Preparation for Dave requires a balance of deep technical empathy and high-level strategic communication. You are expected to demonstrate both the ability to "dive deep" into architectural issues and the soft skills required to lead through influence.

Technical Competency – You must demonstrate a firm grasp of distributed systems and data integrity. Interviewers look for your ability to explain complex technical trade-offs clearly, ensuring that you prioritize reliability and scale.

Strategic Influence – As a manager, your ability to align your team’s roadmap with broader company goals is critical. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritize work and how you communicate technical risks to non-technical stakeholders.

Leadership Maturity – You will be evaluated on your ability to coach, retain, and inspire engineers. Emphasize your specific methodology for career development and your ability to navigate difficult interpersonal dynamics.

The interview process at Dave is designed to evaluate both your technical depth and your leadership maturity. Typically, you can expect an initial screening with a recruiter, followed by technical assessments and deeper dives with senior engineering leadership. The process is rigorous and aims to identify leaders who are not only technically proficient but also capable of driving cultural excellence.

Expect the process to move at a steady pace, but be prepared for a high bar regarding preparation. Successful candidates are those who demonstrate a clear understanding of the company's business model and show proactive engagement throughout the interview stages.

This module outlines the typical stages you will navigate, from the initial screen to the final on-site or virtual panel. Use this timeline to pace your study and ensure you are prepared for the shift from technical to leadership-focused conversations as you progress.

People Management and Development

This area is non-negotiable for an Engineering Manager. You are expected to show how you build, grow, and retain talent.

Be ready to go over:

• Coaching techniques for junior vs. senior engineers.
• Handling performance management and difficult conversations.
• Strategies for improving team morale and retention.

Example scenarios:

• "How do you handle a situation where a high-performing engineer is disengaged?"
• "Describe your process for conducting 1-on-1s."

Technical Execution and Delivery

You must prove you can get things done. This involves project management, risk mitigation, and technical oversight.

Be ready to go over:

• Managing sprint cycles and delivery expectations.
• Identifying and mitigating technical risks early in a project.
• Balancing feature work with infrastructure hardening.

Example scenarios:

• "How do you manage a project that is falling behind schedule?"
• "How do you handle a disagreement between two senior engineers on an architectural approach?"

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Dave relies on tight integration between engineering, product, and operations. You must show you can play well with others.

Be ready to go over:

• How you translate product requirements into technical roadmaps.
• Managing expectations with stakeholders during outages or delays.
• Working with data and legal/compliance teams in a regulated space.

Example scenarios:

• "How do you push back on a product requirement that you believe is technically unsound?"
• "Describe a time you collaborated with a non-technical department to solve a systemic issue."

As an Engineering Manager at Dave, your day-to-day will be split between high-level strategic planning and hands-on team enablement. You will be expected to own the delivery of specific product features, particularly those related to Accounting & Reconciliation. This means you will frequently collaborate with product managers to define scope, and with senior engineers to ensure that the underlying infrastructure is scalable and accurate.

A significant portion of your time will be spent on team health. You are responsible for ensuring your engineers are clear on their goals, have the resources they need to succeed, and are growing in their careers. You will also be the primary point of contact for resolving cross-team dependencies, ensuring that technical blockers are removed quickly so that the team can maintain a high development velocity.

To be competitive for this role, you should possess a blend of hands-on technical experience and proven leadership capability.

• Must-have skills: 5+ years of experience in software engineering, with at least 2 years in a management or team lead capacity. Experience with distributed systems and high-volume data processing is highly valued.
• Nice-to-have skills: Experience in fintech or accounting software, familiarity with regulatory compliance, and a background in scaling teams from mid-size to large.
• Leadership: A track record of hiring, mentoring, and managing high-performing engineers.

Q: How difficult is the interview process? A: The difficulty is generally rated as average, but the rigor is high. You should expect a comprehensive evaluation that tests both your technical architectural knowledge and your management philosophy.

Q: What is the typical timeline? A: The process can span 4 weeks or longer. Ensure you are prepared to engage consistently throughout this period and follow up appropriately.

Q: What is the company culture like? A: Dave values autonomy and impact. As a manager, you are expected to be an owner of your team’s outcomes and to foster a culture of transparency.

Q: Should I be prepared for system design? A: Yes. Even as a manager, you will be expected to demonstrate a deep understanding of system architecture, especially regarding data consistency and scalability.

• Own your narrative: Be prepared to speak to your specific contributions in your previous roles. Vague descriptions of "team achievements" will not suffice.
• Prepare for the "Why": Always be ready to explain the "why" behind your technical decisions. This demonstrates strategic thinking rather than just task execution.
• Ask thoughtful questions: Use your time at the end of the interview to ask about team growth, technical debt, or the company’s long-term vision. This shows you are seriously considering the impact you will have.
• Be ready for pushback: Interviewers may challenge your answers to test your conviction and reasoning. Stay calm, acknowledge the counter-point, and explain your rationale.

The Engineering Manager role at Dave offers a unique opportunity to lead in a high-stakes, high-impact environment. By demonstrating both your technical expertise and your commitment to team development, you can position yourself as a leader who delivers results while fostering a healthy engineering culture.

Focus your preparation on articulating your management style, providing concrete examples of your leadership successes, and demonstrating a clear understanding of the technical challenges inherent in fintech. You have the potential to make a significant impact here—prepare with confidence, stay focused on your strengths, and approach every conversation as an opportunity to demonstrate your leadership value.