How to hire a senior engineering manager

How to hire a senior engineering manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior engineering manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior engineering manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior engineering manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a senior engineering manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the senior engineering manager you need to hire. Certain senior engineering manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A senior engineering manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior engineering managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of senior engineering managers.

   Type of Senior Engineering Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Engineering Manager	Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies.	$52-104
   Research And Development Director	A research and development director spearheads and oversees the research and development initiatives and projects in a company. It is their duty to set goals and guidelines, establish timelines and budgets, direct and manage different departments, liaise with internal and external parties, gather and analyze data to implement solutions against problem areas, and utilize expertise in developing strategies to optimize company operations... Show more	$45-96
   Research And Development Manager	A research and development manager is responsible for supervising project development procedures to support business operations and identify business opportunities that would pave the way for more revenue resources and profits. Research and development managers monitor the production plans from the conceptualization to the final outputs, inspecting inconsistencies and flaws in every phase and revising strategies as needed to achieve the required specifications and requirements... Show more	$37-83

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Java
   • Architecture
   • Cloud
   • Infrastructure
   • Software Development
   • Project Management
   • Emerging Technologies
   • SR
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Scrum
   • Azure
   • Product Management
   • C++
   • Program Management

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead PCB design activities for achieving signal integrity and EMC/EMI compliances.
   • Manage and lead technical NPI cross-functional team, focal contact and liaison for manufacturing supply chain.
   • Direct and manage all FEA & CFD activities including hardware and software system activities.
   • Promote lead engineer to manage new internal SDLC, cutting bug-fix time from weeks to days.
   • Manage all aspects of geotechnical engineering projects from proposal preparation to review of invoices and collection of fees.
   • Develop quotes and proposals, track budgets and headcount needs, and manage outsourcing of high-volume PCB or tester builds.

   More senior engineering manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior engineering manager job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A senior engineering manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a senior engineering manager in Kansas may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level senior engineering manager usually earns less than a senior-level senior engineering manager. Additionally, a senior engineering manager with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average senior engineering manager salary

   $155,753yearly

   $74.88 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior engineering manager salary

   $110,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

   Average senior engineering manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$186,726	$90
   2	Washington	$166,314	$80
   3	New York	$149,264	$72
   4	Massachusetts	$146,751	$71
   5	Arizona	$141,078	$68
   6	Pennsylvania	$133,600	$64
   7	District of Columbia	$133,083	$64
   8	Indiana	$132,623	$64
   9	Utah	$131,158	$63
   10	Texas	$130,629	$63
   11	Ohio	$124,791	$60
   12	Georgia	$124,181	$60
   13	North Carolina	$123,748	$59
   14	Minnesota	$123,676	$59
   15	Illinois	$123,556	$59
   16	Florida	$121,396	$58
   17	Colorado	$120,261	$58
   18	Virginia	$120,144	$58
   19	Arkansas	$119,468	$57
   20	Missouri	$119,117	$57

   Average senior engineering manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Airbnb	$244,234	$117.42	2
   2	Flexport	$236,916	$113.90	6
   3	Upstart Network	$228,970	$110.08
   4	Pure Storage	$228,562	$109.89	20
   5	Squarespace	$226,401	$108.85	1
   6	Google	$224,979	$108.16	227
   7	Twitter	$223,240	$107.33
   8	Coinbase	$223,232	$107.32	485
   9	Strava	$220,636	$106.08	4
   10	Thumbtack	$218,976	$105.28
   11	Credit Karma	$218,575	$105.08
   12	Reddit	$218,186	$104.90	6
   13	DoorDash	$217,034	$104.34	79
   14	Eventbrite	$216,240	$103.96
   15	ConsumerTrack	$215,223	$103.47
   16	Course Hero	$214,449	$103.10
   17	Instacart	$213,098	$102.45	4
   18	TripActions	$211,662	$101.76
   19	Uber Technologies	$211,359	$101.61
   20	Cruise Automation	$210,208	$101.06

4. Writing a senior engineering manager job description

   A senior engineering manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a senior engineering manager job description:

   Senior engineering manager job description example

   As an experienced member of our Digital Connected Banking Software Engineering Group, we look first and foremost for people who are passionate around solving business problems through innovation and engineering practices. You'll be required to apply your depth of knowledge and expertise to all aspects of the software development lifecycle, as well as partner continuously with your many stakeholders on a daily basis to stay focused on common goals. We embrace a culture of experimentation and constantly strive for improvement and learning. You'll work in a collaborative, trusting, thought-provoking environment-one that encourages diversity of thought and creative solutions that are in the best interests of our customers globally.
   This role requires a wide variety of strengths and capabilities, including:
   BS/BA degree or equivalent experience Expert in cloud-native highly-scalable software development of microservices using Spring Framework (Spring MVC, Spring Boot, and Spring Cloud) Solid experience working with Relational (RDBMS) and NoSQL databases Worked with Splunk and ELK stack for creating monitoring and analytics solutions Expertise in application, data, and infrastructure architecture disciplines Experience in CI/CD processes and test automation for software delivery Advanced knowledge of architecture and design across all systems Proficiency in multiple modern programming languages Knowledge of industry-wide technology trends and best practices Have 2+ years of experience managing software development teams in a fast-paced Agile context Keen understanding of financial control and budget management Ability to work in large, collaborative teams to achieve organizational goals Passionate about building an innovative culture Familiar with building UI solutions using ReactJS framework is a plus
   
   JPMorgan Chase & Co., one of the oldest financial institutions, offers innovative financial solutions to millions of consumers, small businesses and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Our history spans over 200 years and today we are a leader in investment banking, consumer and small business banking, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management.
   
   We recognize that our people are our strength and the diverse talents they bring to our global workforce are directly linked to our success. We are an equal opportunity employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.
   
   The health and safety of our colleagues, candidates, clients and communities has been a top priority in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. JPMorgan Chase was awarded the "WELL Health-Safety Rating" for all of our 6,200 locations globally based on our operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement and emergency plans to address a post-COVID-19 environment.
   
   As a part of our commitment to health and safety, we have implemented various COVID-related health and safety requirements for our workforce. Employees are expected to follow the Firm's current COVID-19 or other infectious disease health and safety requirements, including local requirements. Requirements include sharing information including your vaccine card in the firm's vaccine record tool, and may include mask wearing. Requirements may change in the future with the evolving public health landscape. JPMorgan Chase will consider accommodation requests as required by applicable law.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veterans

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right senior engineering manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with senior engineering managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit senior engineering managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior engineering manager job on Zippia to find and recruit senior engineering manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting senior engineering managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior engineering manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the senior engineering manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new senior engineering manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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