Coinbase Technical Program Manager Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our Coinbase interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view six answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
Behavioral
1. Why are you interested in crypto, and how do you stay educated on the latest developments?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
An interviewer at Coinbase may ask this question because the crypto industry requires specialized knowledge and it experiences a high rate of change. Coinbase hires talented individuals who use their excitement about crypto to foster solid continuous learning practices.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to mention using the educational materials generated by Coinbase in your response. Coinbase is a go-to source for beginners and seasoned investors. They also educate corporations. Demonstrating your knowledge of these important functions of the Coinbase company model will add value to any interview.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I have always been interested in ways to maximize assets for my family. A major goal I have for us is to find financial freedom in the future. I first started learning about crypto investing in 2018. I began by watching videos and reading articles. At first, it felt risky to invest in crypto, but I became comfortable with it over time. I value the decentralization aspect of crypto and I enjoy reading stories of how individuals have leveraged crypto to generate personal wealth in ways traditional investing does not allow.
I really appreciate the educational materials available at Coinbase. I have friends and family interested in crypto and I always send them to your website and encourage them to download the app. I feel like the materials there break down all of the terms in an easy-to-understand and relatable way. I also use the Coinbase materials to continue learning myself. I follow Coinbases's blog in addition to what is available within the app. Additionally, I follow several individuals online, and read financial articles regularly to stay up-to-date."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Behavioral
2. What are some ways you generate positive energy within a team?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Every open job at Coinbase mentions positive energy as the first attribute a member of their team possesses. Interviewers ask this question to assess whether the methods a candidate would use to offer positivity to their team are in alignment with the values of Coinbase.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include an optimistic view of the future in your response. This is valued at Coinbase and the work they do is in direct alignment with having a positive impact on the future.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I am naturally a positive person. I like to smile and laugh and I try to incorporate those behaviors regularly in a workplace appropriate way. Conversely, I recognize that challenges and struggles are real. In a team setting, I strive to validate the concerns of others and not look the other way simply because something has a negative aspect to it. Instead, I inspire trust in others by being honest about how I am feeling and then balancing those feelings by exploring the positive aspects of the situation simultaneously. I find this to be an authentic approach that generates more positive energy than simply ignoring the negative and always painting everything in a positive light.
I take the same approach when brainstorming to imagine future outcomes with my teams. The future is what we come together to create, and while there may be risks or issues, we always have the opportunity to add value. I like to remind my teams of this when we are in a tough spot. I also like to encourage everyone to enjoy the easier times to the fullest. This includes facilitating social activities, encouraging regular breaks, and taking time away from the office to rejuvenate and find perspective."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Behavioral
3. What is the 80/20 rule, and can you provide an example of how you have applied it in the past?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Coinbase interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate understands this key principle that many companies have adopted over the years. The Pareto Principle is a simple method used to focus workstreams and encourage alignment among employees. Interviewers seek candidates that understand how to apply it properly.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to state the business benefit that was realized in your example. In the event you have not applied the principle directly, discuss a time when you worked on a project that forced you to work on items outside of the top twenty percent that added minimal value to the organization involved.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"The 80/20 rule states that eighty percent of the value of the work done by an individual, on a project, or at a higher level will be derived from focusing on twenty percent of the most impactful work. For example, Microsoft found that they could solve eighty percent of the crashes and errors in their software by resolving the top twenty percent of the reported issues with their systems.
I applied this principle directly in my work as a product owner at my last company. I held brainstorming sessions with my business owners and stakeholders to drive out a list of opportunities and issues with our product. We then did an impact assessment and used it to help us prioritize the list. We had much more work than we had left in our budget for the year, so I suggested we apply the 80/20 rule. We identified the top twenty percent of the items we had prioritized and identified those items as our features that would be the most impactful to work on. We left the other items in the list as possibilities to work on once the top twenty percent was complete, and we quickly found that many of those items became non-issues once the top items had been developed and released.
The top twenty percent created a significant reduction in operating costs and allowed for staff augmentation. We were also able to increase sales. Once we got into the forty to fifty percent range of the features, we noticed the impact dropped off sharply and we decided to move resources off of the development of this product and onto some higher priority work for another product."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Behavioral
4. What behaviors contribute to success working in a remote team setting?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Many of the positions at Coinbase are remote. Additionally, most work is done in a team setting. This question is asked to determine why a candidate feels they would be successful in this type of working environment.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to consider holistic behaviors in your answer. For example, behaviors that foster an optimal physical working environment can be as important as those that set the stage for mental success.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I enjoy working remotely. I find it offers freedoms that I am not able to create in an office setting. However, it takes effort and focus to be successful, and I have developed several practices that help me to thrive remotely.
First, I create an optimal physical environment. I have a dedicated home office and a quiet space for working and meetings. I also have other options to move around to in my home or my community when I need a change of pace. My main goal is to create balance. That includes sometimes getting up for a stretch, a walk, or just ten minutes in the sun here and there.
Secondly, I make sure that I have ways to stay connected to others. This includes fostering solid social relationships outside of the workplace, but it also includes learning about my coworkers and caring about their personal health and wellness. I enjoy team-building events and I facilitated them remotely on a regular basis in my last role.
I also believe it is important to keep a regular schedule. I find it helps me maintain a steady pace and it helps my team know what to expect of me. I try to log in around the same time each day and connect with my teammates to communicate any needs we have individually or collectively. Setting expectations early and often ensures that we minimize delay and work as efficiently as possible."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Discovery
5. What experience do you have designing and developing technology solutions?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Technical program managers are not always involved in the design and development of the solutions they implement, but they are often involved in explaining the capabilities and impact of technology solutions to their clients. Coinbase interviewers who ask this question want to ensure the candidate they select has the knowledge necessary to perform these tasks, and in some cases, participate directly in the process of solution development.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include your experience in consulting or analytical roles within your response. Analytical roles directly support the scale, feasibility, and requirements for technology solutions.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I began my career as a business systems analyst. I was responsible for gathering business requirements and translating them into specifications for custom software solutions. I helped our development team design the solutions we implemented, and I also participated in code reviews and testing. I have experience working on teams that developed cloud solutions, web apps, mobile apps, and analytic solutions for customers across multiple lines of business including HR, finance, accounting, and operations.
My development experience is limited. I have experience writing queries and analyzing large data sets. I have also developed reports and dashboards for customers using tools like Tableau."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Discovery
6. Please describe your ITIL experience.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The Information Technology Infrastructure Library is a framework for IT activities such as service management, service delivery, and asset management. Coinbase interviewers ask this question to determine if a candidate has the experience, education, or certification necessary to perform service delivery duties within their framework.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to specify the expiration date of any past ITIL certifications in your response. This demonstrates integrity and understanding of the process. Interviewers often find past certification acceptable as the conceptual framework is similar between the various versions of ITIL.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I am ITIL v4 certified. We used ServiceNow at my last company to help us streamline ITSM workflows. I was also trained on ITIL v3. I appreciate that version four focuses on setting the stage for the co-creation of value between the customer and a service organization. This shift in mentality went a long way towards fostering the empowerment of our customers to directly participate in the process and enhance the value of the service they received."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Discovery
7. What do you imagine 'taking 100% responsibility for achieving the mission of Coinbase' looks like for a technical program manager?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The mission of setting the stage for worldwide economic freedom is the top priority of Coinbase. Interviewers ask this question to determine how a technical program manager would ensure the teams they lead continually contribute to this mission.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include ways to improve operations from within the teams you work on in addition to any customer-facing initiatives. Operational efficiencies can help a company free resources to invest in other areas that contribute directly to the mission of Coinbase.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"As a technical program manager at Coinbase, I feel I could demonstrate 100% responsibility for achieving the mission of Coinbase in a number of ways. Essentially, I would apply my end-to-end ownership skill set to the mission of the company. This would have three main aspects.
First, I would ensure that any strategic planning initiatives I engage in with my business stakeholders clearly align with the mission. Any high-level features or plans that do not speak directly to the development of worldwide economic freedom should be questioned further and redesigned as necessary.
Next, I would ensure that my teams understand fully the business goals and how they specifically contribute to the mission of Coinbase. Additionally, I would foster an environment where we continually ask ourselves how the decisions we make as project teams align with the mission. For example, if we are trying to decide on new technology for a customer feature, we should make our selection based on the tool that best sets the stage for our customers to educate themselves and easily invest in crypto.
Finally, I would encourage my teams to continually improve our own internal operations, education, and processes. Any improvements we could make in these areas lead to cost reduction that could potentially free resources to be invested in areas that have a direct impact on the mission of the company."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Discovery
8. Describe an operational efficiency a team you led as a program manager was responsible for.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Operational efficiencies free capital and other resources for investment in other areas of a business. Coinbase strives to work as efficiently as possible to allow as much of its resources to be focused on its company mission as possible. Interviewers ask this question to ensure the candidate they select has experience identifying and implementing these value-add opportunities.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to clearly describe the problem state, what specifically you did to resolve the problem, and the operational impact your solution had. The STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) model works well for this question.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I supported a business stakeholder group that worked in a 24x7 mission-critical operations environment in my last program manager role. Our company began adopting ITIL standards to streamline a number of workflows, and I asked to be included in the certification process. I felt I would be able to better serve our clients if we implemented higher-quality application support procedures. My team was currently resolving incidents that should have been easily addressed by the customer themselves, or by our tier one support group. The engineers and analysts on my teams were frustrated because our time was better served developing new solutions to drive sales and business operations.
We implemented ServiceNow for incident management and I led our team's efforts to define our queues, develop our knowledgebase documentation, and define the experience for end-users who wanted to report their own incidents. Our previous self-service incident management tool was difficult for our users to understand, and tickets often went to the wrong queues resulting in delays and frustration.
I coordinated with our business stakeholders to offer them training on the new system and taught them how to properly report incidents. We developed online training tools that could be used whenever new employees were onboarded. They loved the new design and were thrilled when their tickets were resolved twenty-three percent faster on average after a six-month rollout period. We also saw a thirty-two percent reduction in the overall number of incidents logged due to the quality of the knowledge base and training materials they had easy access to. These changes resulted in a $78,000 reduction in operating expenses within the first year alone."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Discovery
9. What enterprise application stakeholders have you supported, and what kinds of enterprise application projects do you have experience with?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Some technical program manager positions focus on the development and support of enterprise technology and back-office teams. A Coinbase interviewer responsible for filling a role within this area is likely to ask this question.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include custom development as well as third-party vendor implementations in your answer. Coinbase leverages a mix of vendor-developed and custom-developed technology within its enterprise applications suite of solutions.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I began my IT career as a business systems analyst working on a custom development team that supported enterprise applications for our legal, HR, properties, and security groups. I participated in a number of development initiatives to build systems from scratch that aligned with unique business needs. For example, I helped design a custom legal contract system that held the commitment data for all of the talent and senior management contracts within our company. I also assisted in the implementation and integration of several vendor-provided solutions for asset management, and security functions like badge processing.
As an IT consultant, I was responsible for strategic planning and roadmap development for the same business areas. I partnered with the enterprise stakeholders as well as the stakeholders in our front-line business area to ensure that all of their data and integration needs were met. This included developing strategies to implement our custom solutions with PeopleSoft and Workday"
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Discovery
10. What experience do you have with Google productivity apps, Jira, and Slack?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Interviewers at Coinbase ask this question to assess if a candidate has experience using these popular tools. Coinbase leverages a mix of these solutions for information management, collaboration, reporting, and workflow efficiency.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to research these tools before an interview with Coinbase if you have not used them personally. Each of them is likely to be similar to a tool you do have experience with such as Zoom, Microsoft Office, Wrike, or Monday.com.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I have used all of the Google Workspace apps that are comparable to the Office suite including docs, sheets, slides, chat, meet, and drawing for personal use.
I used Slack at my last company for team communication and we used Jira to manage our backlogs, burndown charts, tasks, and reporting functions for our scrum projects."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Discovery
11. Please describe your experience designing and delivering global technology solutions.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Coinbase solutions serve customers across the globe and require solutions to meet the data laws and standards of the region they are located in. Interviewers who ask this question are curious to know if you have experience analyzing the requirements involved in these types of implementations.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include your knowledge of the potential complexities involved in delivering global solutions even if you have limited experience in this area. Offer examples of the considerations you would make and the factors you know could impact the design and implementation of your potential solutions.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I have worked on several global solutions. I designed and implemented a solution that allowed my clients to gather profile information for various individuals who served as contributors to their business. The users of the system and the individuals that we maintained data were globally located. The system stored personal and professional information, and I did a lot of research and partnered heavily with our legal and information security teams to ensure that the solution was scaled appropriately and did not violate any data privacy laws. The enterprise SaaS solutions I have developed integrated strategies for were global as well."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Discovery
12. What is the largest system implementation you have participated on in terms of number of users and budget?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Coinbase serves over 89 million verified users, 11,000 institutions, and 185,000 ecosystem partners in over 100 countries. Additionally, Coinbase employs over 3,500 employees worldwide. This question is asked to determine if a technical program manager has experience working with the scale of technology implementations that align with the Coinbase business area they will be expected to support.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to consider the addition of details such as the timeline and global reach of the solutions you implemented. Also, be sure to select an example that aligns with the line of business the specific job opening you are interviewing for will support if possible (ie, enterprise applications, support desk, customer education, Coinbase app development, etc.).
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"From a custom development perspective, I served as an analyst, project manager, and strategist for a system that had over 8 million users domestically and internationally. It was a sales system that allowed clients to purchase access to copyrighted media for artists. Our annual development and support budget were around $6 million.
I also worked on a Salesforce implementation for a large enterprise. They had 650 users worldwide and the monthly licensing cost was $150 per user. There was an additional budget required for implementation, training, and integration."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Discovery
13. What software development methodologies do you have experience in?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Engineering teams at Coinbase use an iterative approach to solution development. The interviewer who asks this question wants to ensure that you have experience working with the specific methodologies they use or want to transition to in the future.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include any lean manufacturing experience you may have in addition to agile methodologies. Coinbase development and engineering teams rely on a blend of these bodies of knowledge.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I began my career as an analyst and project manager implementing waterfall methodology projects. The company I worked for shifted to using agile methodologies early in my career. I am trained in Scrum and Kanban and I have managed teams that follow each. I have served as a product owner and scrum master and I understand the roles involved and the delivery expectations within each methodology.
The last company I worked for was in the process of moving to SAFe. I had the opportunity to begin learning lean principles in addition to agility methods."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Discovery
14. What experience do you have building technology roadmaps?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Technical program managers at Coinbase are responsible for the development and maintenance of various executive-level communication tools including program roadmaps. Coinbase interviewers who ask this question are interested to know about a candidate's approach to developing roadmaps and their level of experience with this type of deliverable.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to focus your answer on executive-level roadmaps. The interviewer would not expect to hear a candidate discuss their process for documenting individual tasks on a Gantt Chart or other tasks related to lower-level deliverables such as individual project plans.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I contributed to our team's roadmaps when I worked as an analyst. I helped define the strategic and tactical initiatives we were working on and communicated how they aligned with various business groups.
In my current position as an implementation manager, I work with my clients to help them define roadmaps for implementing our SaaS solutions. We typically use a phased approach, and the roadmaps communicate high-level initiatives, timelines, cost, capital/operating split, and status. I present these regularly at our steering committee meetings and during important client sessions."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Discovery
15. What strategic planning techniques do you have experience facilitating?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Strategic planning is a key skillset for a technical program manager. Coinbase specifically mentions the need to demonstrate strategic planning within the job descriptions for technical program managers and senior technical program managers.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include an example of your ability to identify 'thematic business problems' within your response. You should be able to then clearly demonstrate how you are able to transform those problems into strategic plans for resolution.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I have experience working with business stakeholders to facilitate SWOT analysis sessions. In these sessions, we develop lists of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and then determine their impact on the business. I have also worked with the OKR model to develop objectives and key results. This model is useful for helping me develop the key performance indicators for the products I am responsible for.
Additionally, my background as an analyst helps me to understand how to analyze large data sets and look for themes and trends that suggest various operational problems exist within an organization. From there, I partner with various subject matter experts to drive out strategic plans for resolution. I ensure these plans specifically aim to resolve the identified issues and contribute to the business goals relevant to the initiatives we are working on."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Discovery
16. What does economic freedom represent to you?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The mission of Coinbase is to increase economic freedom around the world. Interviewers at Coinbase ask this question to ensure a candidate's vision is applicable to the mission of the company.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to focus your answer on the aspects of Coinbase that set the stage for financial freedom, and not on the political and cultural reasons that financial strife exists. Coinbase is very clear to state that they do not engage in social or political activism. Candidates who promote a social agenda in their response may not be selected for a follow-up interview.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"Economic freedom is a complicated and layered concept that applies to individuals, groups, nations, etc. However, to me, economic freedom is about empowering choices. It sets the stage for the ability to choose where to live, how to live, and where to invest my energy. For example, I value having enough economic freedom currently to be selective about where to work. I am interviewing here today because I am in alignment with and excited about the mission of Coinbase.
I want to offer my talents to a company offering a positive service to the world. Crypto investing and the products companies like Coinbase offer have created an environment in which the dream of economic freedom has become a reality for many people. It would be fulfilling to me to contribute to that mission."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Discovery
17. We strive to hire top talent at Coinbase. What are some ways you feel you can help us raise the bar?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Many companies aim to hire 'top talent'. At Coinbase, this means hiring a candidate that brings a specific set of talents and skills that complement their team in such a way that the team is able to perform at a higher level after the candidate joins the team. Interviewers who ask this question seek candidates with talents that are in direct alignment with the needs of their team.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to highlight any applicable talents or behaviors you have that are unique or difficult to find in candidates. Offering value that sets you apart from other candidates could raise your chances of being hired.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I understand that high-performance team dynamics are critical to the success model of Coinbase. I feel I can directly contribute to this area. I am a trained facilitator and I specialize in team performance consulting. I am able to foster trust and leadership within teams and neutrally negotiate ways forward that transcend conflicts and generate higher levels of information sharing and overall performance.
I am also a hybrid personality type. I am able to connect with extroverts, introverts, and those that process information in a variety of ways. I can analyze detailed information and synthesize it to develop a big-picture view. This blend of skills helps me to hold a more holistic perspective and serve as a bridge between people and ideas that are both tactical and strategic in nature. I am not always the person with the best idea, but I am great at bridging the best ideas together to develop exceptional transformation strategies."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
General
18. What are the factors involved in prioritizing system development and implementation work?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
This is an important question aimed at understanding how a technical program manager views demand, value, and order of operations. This question may be asked in a Coinbase interview because the ability to formulate an intelligent strategy that properly prioritizes competing needs is imperative to success as a technical program manager.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Business and technology projects at Coinbase experience high rates of change and require flexibility. Remember to include a variety of factors to consider within your response and indicate that you understand the importance of each is relevant to the specifics of the situation involved.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"One of the first things I consider when prioritizing development or implementation work is the alignment of the proposed changes to the goals of the initiatives I am working on. Items that serve more than one goal or have a large impact with minimal effort move to the top of the list. Additionally, there is a technical order of operations that needs to be considered. For example, I cannot release an app to a customer that allows for data entry if there is no database to capture the data in. Lastly, there may be bug fixes or technical debt features that need to be resolved in order to allow for the flow of work to continue through the system. The impact of those items must be weighed against the need for new functionality.
I have encountered less frequent considerations such as stakeholder happiness, or customer support issue resolution, but the overarching deciding factor in determining how to move forward in any of these situations relies on understanding the value stream of the business and the impact any proposed changes would have."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Leadership
19. Do you have experience leading virtual teams?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Coinbase technical program managers are responsible for coordinating and driving accountability across geographically distributed teams. Interviewers ask this question to evaluate a candidate's ability to lead and facilitate in a virtual team setting.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include the types of meetings you were personally responsible for facilitating in your response. Also, it is appropriate to include customer-facing experience as Coinbase works with many of its clients in a virtual setting.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"Yes. As a scrum master, I led hybrid teams that had a mix of resources that were located together and resources that worked from home or other locations. I facilitated all of our virtual team ceremonies.
I have also led teams as a project manager that was completely virtual. I have experience driving the typical meetings for a project team as well as hosting online team-building events. Additionally, I have worked with many clients virtually. I am comfortable facilitating meetings, delivering training sessions, and executing implementation tasks virtually."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Leadership
20. Describe your experience managing large-scale applications and projects across multiple product lines and businesses involving significant scope and complexity.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
This is a general experience question. Coinbase may ask this question to ensure the candidate they hire has experience managing efforts on a scale that aligns with the needs of their organization.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Technical program managers at Coinbase are expected to serve as a bridge between business and technical stakeholders. Remember to include any specific duties aligned with that function within your response.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I served as the delivery manager for a large technology consolidation initiative. Our company was purchased and merged with a number of companies that had similar systems. My teams supported several vendors and custom resource scheduling and assignment management tools. The executive leadership of our new owners determined that there was an opportunity to discover which solutions in this space could be consolidated to reduce redundancies. It was decided that some of the solutions my team managed were best-in-class and would be used across several of the groups from the other companies we merged with.
I was asked to lead the consolidation initiative from a program management perspective. I was responsible for facilitating steering committee meetings, driving the discovery process, and working with individual teams to develop strategies for onboarding them onto the technology solutions my team supported. This included working with operations, finance, accounting, HR, and several technology groups to align all of our efforts."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Leadership
21. What are some ways you would coordinate and drive accountability across the various groups that support the projects you would lead as a technical program manager?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Coinbase technical program manager job descriptions specifically mention driving accountability within teams as a duty that candidates will be expected to perform. Interviewers ask this question to determine how a candidate envisions they will be able to foster a fully accountable environment.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include accountability methods that can be measured in a variety of ways. This should include observable behaviors and metrics that speak to delivery upon team commitments. Additionally, be sure to demonstrate how you would hold yourself accountable.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"As a technical program manager, I would drive accountability in a number of ways. First, I would foster an environment of accountability between my teams and our stakeholders. This would include setting specific goals and tracking metrics to measure our team's performance against them. I would ensure that we meet regularly to discuss progress and address any issues as early as possible. I would also encourage our stakeholders to be accountable for their participation in the development process. I would ask them to be accountable for regular access to information and subject matter experts as needed.
On a team level, I would leverage the agile principles that focus on making specific iterative and daily commitments. For example, I would make sure that any scrum teams I work with are demonstrating accountability within their daily stand-up meetings and sprint retrospectives. I would personally demonstrate accountability by delivering on the commitments I make to my teammates. I would also leverage transparency and authentic ownership of any mistakes I make in an effort to inspire the same behaviors in others.
Finally, I would continually challenge our teams to be accountable for measuring how we are contributing to the mission of Coinbase. I would personally develop OKRs and various reports to ensure we could track this information and easily identify opportunities for improvement."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Leadership
22. What experience do you have delivering executive-level presentations?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Technical program managers are often required to present strategy and roadmap-related information to senior executives within the companies they serve. Coinbase specifically requires its technical program managers to have the ability to use data to advise critical decisions and make recommendations. This question is asked to ensure candidates have the proper experience to perform these duties.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to mention the inclusion of metrics when discussing your executive-level presentation experience. Also, be sure to include a list of executive-level artifacts you have contributed to or had responsibility for in the past such as roadmaps, milestone maps, or release plans.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I am very comfortable delivering executive-level presentations. I have experience presenting at this level as a product owner, an IT business consultant, and a program manager. I have delivered product strategy presentations, roadmap updates, budget reports, and strategies for multiple product integration initiatives.
In my experience, every executive is different and prefers a slightly different approach. I prepare a high-level overview with summary metrics and data and offer additional details as needed based on the specific questions I am asked. The most important work I do for those types of presentations is the prep work I do on a continual basis. Having a full understanding of the situation involved, and having metrics ready on demand is critical."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Leadership
23. Please describe your leadership experience.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Some technical program managers are direct managers of individuals within the companies they work for. Alternative models usually require technical program managers to perform leadership activities even if direct management is not required. Interviewers ask this question to determine the scope and scale of a candidate's leadership experience.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to highlight influential, servant, and visionary leadership experiences in your response. Technical program managers are often required to lead without direct management reporting responsibilities, and Coinbase seeks candidates that can confidently drive large cross-functional programs of work with ease.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"As an analyst, I oversaw the work of junior analysts and led large analysis and consultation initiatives. I was the direct manager of three analysts before I transitioned into project management. In that role, I led medium-sized development teams that consisted of analysts, developers, and testers. I was responsible for the overall success of the team and for maintaining a quality customer experience. Additionally, I have served as a scrum master and successfully facilitated the Scrum process for several large-scale implementations.
Outside of the teams, I have worked on, I have worked consistently to inspire contributors that have had an impact on the programs I have managed. This includes fostering coordination and cooperation with shared services groups as well as customer and stakeholder groups."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Situational
24. How would you describe the concept of a blockchain to a novice crypto investor?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Cryptocurrency investing and education are integral to the business of Coinbase. Interviewers ask this question to ensure candidates understand the basic concepts that drive these core business functions.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to customize your answer for the novice audience described in the question. Answers that are too technical or use advanced crypto terminology would cause confusion in this scenario. Consider using an easy-to-understand metaphor to add value to your explanation.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"The blockchain represents the ledger for the transactions that are executed in crypto trading. It is a decentralized and shared database used to validate trade information. This ensures that no one person or group has complete control over the transaction processing. The transactions are secure and cannot be altered or deleted once they are logged. The term 'blockchain' is used because the data is stored in 'blocks' that are linked together in a chronological order much like a train with cars that are linked."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Situational
25. Imagine that a coworker has just provided you with direct and honest feedback about a lack of quality in your work. How do you respond?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Direct communication and honest feedback are highly valued at Coinbase. A Coinbase interviewer who asks this question is interested to know how a candidate plans to respond in direct communication situations that are traditionally perceived as uncomfortable.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include thanking your coworker for providing you with their assessment of your work. Showing appreciation for bringing an opportunity to light and addressing the situation in a positive manner are valued Coinbase behaviors.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I genuinely value honest feedback from coworkers. I would first thank this individual for bringing the issue to light in an authentic manner. I prefer to discuss situations like this out in the open so that they can be addressed and resolved quickly.
My next move would be to consider the details of their assessment. I would ask them to explain anything that was unclear and also ask them for an example of proper execution. I may need to rework my deliverables or spend extra time educating myself on a particular concept. I would also seek out a mentor or a coworker who thrives in this area so that I could use their work as an example of the level of quality to aim for in the future.
Once the issue has been addressed, I would circle back around with the coworker to ask for their thoughts on my latest work. It is important to me to continuously learn and demonstrate growth. I would thank them again for their candor and be prepared to do the same for other coworkers in the future."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Situational
26. How do you move a project forward when you are faced with limited time for discovery and analysis?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
You may be asked this question in an interview with Coinbase to assess your ability to quickly make progress with limited knowledge and resources. Interviewers are interested to know your processes for strategically driving out scope details and gaining the trust of key stakeholders and staff across various levels in their organization.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to offer examples of how you would quickly gather a broad scope of information such as large facilitated sessions or surveys. Additionally, be sure to include moving forward with quick-hit tactical plans while long-term plans are developed. Many of the attributes requested in Coinbase technical program manager job postings specify the necessity to identify quick and easy-to-implement resolutions to problems.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"Clients often want to get moving as quickly as possible and do not have the desire to wait while all of the details are figured out. In this case, I usually request to facilitate a vision and goal-setting session with as many stakeholders as possible. During that time, I try to gather as wide a perspective as possible on what is working, what is broken, and what the high-level solution ideas are. From there, I lean on my experience and intuition to determine where I need to dig further and which areas I can leave at a cursory review.
I tend to forge relationships with the stakeholders as I go by taking them to lunch or calling them to bounce ideas off them to see if they are a fit. I also sit and shadow front-line users in the areas that will be affected the most by whatever strategy we follow. This helps me to quickly gain trust with the users, their management, and the executives involved. That trust is imperative when I make my recommendation because it allows me to be transparent about the areas I did not have time to analyze fully while suggesting where to begin development.
Finally, I work with my stakeholders to immediately implement any easy to execute tactical changes that are uncovered during discovery. This ensures that the teams I work on add value as early as possible during the course of an initiative."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Situational
27. Tell me about a time when you had to deliver difficult news to a customer.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
There is often a disconnect between the needs of a client and the solutions that technology teams can actually deliver. Technical program managers are frequently called upon to moderate negotiations between the involved parties. Coinbase interviewers ask this question to ensure that a candidate has the necessary soft skills to understand their client's frustrations and develop alternative options to address solution gaps.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to describe any stop-gap or relief strategies you personally implemented. Coinbase projects and programs move quickly and rely on agile and temporary solutions in many cases until full solutions can be implemented.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I worked with a customer who needed to automate a time-intensive data entry workflow by integrating with our company's payroll system. I had previous experience with this type of automation and knew that this initiative would add value in terms of time savings, accuracy, and employee satisfaction.
I facilitated meetings to discuss the integration possibilities with the technical team responsible for payroll. I was informed that they were in the process of reviewing a replacement payroll system and my project would not be eligible for consideration until the new system was in place. I knew that this meant it would be a long time before my client could meet their goals, and I knew they would be frustrated.
I developed inexpensive stop-gap custom reporting solutions using Excel and other tools that eased pain points until they were allowed to integrate with payroll. I also suggested workflow changes and shifts in duties for some of their staff that would streamline the process. I explained the situation fully and my client appreciated that they were understood and that my team and I were willing to do whatever we could to help while they waited to integrate."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Situational
28. How do you handle situations when the needs of the business conflict with the direction of a technology team?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Coinbase interviewers understand that technology teams and their business stakeholders are not always in alignment. This question is asked to gain insight into a candidate's ability to resolve conflicts, empathize with the needs of a business partner, and ensure that important technical milestones are met.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to use an example that demonstrates the execution of a strategy that adds value for all of the parties involved in the situation. Coinbase interviewers appreciate candidates that can solve issues on behalf of their business while also rewarding their engineering or support teams in some way.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I worked with a business that was a customer-facing and fast-paced 24x7 operations organization. It was difficult to find time for small maintenance updates, and scheduling large upgrades was a challenge. I worked with the management across each operating team to determine the best possible windows to make changes and train their staff. I developed a custom rollout strategy for large initiatives and a standing maintenance window for smaller deployments. This often meant that my team and I were working overnight or during weekends, but our flexible attitude and commitment to customer service were greatly appreciated. Additionally, I ensured that the members of my team were rewarded with time off for their hard work to meet the needs of the business."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Situational
29. Describe a method for performing an impact assessment.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Determining the impact of potential changes is a primary responsibility of technical program managers. This question may be asked in a Coinbase interview to gain insight into a candidate's process for analyzing this type of information.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include the aspects of your impact assessment process that rely on intuition and experience in addition to data-driven processes. The experience and feelings of a program manager can be an important factor when developing a strategy from the results of an impact analysis effort.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"The first thing I would do is brainstorm a list of impact areas to be assessed. For example, I might consider financial impact, customer satisfaction, resource time, the frequency in which something occurs, the number of affected clients or users, etc. I would assign a weight to each of these impact areas depending on the relative importance of the area to the client and business I am working with.
Next, I would develop an easy-to-use scale to rate each assessment item in terms of impact. A typical scale would be a high-low scale in which I use the numbers 1-10. I would rate the items myself, or facilitate a stakeholder session to rate the items. Using a simple formula, I would then calculate the overall impact of each item.
I would consider adjustments to the scores based on my previous experience and intuition as well as the experience and feelings of the other subject matter experts involved. I would then develop a recommendation with strategic and tactical guidance supported by the impact analysis."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Teamwork
30. We strive to "enable belonging for everyone." How would you contribute to that goal?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Many companies are interested to know how candidates will work to create a comfortable and inclusive work environment. An interviewer at Coinbase may ask this question to understand how a candidate plans to contribute to this important company concept.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to keep your answer focused on actions. Coinbase has repeatedly expressed that belonging is not a political agenda, and they are more interested in how their employees can behave in ways that complement their company's mission to create economic freedom through an open financial system.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I think enabling belonging for everyone starts with getting to know the people on your teams and understanding what belonging means to them personally. In my experience, the definition of belonging can be wildly different from person to person. What might leave one person feeling supported could leave someone else feeling alienated.
From there, I would work to develop a collective vision of belonging that could work at the team level while staying in alignment with the company's vision for this goal. The execution of this would vary and be customized to match the individuals within the team, but the core values behind it would be shared. For example, embracing diversity might look and feel different from team to team, but every team should be able to appreciate the diversity of thought.
I think this goal also applies to the service Coinbase offers to its customers. Decentralization and economic freedom foster inclusive behaviors and values. Any work that I would do to help to develop and support the infrastructure that allows this to become a reality would help to enable belonging for everyone."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Teamwork
31. At Coinbase, we 'default to trust." What does that mean to you?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Interviewers at Coinbase ask this question to determine if a candidate understands this important company behavior. An environment based on trust first is valued at Coinbase, and the company seeks to hire candidates in alignment with this operational style.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include a story of how you have exemplified this behavior in the past. A professional example is best.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"I interpret default to trust as a behavior model where individuals assume the best intentions of each other in all situations. This includes trusting in others to follow through on their commitments and showing them grace when they do not. It includes assuming positive intentions in the face of conflict. It includes demonstrating authentic and direct communication alongside active listening.
For example, one of the people on a team I was responsible for at my last company fell into a pattern of not being able to deliver his work assignments on time. His lack of timely delivery was affecting the team in a number of negative ways. It was my responsibility to discuss the issue with him and determine a way forward. I used the default to trust approach when I spoke with him.
I was authentic with him about the issue and its impact on the team. I communicated that I knew he had the skills and experience to deliver, and I asked him if he could explain what was going on. He opened up and shared the details of a very sad personal situation he was going through. I let him know I appreciated him trusting me with those details and asked him how we could support him during this difficult time. We were able to adjust his assignments to allow him to work on less stressful tasks while the situation played out. He really appreciated the support from the team and thanked everyone for keeping faith in him and supporting him while he worked to get back to where he wanted to be."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Teamwork
32. What do you consider optimal qualities for members of the teams you work with?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
This question may be included in a Coinbase interview to determine if a candidate is a cultural fit for the teams they will be working with. It is important to be clear about the qualities you appreciate the most as you are also interviewing the members of the team you will be working with.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Remember To
Remember to include your own spin on qualities that would complement the values of Coinbase. For example, the job descriptions at Coinbase specifically target individuals with positive energy and a "can-do" attitude.
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022
Answer Example
"Flexibility is one of the most important qualities I hope to experience with any member of a team I work on. The rate of change in technology is high and opportunities are often missed when individuals lack an open mind and the ability to adapt. I also appreciate humility and understanding that great ideas can flow from anywhere regardless of role or title.
I respect authority, but I really enjoy working on teams where we see everyone as a leader accountable for achieving our goals.
I also appreciate working with people who are willing to work outside of their comfort level and step in to do whatever needs to be done. Finally, I enjoy working with high performers that embrace challenges with a positive attitude. Expansive thinkers and those who see beyond the status quo add a lot of value in a team setting."
Written by Karrie Day on April 18th, 2022