Airbnb Engineering Director (Staff Level) Interview Preparation Guide
Engineering Director
Airbnb
Staff
6 rounds
Updated 2/22/2026
The interview process for an Engineering Director (Staff level) at Airbnb typically consists of an initial recruiter screening, followed by phone-based technical and leadership discussions, and concludes with a full-day onsite round involving multiple interviewers assessing technical depth, leadership capability, architectural thinking, cross-functional collaboration, and cultural alignment. The process emphasizes demonstrated ability to lead at scale, influence without direct authority, drive technical strategy, and embody Airbnb's core values around belonging and trust.
Interview Rounds
1
Recruiter Screening
30 min3 focus topicsculture fit
2
Technical Leadership Phone Screen
45 min4 focus topicstechnical
3
Engineering Strategy and Roadmap Phone Screen
45 min4 focus topicscase study
4
Behavioral and Leadership Interview - Team Development
50 min5 focus topicsbehavioral
5
Organizational Impact and Strategic Influence Interview
50 min5 focus topicsbehavioral
6
System Design and Technical Deep Dive - Infrastructure and Scalability
60 min5 focus topicssystem design