically with Rust and Go, and how these skills enable you to guide your team effectively and make informed decisions on technical direction.

Explain your proactive approach to conflict resolution, focusing on communication and empathy. Share examples of how you’ve mediated conflicts in the past, encouraging open discussions that lead to resolution while maintaining team cohesion.

Talk about your commitment to continuous learning, including encouraging team members to attend conferences, take courses, or participate in workshops. Emphasize your role in facilitating knowledge-sharing sessions within the team to keep everyone informed about industry trends.

Discuss the various metrics and KPIs you use to evaluate team performance, such as project delivery times, code quality, and team engagement levels. Describe how you provide feedback and support to help the team improve continually.

Share your leadership philosophy, focusing on aspects such as empathy, collaboration, and transparency. Use examples that illustrate how your style positively impacts the team's culture and overall performance.

Describe strategies you implement to encourage creativity and innovation, such as brainstorming sessions, hackathons, and open feedback channels. Highlight how you create a safe space for team members to share their ideas without fear of criticism.

Reflect on Cloudflare’s mission and values. Share specific aspects of the company that resonate with you, whether it’s the commitment to building a better Internet or the emphasis on diversity and team development. Connect your passion for technology and leadership to Cloudflare's goals.