Engineering Manager, Supply Strategy & Execution - job 2 of 3

As an Engineering Manager at DoorDash, you'll lead the Supply Strategy & Execution team, overseeing Machine Learning, backend, and full-stack engineers. Your primary responsibilities include driving the technical vision and strategy for the team's projects, collaborating with various cross-functional teams, and ensuring the development of personalized mobilization systems that optimize Dasher performance and enhance user experience. You'll also focus on talent growth within the team and advocate for the adoption of cutting-edge technologies.

Candidates for the Engineering Manager role at DoorDash should possess a BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science or a related field. Additionally, a minimum of 2 years of engineering leadership experience managing teams of ML, backend, and web engineers is required, along with at least 7 years of relevant industry experience. Strong ownership mentality, the ability to navigate ambiguous problems, and a solid technical background are also crucial.

The Supply Strategy & Execution team at DoorDash plays a vital role in enhancing service quality and operational efficiency. By developing strategies that increase supply-driven volume while managing costs, the team helps ensure Dashers are busier and earning more. This directly supports DoorDash's mission to empower local economies and facilitates seamless delivery experiences for users, aligning closely with the company's core objectives.

At DoorDash, you can expect a dynamic and inclusive work culture focused on innovation and collaboration. There is a strong emphasis on diversity and empowering professionals from various backgrounds. Employees are encouraged to share unique perspectives and are recognized for their contributions to solving challenges. The company supports continuous learning and personal growth, making it an excellent environment for career development.

As an Engineering Manager at DoorDash, growth opportunities are abundant. You will be in a position that not only allows you to enhance your technical and leadership skills but also offers the chance to influence product strategy at a high level. Team members are encouraged to pursue unique challenges, attract top talent, and adopt advanced technologies, providing a robust framework for career progression within a fast-evolving company.

In your answer, focus on specific experiences where you led diverse engineering teams, discussing any challenges you overcame. Highlight your leadership style and how you ensure your team remains motivated and productive while tackling projects that involve cutting-edge technology.

Share specific methods you use to boost collaboration, such as regular check-ins, collaborative tools, and fostering a culture of open communication. Mention how these strategies lead to successful project outcomes and the importance of building relationships within cross-functional teams.

Discuss how you formulate a coherent technical vision by assessing business needs and aligning them with technological advancements. Explain the process you follow to set measurable goals and how you keep your team focused on achieving these objectives.

Provide examples of mentoring practices you've employed in the past, emphasizing your commitment to developing internal talent. Illustrate how you tailor your mentorship based on individual team members' strengths and areas for growth.

Explain how you cultivate a culture of learning within your team by encouraging participation in workshops, training sessions, and industry conferences. Discuss any specific initiatives you’ve implemented to keep your team engaged and knowledgeable about the latest trends.

Share instances where your product sense informed engineering decisions. Highlight how understanding user needs and preferences influenced your projects, ensuring that technical solutions align with business objectives and user satisfaction.

Discuss your methodology for tackling ambiguous issues, including how you break down complex problems, gather insights from your team, and apply data-driven decision-making to derive effective solutions.

Underscore the importance of feedback in fostering a healthy work environment. Share how you encourage feedback within your team, how you integrate it into your leadership approach, and any frameworks you use to ensure constructive and actionable feedback is exchanged.

Articulate your motivations for wanting to join DoorDash, such as alignment with the company's mission, opportunities for impact, and a passion for technology that helping local economies. Personalize your response based on your career aspirations and company values.

Explain your approach to prioritization, including how you assess project importance in relation to company goals and team capacity. Discuss how you balance urgency and quality to ensure that all outputs meet high standards.