What is an Engineering Manager at AURORA?

At Aurora, the role of an Engineering Manager—often designated as a Technical Lead Manager (TLM)—is pivotal to the company's mission of delivering the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly. You are not just a people manager; you are a technical anchor responsible for guiding teams that solve massively complex problems. Whether you are working on the Aurora Driver, the Aurora Atlas mapping system, or Enterprise Security, your work directly impacts the safety and efficiency of the transportation ecosystem.

This position requires a unique balance of deep technical expertise and empathetic leadership. You will be expected to remain hands-on, driving architectural decisions and technical strategy while simultaneously mentoring engineers and fostering a culture of psychological safety. In an industry where reliability is paramount, your ability to lead teams through rigorous validation, root cause analysis, and scalable system design is critical to putting self-driving vehicles on the road.

Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparing for an interview at Aurora requires a shift in mindset. You are not just interviewing for a job; you are auditing for a role where safety and technical excellence are non-negotiable. Approach your preparation with a focus on how you build robust systems and resilient teams.

Technical Depth and Craftsmanship – Aurora places a heavy emphasis on the "Technical" aspect of the Manager role. You must demonstrate that you can still dive into code, review complex architectures (like PCBA validation or high-throughput storage), and make engineering trade-offs. You will be evaluated on your ability to maintain high standards for code quality and system reliability.

People Leadership and Growth – You will be assessed on your ability to build and sustain high-performing teams. This includes your philosophy on hiring, performance management, and career development. Interviewers want to know how you support engineers in their growth and how you handle difficult conversations or underperformance with empathy and clarity.

Strategic Execution and Safety – In the autonomous vehicle space, "move fast and break things" is not the operating model. You must show how you balance speed with rigorous safety standards. Expect to discuss how you prioritize work, manage cross-functional dependencies (e.g., with Hardware, Safety, or Test organizations), and drive projects to completion without compromising quality.

Cultural Alignment – Aurora values collaboration and "no jerks." You will be evaluated on your ability to communicate openly, admit mistakes, and work effectively with diverse teams. The interview atmosphere is often described as friendly and collaborative, so demonstrating humility and a willingness to learn is just as important as your technical answers.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process for an Engineering Manager at Aurora is designed to be thorough yet respectful of your time. It typically begins with a recruiter screen to align on your background and the specific scope of the role (e.g., Mapping, Security, or Hardware Validation). This is followed by a technical screen, which may involve a deep dive into your past projects or a specific technical problem-solving session depending on the team.

The onsite loop (usually conducted virtually) is comprehensive. You can expect a mix of rounds focusing on system design, people management, and technical coding or domain expertise. Unlike some companies that strictly separate "manager" and "coder" tracks, Aurora often blends them; you might face a coding challenge even as a manager candidate. The interviewers aim to simulate a working session, often providing hints or guidance if you get stuck, reflecting the company's collaborative culture.

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This timeline represents the standard flow, though specific teams like Hardware or Perception might add a domain-specific round. Use the time between the screen and the onsite to brush up on both your architectural patterns and your behavioral stories. The process is rigorous, but candidates consistently report a positive, friendly atmosphere where interviewers are genuinely interested in your thought process.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

Your evaluation will center on your ability to lead technically complex projects while managing a team. Based on the role's dual nature (TLM), you must be prepared to switch contexts rapidly between high-level strategy and low-level engineering details.

System Design and Architecture

For roles such as the Mapping or Security TLM, this is a critical evaluation area. You need to demonstrate how you build systems that are scalable, reliable, and maintainable.

Be ready to go over:

• Scalability: Designing systems that handle massive data throughput (e.g., HD Map storage).
• Reliability: Ensuring system uptime and data integrity in mission-critical environments.
• Trade-offs: discussing CAP theorem, consistency models, or storage costs versus latency.
• Advanced concepts: Data versioning strategies, offboard simulations, and enterprise security controls.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Design a scalable storage system for high-definition map data that supports frequent updates and versioning."
• "How would you architect an enterprise security solution to protect factory endpoints?"
• "Describe a time you had to refactor a legacy system while keeping it operational."

People Management and Leadership

Aurora needs leaders who can nurture talent. This section evaluates your emotional intelligence and management toolkit.

Be ready to go over:

• Team Building: Hiring strategies and onboarding processes.
• Performance Management: Setting goals, conducting 1:1s, and managing underperformance.
• Conflict Resolution: Mediating disputes between engineers or cross-functional teams.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Tell me about a time you managed a low-performing engineer. What was the outcome?"
• "How do you resolve technical disagreements between senior engineers on your team?"
• "Describe how you have fostered career growth for a high-potential individual."

Technical Execution and Domain Expertise

Because many EM roles are "Technical Lead Managers," you will be tested on your domain knowledge. For hardware roles, this means electrical validation; for software, it means coding or system internals.

Be ready to go over:

• Root Cause Analysis (RCCA): Methodologies for debugging complex field issues.
• Validation: Strategies for electrical validation of PCBAs or software testing frameworks.
• Project Management: How you translate strategy into executable engineering roadmaps.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk me through your process for validating a new PCBA design before mass production."
• "How do you prioritize technical debt against new feature development?"
• "Describe a complex technical bug your team faced and how you led the resolution."

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Key Responsibilities

As an Engineering Manager at Aurora, your day-to-day work is a blend of strategic planning and tactical execution. You are responsible for defining the technical strategy and product roadmap for your specific domain, whether that is the Aurora Atlas mapping system or Electrical Validation for hardware. You will oversee the execution of these roadmaps to hit critical development milestones, ensuring that the technology driving the Aurora Driver is robust and safe.

Collaboration is a massive part of this role. You will partner closely with cross-functional teams, including Hardware Systems, Safety, Test organizations, and Product Management. You are expected to be the bridge between your engineering team and these partners, translating complex technical requirements into clear goals. You will also serve as a hands-on technical lead, reviewing designs, approving code or schematics, and driving sustaining engineering efforts to resolve issues found in the field.

Role Requirements & Qualifications

Successful candidates for the Engineering Manager role at Aurora typically possess a strong technical background paired with proven management experience. The "TLM" title often used implies that you cannot be fully hands-off; you must retain your engineering edge.

• Must-have skills:

  • Proven Management Experience: A track record of leading, mentoring, and growing engineering teams (typically 2+ years of management).
  • Deep Technical Expertise: Strong background in the relevant domain (e.g., Distributed Systems, Electrical Engineering/PCBA, or Enterprise Security).
  • Hands-on Ability: Willingness to contribute to code reviews, architectural discussions, and technical debugging.
  • Strategic Thinking: Ability to define roadmaps and manage priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Nice-to-have skills:

  • Autonomous Vehicle Experience: Prior work in robotics, automotive, or safety-critical systems.
  • Specialized Domain Knowledge: Experience with HD Maps, high-throughput storage systems, or hardware validation labs.
  • Cross-functional Leadership: Demonstrated success in influencing partners outside of your immediate engineering organization.

Common Interview Questions

The questions below are representative of what you might face. Aurora's interviews are designed to test your thought process rather than your ability to memorize answers. Expect a mix of behavioral inquiries and technical scenarios tailored to the specific team you are applying for.

Behavioral and Leadership

These questions assess your management style and cultural fit.

• "Describe a time you had to deliver bad news to your team. How did you handle it?"
• "How do you balance the need for speed with the requirement for rigorous safety testing?"
• "Tell me about a time you had to influence a stakeholder who disagreed with your technical approach."
• "How do you handle a situation where a project is falling behind schedule?"

Technical and System Design

These questions test your engineering competence and architectural skills.

• "Design a system to ingest and version control massive amounts of mapping data."
• "How would you approach the electrical validation of a safety-critical module?"
• "Explain how you would secure a fleet of remote terminals in a factory environment."
• "What metrics would you use to measure the reliability of your team's services?"

Problem Solving and Execution

These questions focus on how you handle ambiguity and operational challenges.

• "You discover a critical bug in the field. Walk me through your Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) process."
• "How do you decide when a product is ready for release?"
• "Describe a technical failure you presided over. what did you learn?"

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will I be required to code during the interview? Yes, for most Technical Lead Manager roles, you should expect at least one round that involves coding or a deep technical review. Aurora values managers who can understand the codebase and assist their teams technically.

Q: Is this a remote role? Many Engineering Manager roles at Aurora, such as those in Mapping and Security, are listed as Remote. However, hardware-focused roles (like Electrical Validation) may require presence in labs or specific locations like Mountain View or Pittsburgh. Always check the specific job posting.

Q: How does Aurora define "Safety"? Safety is the core of Aurora's mission. In interviews, this isn't just a buzzword; it's an operational principle. You should be prepared to discuss how you build safety cases, validate reliability, and prioritize risk mitigation over feature velocity.

Q: What is the typical timeline for the interview process? The process is generally efficient. After the initial screen, you can expect a technical screen within a week, followed by an onsite loop shortly thereafter. Feedback is typically provided within a few days of the final round.

Other General Tips

Prioritize Safety in Every Answer: Whether you are designing a distributed system or managing a team conflict, always consider the safety implications. For Aurora, a system failure isn't just downtime; it impacts physical safety. Show that you understand this gravity.

Be Honest About What You Don't Know: Aurora has a culture of intellectual honesty. If you encounter a problem you haven't seen before, admit it and talk through how you would find the answer. Interviewers appreciate curiosity and integrity over feigned expertise.

Highlight Cross-Functional Empathy: You will work with hardware engineers, safety experts, and operations teams. Demonstrate that you respect these disciplines and know how to communicate effectively with non-software stakeholders.

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Prepare Your "War Stories": Have specific examples ready that demonstrate your experience with scaling systems or resolving hardware issues. Generic answers won't stand out as much as detailed narratives about specific challenges you've overcome.

Summary & Next Steps

Becoming an Engineering Manager at AURORA is an opportunity to lead at the cutting edge of transportation technology. You will be tasked with solving some of the most complex engineering challenges of our time, from validating mission-critical hardware to architecting the data systems that power self-driving vehicles. The role demands a leader who is technically sharp, deeply collaborative, and unwavering in their commitment to safety.

To succeed, focus your preparation on demonstrating your ability to balance technical leadership with people management. Review your system design fundamentals, prepare your leadership stories, and enter the interview with a mindset of collaboration. The interviewers want to see how you think and how you work with others to build the future of mobility.

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The compensation for this role is significant, reflecting the high level of expertise required. The salary range typically spans from $181,000 to $340,000 USD, depending on the specific domain (e.g., Mapping vs. Validation) and your level of experience. This base salary is generally complemented by equity packages and benefits, making the total compensation package highly competitive for the industry.

You have the skills and the experience to make an impact here. Approach the process with confidence, be authentic, and show them why you are the right leader to help Aurora deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely and broadly. Explore more insights on Dataford to fine-tune your preparation.