Senior Software Engineering Manager (On-site)

As a Senior Software Engineering Manager at Cricut®, your key responsibilities will include leading engineering teams in developing web, mobile, and backend solutions, actively participating in architecture reviews, and managing sprint planning. You'll also be responsible for fostering a high-performing engineering culture by collaborating closely with Product Managers and UX Designers, ensuring the delivery of high-quality software products that align with user needs.

To qualify for the Senior Software Engineering Manager position at Cricut®, you should have at least 7 years of professional software development experience, including 2–4 years in a leadership role. A strong background in frontend frameworks like Angular, mobile development for Android and iOS, and backend technologies like C#/.NET is essential. Proven experience in agile environments and excellent communication skills are also critical to succeed in this role.

At Cricut®, we foster a culture of continuous learning and growth. As a Senior Software Engineering Manager, you will have opportunities to coach and mentor team members, helping them to advance both technically and creatively. We encourage our leaders to take part in architectural discussions and stay technically engaged, ensuring that you’ll always have the resources and support to grow in your career.

Collaboration is critical for a Senior Software Engineering Manager at Cricut®. You will work closely with Product Managers, UX Designers, and other stakeholders to align technical requirements with business objectives and user needs. This collaborative approach ensures not only the timely delivery of features but also the overall success of our innovative products.

Cricut® offers a dynamic and inclusive work environment where creativity and individuality are celebrated. As a Senior Software Engineering Manager, you will be part of a diverse team that values innovation, collaboration, and passion for crafting. We encourage an open dialogue, and everyone is invited to contribute ideas that can elevate our products and impact the user experience positively.

When answering this question, focus on how your leadership style fosters collaboration and innovation. Highlight your preference for servant leadership, where you empower your team, encourage open communication, and inspire them to take ownership of their work. Mention how you adapt your style to meet the diverse needs of your team members.

Discuss your approach to balancing technical debt with feature delivery by emphasizing the importance of maintaining code quality while also meeting business needs. You can mention specific strategies you've utilized in past projects, like setting aside dedicated time for refactoring or using metrics to assess technical debt.

Effective communication is essential. Share your experience in using clear, jargon-free language, creating documentation, and employing visuals to convey technical concepts. Also, discuss how you facilitate regular check-ins and collaborative meetings to keep all stakeholders informed and aligned.

Prepare a specific example that showcases your problem-solving skills. Explain the challenges faced, details on how you organized your team and resources to tackle the issues, and highlight any innovative solutions or changes in approach that led to the project's success.

Discuss qualities such as strong technical competency, effective communication, ability to mentor and coach engineers, and a visionary mindset that aligns with the company's goals. Share how you embody these qualities in your daily work.

Share how you actively engage with resources like online courses, webinars, tech conferences, blogs, and peer networking. Mention any specific areas of technology you are particularly passionate about, which will demonstrate your commitment to continuous learning.

Explain your hands-on experience with agile frameworks, such as Scrum or Kanban, and how you've implemented agile practices in your teams. Highlight any successes from your agile projects that improved collaboration and increased efficiency.

Discuss how you encourage your team to take risks and experiment by providing an environment where creative ideas are welcomed. Mention initiatives you've led to brainstorm solutions, hackathons, or regular feedback sessions that promote innovation.

Mention specific metrics you track, such as code quality, sprint velocity, customer satisfaction, and on-time delivery. Explain how you leverage these metrics to identify areas for improvement and drive team performance.

In answering this question, convey your passion for Cricut®’s mission and values. Speak about how you align with their commitment to creativity and the crafting community and how you see your role contributing to their innovative products that empower users.