Senior Engineering Manager - Product

As a Senior Engineering Manager at Descript, you'll oversee a team of 8-10 engineers, guiding them through various stages of project execution. Your role will involve developing project roadmaps, aligning technical strategies with overarching business objectives, and facilitating the growth and professional development of your team members. You will also work collaboratively to implement best practices and ensure a strong team dynamic that encourages innovation and excellence.

To qualify as a Senior Engineering Manager at Descript, you should have over 4 years of engineering management experience, particularly leading software engineering teams. A solid understanding of web application development, especially with React and Typescript, is important. Additionally, possessing strong communication skills and the ability to build a high-performing team culture are vital aspects that we look for in candidates.

Descript values the growth of its employees, providing various opportunities for professional development. Senior Engineering Managers are encouraged to mentor their teams, engage in feedback sessions, and participate in continuous learning initiatives. The collaborative culture fosters an environment where you can share knowledge, receive advice, and learn from peers, helping all employees realize their potential.

The culture at Descript is defined by collaboration, inclusivity, and a commitment to excellence. As a Senior Engineering Manager, you’ll play a crucial role in shaping this environment by promoting teamwork and ensuring everyone feels valued and empowered. We believe that diverse perspectives lead to innovative solutions and strive to create a workplace where everyone can thrive.

The base salary for the Senior Engineering Manager position at Descript ranges from $210,000 to $245,000 a year. Final offers are influenced by several factors including individual expertise, prior experience, and geographical location. We ensure that each offer is competitive and reflective of the skills you bring to our team.

When describing your leadership style, focus on your approach to mentorship, collaboration, and empowering your team. Share examples of how you have fostered a high-performing environment by implementing feedback loops and supporting your engineers' developmental needs.

Discuss your methods for prioritization such as aligning tasks with business objectives and strategic goals. Mention tools or frameworks like Agile or Kanban that you use to keep projects on track while ensuring alignment with organizational priorities.

Explain your experience in collaborating with product managers and technical leads to create actionable roadmaps. Emphasize your ability to foresee potential roadblocks and how you adjust plans to maintain sustainable momentum.

Detail a specific project, laying out the challenges faced, your evaluations, and strategies for overcoming those issues. Highlight your leadership in guiding your team through this process and the importance of continuous learning.

Share strategies you use to encourage diverse perspectives, promote open communication, and create a supportive environment. Discuss initiatives or practices that have worked well in building a more inclusive team culture.

Talk about your approach to performance evaluations, focusing on setting clear expectations, providing constructive feedback, and recognizing contributions from team members. Discuss how you continuously assess team health and performance metrics.

Mention your commitment to ongoing learning through relevant publications, tech meetups, and online courses. Discuss how you ensure your team is also engaged with modern practices and innovation.

Describe your approach to conflict resolution, focusing on empathy and communication. Provide insight into specific techniques you implement to ensure conflicts are addressed constructively and solutions are reached collaboratively.

Share your experiences within a startup environment, emphasizing adaptability and resourcefulness. Discuss how these experiences have shaped your management style and your understanding of rapid scaling.

Illustrate a situation where quick adaptation was key to success. Describe your thought process and actions taken, demonstrating your resilience in a fast-changing environment.