Engineering Manager, Client Platform

As an Engineering Manager at Duolingo, you'll lead a multi-disciplinary team focused on enhancing the performance and stability of our Learning application. Your responsibilities include crafting a long-term roadmap, guiding the team’s project objectives, and collaborating with product partners across the organization. Furthermore, you’ll be involved in mentorship and career development for your engineers.

To qualify for the Engineering Manager position at Duolingo, you should have at least two years of experience leading and managing software engineering teams, alongside eight years in software development on Android and/or iOS platforms. A proven track record of executing successful technical projects and strong communication skills are also essential.

At Duolingo, the onboarding process is designed to immerse you in our culture and mission immediately. You’ll participate in orientation sessions, connect with key stakeholders, and receive access to resources that support your role as an Engineering Manager. You'll also have opportunities to shadow existing team members to better understand our processes.

An Engineering Manager at Duolingo facilitates team success by providing clear objectives, offering mentorship, and fostering an open communication environment. You'll promote collaboration, help team members prioritize their work, and build a supportive atmosphere that encourages innovative solutions and continuous improvement.

Career growth at Duolingo for an Engineering Manager is abundant. With a focus on mentorship and professional development, you’ll have access to resources, training, and networking opportunities within the broader engineering community. We're committed to helping you achieve your career aspirations while contributing to our mission!

When answering this question, it's important to emphasize your adaptability and focus on collaboration. Discuss how you prioritize clear communication, team empowerment, and mentoring staff to achieve their goals while ensuring project alignment with the organization's objectives.

In your response, highlight a collaborative approach to conflict resolution. Emphasize the importance of open communication, listening to all parties involved, and finding a solution that aligns with team goals. Share an example of a previous experience to illustrate your method.

Discuss specific strategies you've implemented in past roles to enhance performance. This may include using profiling tools to identify bottlenecks, applying performance pipelines in CI/CD workflows, or leading architectural changes to improve responsiveness and efficiency.

Mention your commitment to continuous learning through various channels, such as attending workshops, webinars, reading industry-related publications, and engaging in online communities. This shows your proactive approach to professional development.

Select a project that showcases your leadership and technical skills. Clearly outline your role, the team you led, the challenges faced, the strategies you employed, and the positive outcomes achieved. This demonstrates your capability to drive successful initiatives.

Expound on your organizational methods, such as leveraging project management tools, involving your team in the decision-making process, and aligning priorities with business goals. This shows your strategic mindset and capability to manage workload effectively.

Discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to your team’s objectives, such as delivery timelines, project milestones, or user engagement metrics. Emphasizing data-driven assessments demonstrates your analytical approach to managing team performance.

Detail methods you've used to create a culture of innovation, such as encouraging continuous experimentation, supporting collaborative brainstorming sessions, and providing resources for professional development. This illustrates your commitment to fostering creativity.

Share a specific situation where you led a team through transitions like adopting new technology or processes. Discuss the strategies you utilized for communication and support, demonstrating your change management skills.

Reflect on the balance of technical expertise and leadership skills required in the role. Emphasize that creating a supportive environment, mentoring engineers, and aligning team efforts with the company’s mission are key priorities in your approach as an Engineering Manager.