Senior Engineering Manager - Academy

The Senior Engineering Manager - Academy at HubSpot holds a key role in guiding several small teams focused on enhancing the educational journey of users. Responsibilities include setting the strategic direction of these teams, focusing on solving customer challenges, mentoring team members, and aligning engineering projects with HubSpot's overarching product strategy. This role demands a balance of technical expertise and leadership skills, fostering an environment where team members can thrive and collaborate effectively.

Candidates for the Senior Engineering Manager - Academy role at HubSpot should possess significant experience in engineering management, particularly within the educational technology space. A strong technical background is crucial, especially in areas like search, recommendation systems, or generative AI. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate a passion for coaching and developing teams, a commitment to diverse and inclusive practices, and a willingness to engage actively with ongoing product development.

The interview process for the Senior Engineering Manager - Academy at HubSpot includes several phases, starting with a 'take at home' coding assessment to assess technical proficiency. Successful candidates will engage in interviews that focus on leadership experience, technical skills, and cultural fit within HubSpot's collaborative environment. Candidates can also expect discussions about their approach to fostering team diversity, equity, and inclusion.

HubSpot is dedicated to employee growth, especially for the Senior Engineering Manager - Academy role. New hires will initially embed as a software engineer within their team for about four months, allowing them to understand workflows and build credibility. Continuous learning is encouraged with ongoing mentoring, access to resources, and leadership training opportunities that promote both personal and professional development.

HubSpot's company culture is centered on flexibility, connection, and inclusivity. As a Senior Engineering Manager - Academy, you will find yourself in a supportive environment where team collaboration shines. HubSpot values transparency, respects diverse perspectives, and fosters a culture where employees feel empowered to bring their full selves to work. The company has earned accolades for its remarkable workplace culture, making it an exciting place to grow your career.

To handle team conflicts effectively, I focus on maintaining open lines of communication. I believe in addressing conflicts early, encouraging team members to express their views, and facilitating discussions to find common ground. Establishing a culture of psychological safety also helps prevent conflicts from escalating, as team members feel safe to share their perspectives constructively.

I have a solid background in implementing engineering principles aligned with HubSpot's philosophy. During my previous roles, I have focused on building strong engineering cultures that emphasize a growth mindset, continuous learning, and sharing both successes and failures. This approach has consistently led to higher-quality products and more satisfied team members.

My approach to mentoring engineers is centered around collaboration and empowerment. I believe in guiding them through challenges, providing constructive feedback, and helping them identify areas for personal and professional growth. I encourage engineers to take ownership of their projects, creating a space for them to learn from their experiences and develop their skill sets.

My leadership style revolves around trust and empathy. I aim to build strong relationships with my team, fostering an environment of transparency, autonomy, and accountability. By connecting with my team members on a personal level and providing them with the resources they need to succeed, I can effectively inspire them to innovate and excel in their roles.

To evaluate team performance, I rely on a combination of qualitative and quantitative metrics. I assess the quality of the codebase, the efficiency of the development process, and successful project delivery timelines. Additionally, I seek feedback from peers and stakeholders to gauge team collaboration and individual contributions, ensuring a comprehensive view of performance.

To align teams with HubSpot's goals, I maintain regular communication of the broader company vision and how each team's work directly contributes. I encourage teams to set specific objectives that link back to company goals, continuously track progress, and celebrate milestones to keep everyone motivated and engaged.

In my past roles, I have collaborated closely with product management teams to bridge technical execution with market needs. I actively participate in product strategy discussions and provide technical insights that inform product roadmaps, helping ensure that engineering efforts are aligned with user requirements and business objectives.

Prioritizing user feedback is essential for successful product development. I work with my teams to establish structured processes for gathering and analyzing user feedback, ensuring that we have actionable insights to inform our product iterations. I promote an agile development cycle that allows for frequent adjustments based on user needs.

Making difficult decisions is part of leadership, and I approach them by gathering all relevant information, consulting with my team, and weighing the potential risks and rewards. For example, when faced with resource constraints, I had to prioritize certain projects over others; I explained the rationale clearly to the team, keeping morale intact while focusing on long-term goals.

Essential tools and technologies for a Senior Engineering Manager include version control systems like Git, project management tools such as Jira or Trello, and communication platforms like Slack. Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, cloud services, and development frameworks is also important, along with a strong adaptable mindset to embrace new technologies as they emerge.