Engineering Manager, Social

As the Engineering Manager for the Social team at DoorDash, you'll oversee various aspects of product development, focusing on enhancing user engagement. Your responsibilities will include mentoring engineers, managing cross-functional collaborations, defining technical roadmaps, and guiding the team through product iterations. You’ll also be involved in setting engineering standards and facilitating the integration of customer feedback into future product cycles.

To qualify for the Engineering Manager position at DoorDash, candidates should hold a B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Computer Science or a related field, with a minimum of seven years of industry experience, including at least two years in a management role. Experience in managing engineering disciplines across multiple platforms such as back-end, iOS, Android, and web is also highly valued. A strong product sense and capability in collaborating with non-technical stakeholders are essential.

The Engineering Manager plays a crucial role in team growth at DoorDash by recruiting top talent, nurturing existing team members through mentorship, and promoting a collaborative and innovative work environment. With a focus on scaling the team, the manager will implement development programs, ensure continuous learning opportunities, and lead by example to inspire the team to excel and reach their full potential.

New Engineering Managers at DoorDash can expect a comprehensive onboarding process designed to integrate them into the team and culture. This includes introductions to key stakeholders, immersion in company values, and detailed insights into ongoing projects and the strategic direction of the Social team. The onboarding process emphasizes relationship-building, allowing managers to establish initial connections that foster collaboration and creativity early on.

The work culture for Engineering Managers at DoorDash is dynamic, collaborative, and innovation-driven. Managers are encouraged to take initiative, foster creativity, and embrace learning every day. The environment supports open communication and values diverse perspectives, enabling teams to ideate and execute on projects that truly resonate with users. Additionally, a focus on personal growth and leadership development makes DoorDash a fantastic place to expand your career.

When discussing your experience managing engineering teams, highlight the number of teams you've led, the technologies you've worked with, and specific challenges you've faced. Be sure to explain how you supported your team’s growth and how you fostered a positive environment for collaboration.

In preparing for this question, think about a project where your leadership resulted in significant outcomes. Discuss your role, the project's objectives, how you guided your team, tackled roadblocks, and ultimately, how the project positively impacted the company or users.

Discuss your approach to task prioritization, emphasizing the use of frameworks like Agile or Scrum. Share how you work with stakeholders to align team goals and individual responsibilities while ensuring that project deadlines are met without sacrificing quality.

When addressing conflict resolution, describe strategies such as encouraging open dialogue, mediating discussions, and fostering a culture of respect and understanding. Share an example where you successfully resolved a conflict and the positive outcome that followed.

Explain your methods for tracking success metrics and KPIs for engineering initiatives. Discuss how you gather feedback from key stakeholders and users, and use that data to inform future developments and improvements in processes.

Share strategies you employ to maintain motivation during tough projects, such as celebrating small wins, encouraging open communication, and providing team members with opportunities for skill-building. Mention the importance of being a supportive leader and how you empower your team to overcome obstacles.

Detail your past experiences collaborating with product and design teams, emphasizing specific projects where you engaged in this collaboration. Explain how effective communication and understanding different team dynamics have helped you achieve project goals.

In answering this question, connect your personal career goals with DoorDash's mission. Describe what excites you about the company’s vision and how your experience aligns with the expectations of the Engineering Manager role, expressing your enthusiasm for contributing to a team focused on innovation and user engagement.

Discuss the various resources you utilize to remain updated on industry trends, such as technology blogs, conferences, and networking events. Mention any relevant communities you are part of and how you implement new knowledge to enhance your team's performance and drive innovation.

Describe your approach to team scaling, focusing on recruitment strategies, onboarding processes, and fostering a strong team culture. Share any successful experiences where you were able to build a high-performing team rapidly while maintaining a focus on quality and collaboration.