Director of Engineering, Core Platform

As the Director of Engineering at Verkada, your primary responsibilities will include leading a team of frontend and backend engineers on impactful projects related to our Command product. You'll be expected to actively write code and prototype new features, collaborate closely with Product and Design teams, and ensure the delivery of high-quality, maintainable code that meets the needs of our users and customers.

To qualify for the Director of Engineering position at Verkada, candidates should possess at least 6 years of experience managing engineering teams, along with over 12 years in software engineering roles. Familiarity with both backend and frontend development, experience in an agile environment, as well as a degree in Computer Science or a related field, are essential for success in this role.

At Verkada, we are committed to fostering a culture of continuous learning. As Director of Engineering, you'll encourage knowledge sharing and skill-building within your engineering team, providing opportunities for professional growth. This includes staying updated with emerging technologies and trends that can enhance our platforms, ensuring your team is equipped with the latest skills.

As the Director of Engineering at Verkada, you can expect to work with various technologies. You should have experience in at least one server-side framework and a database system, as both backend and frontend development are crucial for our Core Platform which powers IoT devices. Staying current with evolving technologies will also be part of your responsibilities.

Verkada provides a comprehensive benefits package for the Director of Engineering role, including generous medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage, unlimited paid time off, wellness allowances, and commuter benefits. Additionally, you can enjoy healthy meals provided daily and a generous parental leave policy, reflecting our commitment to employee well-being.

In your response, highlight specific instances where you've successfully led engineering teams. Discuss your approach to hiring, performance management, and fostering a collaborative environment. Remember to mention outcomes that resulted from your leadership.

Explain your methodology for prioritizing projects, whether it be through aligning with business goals, assessing team capacity, or incorporating stakeholder feedback. Provide examples of successful project prioritization that resulted in timely delivery and high-quality outputs.

Share a specific technical challenge you faced, detailing the situation, your approach to solving it, and the end result. Discuss how you inspired your team during the process and what you learned from the experience.

Discuss strategies like code reviews, pair programming, or implementing standardized coding practices. Highlight the importance of a robust testing framework and how it impacts long-term code quality and maintenance.

Explain your efforts to stay informed about industry trends, whether through attending conferences, participating in forums, or engaging with thought leaders. Discuss how you share this knowledge with your team to encourage innovation.

Illustrate your methods for promoting continuous learning, such as establishing mentorship programs, encouraging attendance at workshops, or utilizing online courses. Provide examples of how these methods have benefited your previous teams.

Discuss a specific conflict scenario you have managed, your approach in resolving it, and the outcome. Emphasize the importance of open communication and finding a resolution that aligns with team values.

Talk about your leadership style and how you motivate your team to pursue excellence. This might include setting clear expectations, recognizing achievements, and providing opportunities for career advancement.

Explain the importance of collaboration with other departments such as Product and Design to achieve common goals. Mention successful projects where cross-functional collaboration significantly improved outcomes.

Share your experiences with agile methodologies and how they can improve team efficiency and collaboration. Provide examples of how you have implemented agile practices to benefit past projects.