Staff Engineer, Tech Lead

<meta><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;"=""><b><strong style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">About the Role:</strong></b></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">As a Staff Engineer Tech Lead, you will lead a small team of engineers (approximately four direct reports) while continuing to contribute hands-on to the technical direction and delivery of our platform. This is an explicit player-coach role: roughly half of your time goes into the technical tasks like architecture, implementation, and code review while the other half goes into the growth, performance, and delivery of the people you lead.</span></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><br></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">You will own several product areas. Your direct reports may or may not be working on the same projects you’re leading. You’ll set the technical direction, make the hard scoping calls, and stay close enough to the code to be credible when you make them. You will work across our modern stack to build solutions for both external customers and internal teams.</span></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><br></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;"=""><b><strong style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">What You'll Do:</strong></b></p><ul data-pattern="discCircleSquare" data-depth="1" style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;margin:8px="" 0px;line-height:1.6;padding:0px="" 0px="" 32px;list-style-type:disc;"=""><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Lead the design and implementation of complex, scalable, and performant software systems as a hands-on contributor on roadmap-critical work.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Manage, mentor, coach, and grow ~4 engineers through weekly 1:1s, clear goals, direct feedback, performance reviews, and career planning.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Own delivery for your projects end-to-end — scoping, sequencing, and shipping with Product and Design partners.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Lead technical discussions, design reviews, and code reviews to ensure engineering excellence.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Contribute to cross-team engineering practices (e.g. code review, incident response, and planning) beyond your own team.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Collaborate across distributed teams using Slack, documentation, and video calls.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Adapt to evolving business needs while maintaining focus on delivering user value.</span></li></ul><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;"=""><br></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;"=""><b><strong style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">What You'll Bring:</strong></b></p><ul data-pattern="discCircleSquare" data-depth="1" style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;margin:8px="" 0px;line-height:1.6;padding:0px="" 0px="" 32px;list-style-type:disc;"=""><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">8+ years of software development experience, with 2-3 years directly managing engineers through performance cycles, promotions, and hiring.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Staff-level technical depth. You can lead the hardest piece of work on your team, not just delegate it, with strong opinions on system design, testing, and code quality.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Strong experience across our tech stack (TypeScript, React, NestJS, GraphQL, REST, PostgreSQL, Redis, GCP) or adjacent stacks you can ramp on quickly.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">A track record of balancing meaningful IC contribution with people leadership in a player-coach role, without dropping either.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Proven ability to manage complex software projects and deliver impactful results.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Excellent communication and collaboration skills in a remote, async-first environment.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">A passion for continuous learning and staying current with emerging technologies.</span></li></ul><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><br></p><hr><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><br></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><b><strong style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Why You’ll Love Working Here:</strong></b></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><br><span style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">We live our values every day: </span><b><strong style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Team First, Work Smart, Own It, Be Bold, Push Boundaries</strong></b><span style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">. If that sounds like you, you’ll fit right in</span></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><br></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><b><strong style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">What We Offer:</strong></b></p><ul data-pattern="discCircleSquare" data-depth="1" style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;margin:8px="" 0px;line-height:1.6;padding:0px="" 0px="" 32px;list-style-type:disc;"=""><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Competitive pay with equity</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Medical, dental, and vision coverage</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Flexible PTO and company holidays</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Remote-friendly setup with home office support</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Learning and development budget</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Wellness stipend to support your health and well-being</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Paid parental leave</span></li></ul><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><i><em style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Benefits may vary by location and role.</em></i></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><br></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><span style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">If you’re motivated by impact and aligned with our values, we want to hear from you. You don’t need to meet every single requirement — we care about your skills, drive, and how you work with a team.</span></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><br></p><hr><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><br></p><p style="font-family:" basel="" grotesk",arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px="" 0px;padding:0px;"=""><b><strong style="font-size:10pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Service Up is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse, inclusive workplace where everyone can do their best work.</strong></b></p>

Back to blog

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...