Changing job description half way through the interview process for senior software engineering manager position?

Question

I am interviewing for a company for a senior engineering manager position. The hiring manager mentioned in the first round that we don't want our managers to do coding. The vp in the final round said that if the managers are doing 40% of their work as management, that's a red flag for them. They expect their managers to be as IC as well.

I am a bit confused and asked him directly. He said he needs to have a conversation with the hiring manager. I am seeing red flags here. Or is this a tactic to get people to commit to more with than they are supposed to do?

Are senior engineering manager software jobs now 80% IC ?

19g616l42vpghh · Accepted Answer

In my experience companies that expect managers to contribute significantly as an IC are poorly managed. That’s a red flag on its own, let alone the executive level not being on the same page.

iphone5swasGOAT · Answer

It’s a major red flag. Given the role, these are your two direct bosses and the sole decision makers for whether you get fired or not. There’s a strong chance they don’t get along and someone is going to be out of the door, and you don’t want to be on the wrong side of that if the person who stays didn’t want you in the first place. If it’s your only offer it is what it is, but be cautious.

Fling69 · Answer

A senior engineering manager should be spending majority of their time to develop their team, not to do IC level work. If they want someone to be coding 80% of the time, hire another senior engineer

bringee · Answer

In my experience, the HM and VP are probably just really not on the same page with the expectation for the role. Not all Sr. Eng Manager jobs have a lot of IC work, but it for sure depends on the company. Some will have a lot, some will have none. I wouldn't think this is a sneaky tactic, but I might consider it a 'yellow' flag if they can't get on the same page about the role responsibilities.

19g6ukxz14zpe · Answer

How big is the team you will be leading

Changing job description half way through the interview process for senior software engineering manager position?

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