Director of Engineering, Product Engineering

As the Director of Engineering at Everlaw, your key responsibilities will include leading the development and execution of the Everlaw platform, ensuring it meets scalability, reliability, and security standards. You will closely collaborate with teams such as Product, Design, and DevOps to develop roadmaps and prioritize project efforts. This role focuses on coaching and mentoring your engineering team, driving improvements in processes, and aligning efforts across multiple stakeholders to foster a productive engineering environment.

To qualify for the Director of Engineering position at Everlaw, candidates should possess a deep understanding of computer science principles, relevant experience building applications and distributed systems, and robust leadership skills. A minimum of five years in software engineering along with four years of experience in people management is required, with at least one year managing other managers. Candidates should also have a strong foundation in full-stack web technologies, as well as a relevant degree such as a BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science.

Everlaw is dedicated to the professional growth of its team members, offering comprehensive support like annual learning and development stipends and regular career check-ins with managers. The Director of Engineering will play a critical role in fostering this growth by actively mentoring and providing feedback to their team, ensuring that each engineer is equipped to tackle challenges and succeed in their careers.

Everlaw prides itself on having an open and vibrant company culture that values passion, integrity, and a pursuit of learning. As the Director of Engineering, you will find an environment that encourages creativity, collaboration, and support. The company believes in empowering its employees to pursue their passions and recognizes that when individuals thrive, the entire organization benefits.

The Director of Engineering position at Everlaw offers a hybrid working schedule, allowing employees to work in the office on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with the option to work from home on Tuesday and Friday. This flexibility is designed to support work-life balance while fostering collaboration among team members in the office.

When answering this question, highlight your strategic approach to prioritization. Discuss how you assess project importance, stakeholder impact, and team capacity. Provide examples of how you've successfully managed competing requests while aligning them with company goals.

In your response, share a specific instance where you encountered a significant engineering challenge. Explain the steps you took to analyze the issue, the strategies you employed to solve it, and the positive outcome that followed. This showcases your problem-solving skills and technical competence as a candidate for a Director of Engineering.

Use this opportunity to describe your leadership philosophy. Emphasize a collaborative approach, open communication, and nurturing individual growth. Include how you empower your teams and tailor your management to fit team dynamics for improved performance.

Discuss your coaching methods, such as providing regular feedback, setting individual goals, and creating a supportive environment for professional development. Share examples of how you've successfully guided team members in their growth paths.

Outline your methods for ensuring that engineering initiatives align with the broader business strategy. This could include regular communication with leadership, incorporating feedback from stakeholders, and establishing clear KPIs to measure success.

Explain your conflict resolution process by focusing on fostering open dialogue, ensuring all perspectives are heard, and facilitating a collaborative approach to reaching a solution. Use a specific example if possible to illustrate your approach.

Illustrate your proactive approach to staying informed about industry developments. Mention resources you follow, such as specific blogs, forums, and conferences, and how they influence your work and management style.

Share your strategy for evaluating and adopting new technologies, such as conducting research, gathering team input, and running trial implementations. Focus on the importance of balancing innovation with project requirements and team capabilities.

Discuss the significance of collaborative efforts in engineering projects, noting how effective communication and teamwork drive success. Provide an example of a project where collaboration led to innovation and efficiency.

Detail the key performance indicators you monitor, such as code quality, delivery timelines, and team engagement. Emphasize the importance of using metrics to provide honest feedback and opportunities for continuous improvement.