Engineering Director

As an Engineering Director at Pure Storage, you'll be responsible for leading multiple engineering teams to create and enhance a brand-new cloud storage product. Your role will involve guiding the engineering managers, overseeing initiatives that adapt to our cloud business model, and ensuring high-quality engineering practices across all projects. Additionally, collaboration with Product Management to develop business cases and navigate technical challenges will be a key part of your day-to-day responsibilities.

To be successful in the Engineering Director role at Pure Storage, candidates should have 10+ years of technical leadership experience, including at least 5 years in a mentoring capacity. A proven track record in leading teams of 30+ in a multi-geographic setting is essential. Strong communication skills, experience in implementing high service uptime, and a background in delivering enterprise-grade cloud services are also critical. Prior experience in storage technology is a plus, though not necessary.

Pure Storage seeks an Engineering Director who embodies exceptional leadership qualities, including the ability to build and nurture high-performing teams, foster collaboration, and communicate effectively with senior leadership. A proactive and results-oriented approach is vital, along with a strategic mindset that balances short-term achievements with long-term business goals. Being enthusiastic about mentoring and developing engineering talent is also highly valued.

At Pure Storage, diversity and inclusion are cornerstones of our culture. We actively support the Pure Equality program, which facilitates employee resource groups aimed at fostering an inclusive environment for all employees. The Engineering Director role is not just about technical leadership; it's also about championing diverse perspectives and ensuring that every team member feels heard and valued within our organization.

Candidates interviewing for the Engineering Director position at Pure Storage can look forward to meaningful discussions with executive leaders and key stakeholders across various functions. The process is designed to assess both technical expertise and cultural fit within our innovative and collaborative environment. It's an opportunity to showcase your vision for leading teams and your ability to adapt to the dynamic needs of the cloud storage market.

In responding to this question, highlight specific instances where you led teams effectively, focusing on your ability to drive results, mentor engineers, and foster collaboration. Emphasize how your leadership has contributed to achieving project goals and improving team dynamics.

Demonstrating your approach to strategic planning involves outlining your methods for aligning project goals with business objectives. Discuss how you prioritize initiatives, allocate resources, and manage timelines to ensure successful project delivery while adapting to changes in the market.

Share examples of initiatives you've implemented to encourage innovative thinking among your team members. This could include regular brainstorming sessions, innovation challenges, or creating a safe space for experimentation. Highlight how these strategies have led to successful outcomes in past projects.

Discuss your conflict resolution style and provide examples of how you've successfully mediated disputes. Emphasize the importance of open communication, understanding different perspectives, and finding collaborative solutions that maintain team cohesion and morale.

Highlight the factors you assess when launching a new product, including market demand, customer needs, competitive analysis, technical feasibility, and financial implications. Discuss how these considerations influence your overall strategy and planning efforts.

Detail your experience with cloud services, including specific technologies, platforms, and applications you've worked with. Relate this experience to the Engineering Director role at Pure Storage, explaining how it equips you to lead initiatives in creating cloud storage solutions.

Discuss your knowledge of Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) principles and practices. Provide examples of how you have implemented monitoring, testing, and redundancy measures to maintain high service availability. Demonstrating your understanding of these technical details reassures interviewers that you're equipped to meet quality standards.

Highlight your ability to build relationships and communicate effectively across departments. Describe your previous experiences working collaboratively and your strategies for ensuring that cross-functional teams align with project goals and timelines.

Share your approach to mentoring, which may include regular feedback sessions, one-on-one coaching, and providing growth opportunities through challenging projects or training initiatives. Emphasize how developing engineering management talent is vital to scaling and enhancing team effectiveness.

Bring a specific project to life by describing the challenge, your role, the actions you took, and the measurable results. Emphasize your leadership and innovation in overcoming obstacles, highlighting how your contributions led to project success.