Senior Software Manager Interview Questions & Answers


Senior Software Managers, also known as Senior Software Engineers, evaluate an organization's Information Technology needs and develop software solutions accordingly. Senior Software Manager job description includes overseeing junior software developers, improving software performance, and ensuring the smooth integration of new software. Senior Software Managers are also required to document processes.

Whether you're a job seeker preparing to be interviewed for the role of Senior Software Manager or an employer preparing to interview candidates for Senior Software Manager position, these Senior Software Manager interview questions will help you prepare yourself for the job interview session.

Senior Software Manager Interview Questions

Below are a list of some skill-based Senior Software Manager interview questions.

  1. Can you describe a very successful software solution you've recently developed? Do you have a portfolio to show us?
  2. Which programming languages do you have the most experience with?
  3. Tell me about a time you identified a potential problem and proactively implemented a software solution.
  4. You are given an unrealistic project deadline by management. How do you respond?
  5. What are some of the most important qualities that a senior software manager should have?
  6. How would you go about managing the day-to-day activities of your team members?
  7. What would you check in a legacy system that has frequent downtime?
  8. What are some ways to store data outside of a relational database? When would you use them?
  9. What’s your process when reviewing someone else’s code? Where do you put most of your focus?
  10. How important are regularly scheduled meetings with your team members? Do you meet with your entire team or just team leaders? What is the communication process like for you?
  11. What metrics do you use to monitor your team’s performance? How do you like to deal with performance evaluations?
  12. What’s your biggest professional success? What did you learn from the experience? 
  13. What do you think junior developers struggle with the most, and why?
  14. Can you explain the process you follow to identify software performance issues?
  15. What mentorship do you offer a new team member? What’s the best way to onboard a new hire?
  16. One of your top Software Engineers questions your decisions. How do you handle it? 
  17. If senior managers disagree on system requirements, how do you intervene?
  18. How do you motivate a disengaged team member?
  19. What are the advantages of cloud systems? Are there any limitations? 
  20. Do you have experience using Git or other version control system?
  21. What are the most crucial tests to perform before deployment of a new system or feature?
  22. What software configuration management tools have you used?
  23. What’s your feedback style? Do you give team-wide or individual feedback? How often? 
  24. What do you think is the most important aspect of software engineering?
  25. What would you do if you noticed that your team members were working on separate projects that could have been combined into one?
  26. Do you have experience working with a budget and prioritizing resources to meet company goals?
  27. What resources do you follow to stay current with changes in technology?
  28. What makes you the best candidate for this senior software manager position?

Senior Software Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Every interview is different and the questions may vary. However, there are lots of general questions that get asked at every interview.

Below are some common questions you'd expect during Senior Software Manager interviews. Click on each question to see how to answer them.

  1. What is Your Salary Expectation?
  2. Tell Me About Yourself
  3. Are You a Leader or a Follower?
  4. Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?
  5. What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?
  6. What is Your Greatest Strength?
  7. What is Your Greatest Weakness?
  8. Why Should We Hire You?
  9. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?
  10. Why Do You Want This Job?