GitLab Engineering Manager Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 13 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at GitLab.
GitLab
Engineering Manager
Manager Easy Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
So, my GitLab interview journey kicked off with a recruiter chat. We talked about money stuff like salary and GitLab's package, benefits, and RSUs. They also went over my background and what the Engineering Manager, Engineering Productivity role involves. The recruiter was super clear about the 4-step process and even shared interviewer LinkedIn profiles, which was neat. I sent my availability for the next 3 weeks pretty quickly. But then, radio silence. The recruiter mentioned Indigenous Peoples' Day, and I guess that caused a delay? After a few weeks with no word, I emailed the recruiting address to check in. No reply, and yeah, I didn't get moved forward. It was a bummer, especially after the initial clear communication and me being prompt with scheduling. It wasn't the best experience with GitLab, but hopefully, others have better luck. I'm interviewing with GitHub now, so fingers crossed!
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you design an incident triage system and explain how you'd balance immediate vs. long-term productivity gains?
GitLab
Engineering Manager
Manager Average Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Background check
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
I applied on the Gitlab website and a recruiter reached out. They asked me to pick times outside my working hours on a shared calendar because interviewers are in different time zones. First, I spoke with the recruiter who told me I'd likely be a 'no' due to lacking experience in the feature I'd manage, mentioning they'd already passed on other candidates for the same reason. Surprisingly, I got an interview with a Director. I felt that interview went well; it wasn't rushed and they focused on my management experience with few technical questions. A few days after, I got a rejection email without any feedback.
Confirmed questions5 questions
- What is the largest team you have ever managed?
- What motivates your interest in working at GitLab?
- Describe a time you had to terminate an employee, including your experience of it.
GitLab
Engineering Manager
Manager Average Positive experience Accept offer 5 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Technical screen Onsite Panel Group Presentation Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
It started with a recruiter phone screen, followed by four 1-on-1 interviews. I spoke with the Director of Engineering, the team's Product Manager, the current Engineering Manager, and the Senior Director of Development. Each person had their own questions and approach. It seemed like they didn't share notes, as there was some repetition. Everyone was really nice and I enjoyed talking to them, it's obvious they're good at what they do and like it. Just be aware that scheduling can take a while, especially with breaks like winter break in the middle which stretched things out.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you share an instance where you managed a team conflict?
GitLab Engineering Manager Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from GitLab interview reports.
“Could you implement a JavaScript LinkedList?”
Read reports →“What are your strategies for managing team members who aren't performing well?”
Read reports →“In your opinion, what drives engineers to perform at their highest level?”
Read reports →“Could you describe how you would set up a change management process for an Operations or Infrastructure team?”
Read reports →“Why are you interested in Gitlab?”
Read report →“What is the largest team you have ever managed?”
Read report →“What's your approach to managing an employee who isn't meeting expectations?”
Read report →“Can you design an incident triage system and explain how you'd balance immediate vs. long-term productivity gains?”
Read report →“What motivates your interest in working at GitLab?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 13 GitLab interview reports.