"Tell me about a time you had to build or rebuild trust with Product, Design, and other cross-functional partners at DISH — for example around the DISH Anywhere app, myDISH, or an internal platform initiative. What was causing the trust gap, what did you do personally, and what changed as a result?"
This question tests whether you can create strong working relationships across functions without relying on authority. For an Engineering Manager, trust with Product and Design is often built during moments of tension: missed commitments, unclear priorities, quality issues, or disagreement on scope and trade-offs. Interviewers want to see whether you can bring clarity, consistency, and accountability when teams have different incentives and incomplete information.
They are also looking for how you operate as a partner, not just as an engineering representative. Strong leaders make trade-offs explicit, communicate risk early, and follow through in ways that make Product and Design want to work with them again.
A strong answer uses one specific example with real stakes, explains the source of mistrust, and shows concrete actions you took to improve alignment, transparency, and delivery. The best responses include measurable outcomes, evidence that trust improved over time, and a reflection on what you learned about your own leadership style.