What is an Engineering Manager at TotalEnergies?

As an Engineering Manager at TotalEnergies, you occupy a pivotal leadership role within one of the world’s largest multi-energy companies. You are responsible for driving the technical excellence and operational safety of projects that power millions. Your work sits at the intersection of traditional energy reliability and the ambitious global transition toward carbon neutrality and renewable energy solutions.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams of engineers to deliver complex infrastructure and digital solutions. Your impact is measured by your ability to manage high-stakes technical risks while fostering an environment of innovation and continuous improvement. Whether you are overseeing offshore operations, refining technologies, or new solar and wind initiatives, your leadership ensures that TotalEnergies remains a competitive leader in the global energy landscape.

This role is not just about technical oversight; it is about strategic influence. You will be expected to bridge the gap between high-level business objectives and ground-level execution. By navigating the complexities of international regulations, environmental standards, and evolving technology stacks, you play a direct part in shaping the future of energy.

Common Interview Questions

Expect a mix of behavioral and situational questions. The interviewers want to see how you think, how you lead, and how you deliver.

Behavioral and Leadership (STAR Method)

These questions test your past behavior as a predictor of future performance. Always structure these using the STAR framework.

• Tell me about your greatest achievement as an Engineering Manager.
• Describe a time you had to deliver bad news to senior management.
• Give an example of a time you had to manage a project with competing priorities and limited resources.
• Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn, and how did you apply that to your next project?
• Describe a situation where you had to influence a stakeholder who disagreed with your technical direction.

Technical and Project Management

These questions focus on your ability to handle the "Engineering" part of your title.

• How do you handle technical debt in a fast-paced environment?
• Describe your process for conducting a post-mortem after a project failure.
• How do you evaluate whether to build a solution in-house or purchase a third-party tool?
• Walk me through your approach to resource planning for a multi-year project.
• How do you stay current with emerging technologies in the energy sector?

Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparing for an Engineering Manager interview at TotalEnergies requires a dual focus on your technical pedigree and your ability to articulate leadership through structured storytelling. The company values clarity, safety-conscious decision-making, and a proven track record of delivering results in high-pressure environments.

Technical Project Oversight – Interviewers will evaluate your ability to manage the lifecycle of complex engineering projects. You must demonstrate a deep understanding of resource allocation, budget management, and the technical hurdles specific to the energy sector. Strength in this area is shown by discussing how you’ve balanced technical debt with long-term scalability.

Strategic Leadership – At this level, TotalEnergies looks for managers who can inspire teams and manage stakeholders across different regions and functions. You should be prepared to discuss how you handle conflict, mentor junior engineers, and drive a culture of accountability.

Safety and Compliance (HSE) – Safety is a non-negotiable core value at TotalEnergies. You will be assessed on your commitment to Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) standards. Be ready to provide examples of how you have prioritized safety protocols in past projects, even when faced with tight deadlines.

Problem-Solving and Adaptability – The energy industry is subject to rapid market shifts and regulatory changes. Interviewers look for candidates who can remain composed under pressure and pivot strategies when project requirements or environmental conditions change unexpectedly.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process for an Engineering Manager at TotalEnergies is designed to be straightforward, professional, and highly structured. Candidates typically describe the experience as "seamless," with a clear feedback mechanism from senior management. The company aims to minimize ambiguity, ensuring that expectations are met at every stage of the journey.

You can expect a process that balances behavioral assessments with deep-dive technical discussions. The focus is rarely on trick questions; instead, the panel seeks to understand your actual achievements and your methodology for leading teams. Senior management is often involved early or in the final stages to ensure cultural alignment and strategic fit within the broader organization.

The visual timeline above outlines the typical progression from the initial screening to the final decision. Candidates should use this to pace their preparation, focusing on high-level achievements during early screens and shifting toward detailed project post-mortems and strategic planning during the later rounds. Note that while the stages are consistent, the involvement of specific global business units may add slight variations to the timeline.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

People Leadership and Team Development

This area focuses on your ability to build, retain, and grow high-performing engineering teams. TotalEnergies operates on a global scale, meaning you must be adept at managing diverse teams, often across different time zones and cultural backgrounds. Interviewers want to see that you are a "multiplier" who elevates the performance of those around you.

Be ready to go over:

• Conflict Resolution – How you handle disagreements within your team or between engineering and other departments.
• Mentorship and Growth – Your specific strategies for developing the career paths of your direct reports.
• Performance Management – How you navigate underperformance and set clear, measurable goals for your team.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Tell me about a time you had to lead a team through a significant period of change or ambiguity."
• "Describe a situation where you had to manage a high-performing individual who was causing friction within the team."

Technical Strategy and Execution

While you may not be coding or designing daily, you must maintain a high level of technical authority. This evaluation area tests your ability to make sound technical decisions that align with business goals. You will be asked to justify your choices regarding technology stacks, vendor selections, and architecture.

Be ready to go over:

• Project Lifecycle Management – Your approach to scoping, planning, and executing multi-year engineering initiatives.
• Risk Mitigation – Identifying technical bottlenecks before they become critical failures.
• Operational Excellence – Implementing processes that improve efficiency and reduce downtime.
• Advanced concepts – Transitioning legacy systems to cloud-based infrastructures, integrating IoT in energy monitoring, and implementing AI-driven predictive maintenance.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk us through a complex technical project you led from inception to completion, focusing on the trade-offs you made."
• "How do you ensure that your team maintains high standards of technical documentation and code quality?"

Operational Safety and HSE Excellence

In the energy sector, an Engineering Manager is a guardian of safety. You must demonstrate that you treat Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) as a foundational element of engineering, not an afterthought. This is often a deciding factor in the hiring process at TotalEnergies.

Be ready to go over:

• Incident Response – How you have handled technical failures or safety incidents in the past.
• Regulatory Compliance – Your experience working within international and local safety frameworks.
• Safety Culture – How you instill a "safety-first" mindset in your engineering teams.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Give an example of a time you halted a project because of a safety concern. How did you manage the stakeholder reaction?"
• "How do you balance the need for rapid delivery with the rigorous requirements of safety testing?"

Key Responsibilities

As an Engineering Manager, your primary responsibility is the successful delivery of technical assets and systems that support TotalEnergies' energy portfolio. You will manage the end-to-end engineering process, ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and in strict adherence to safety standards. You are the primary point of contact for technical health within your business unit.

You will collaborate closely with Product Managers, Operations Leads, and Finance Teams to ensure that engineering efforts are aligned with the company's strategic roadmap. This involves translating complex technical requirements into actionable plans that non-technical stakeholders can understand. You will also be responsible for budget forecasting and resource planning, ensuring your team has the tools and headcount necessary to succeed.

Beyond project delivery, you are expected to drive innovation. This includes identifying new technologies that can reduce the carbon footprint of existing operations or improve the efficiency of renewable energy production. You will lead the adoption of best practices in DevOps, automation, and data-driven decision-making across your organization.

Role Requirements & Qualifications

A successful candidate for the Engineering Manager position must blend deep technical expertise with sophisticated leadership skills. TotalEnergies looks for professionals who have spent significant time in the trenches of engineering before moving into management.

• Technical skills – Proficiency in project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall), familiarity with energy-specific engineering software, and a strong grasp of data analytics and system architecture.
• Experience level – Typically 8–12 years of experience in engineering, with at least 3–5 years in a formal leadership or management capacity.
• Soft skills – Exceptional communication, the ability to negotiate with global stakeholders, and a "calm-under-fire" mentality.

Must-have skills:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or Software, depending on the unit).
• Proven experience using the STAR model to describe professional achievements.
• Demonstrated commitment to HSE standards.

Nice-to-have skills:

• Experience in the energy transition sector (Solar, Wind, Hydrogen).
• Professional certifications such as PMP or Agile Coach.
• Experience working in a global, matrixed organization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How difficult is the Engineering Manager interview at TotalEnergies? The difficulty is generally rated as average to high, depending on your familiarity with the energy sector. The process is rigorous but fair, focusing more on your actual experience than on abstract brain-teasers or high-pressure coding tests.

Q: What is the most important thing to emphasize during the interview? Your ability to deliver results while maintaining a strict focus on safety and HSE. TotalEnergies is a safety-first organization, and demonstrating that you share this value is critical for any leadership role.

Q: How long does the entire process usually take? While it varies by location, the process typically moves from initial screen to offer within 4 to 8 weeks. The company is known for having a "straightforward" pattern, meaning you are unlikely to face unnecessary delays between rounds.

Q: Do I need prior experience in the Oil & Gas industry? While highly beneficial, it is not always a strict requirement, especially for roles in the Renewables or Digital divisions. However, you must demonstrate the ability to apply your engineering management skills to large-scale, complex physical or digital assets.

Other General Tips

• Master the STAR Model: This cannot be overstated. Your interviewers will specifically look for you to define the Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Practice your top five career stories in this format until they feel natural.
• Research the Energy Transition: Be prepared to discuss how TotalEnergies is moving toward its Net Zero 2050 goal. Showing that you understand the company’s strategic shift will set you apart from other candidates.
• Highlight Global Collaboration: If you have experience working with international teams, emphasize this. TotalEnergies operates in over 130 countries, and cross-cultural competence is a significant asset.

• Ask Strategic Questions: Use your time at the end of the interview to ask about the team’s long-term roadmap or how the department contributes to the company's broader sustainability goals. This shows you are thinking like a partner, not just an employee.

Summary & Next Steps

The Engineering Manager role at TotalEnergies is a prestigious and high-impact position that offers the opportunity to lead at the forefront of the global energy evolution. By combining technical discipline with modern leadership practices, you will guide teams through the challenges of providing reliable, affordable, and clean energy to the world.

To succeed in this interview, focus on articulating your leadership journey through the STAR model, emphasizing your commitment to safety, and demonstrating a clear understanding of the company's strategic goals. The process is designed to be a transparent exchange of information, so come prepared with concrete examples of your achievements and a clear vision for how you can contribute to the team's success.

The compensation data provided above reflects the competitive nature of the Engineering Manager role. When reviewing these figures, consider the total package, which often includes performance bonuses and comprehensive benefits. Use this information to benchmark your expectations and inform your discussions during the final stages of the process. For more detailed insights and community-driven data, explore the resources available on Dataford.