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Navan·Software Engineer·Onsite - Cross-functional / Panel·Senior

Senior
Apr 2026

Summary

Interviewed at Navan for what felt like a senior engineering or tech lead role. One question, but it was meaty enough that it took up most of the conversation.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

When working alongside a PM and a designer, how do you make sure a feature actually ships complete, with edge cases handled, design held to spec, and the timeline not blown? What processes or documents do you actually use?

Cross-functional AlignmentAgile / Sprint ManagementStakeholder Management
Author's notes

This one tripped me up a bit because I started listing rituals like dev kickoffs and QA sign-off and it started sounding like I was reading from a project management textbook.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Frame your answer around proactive collaboration and concrete artifacts: describe how you align early with PM and design on scope, edge cases, and acceptance criteria, then use lightweight processes (like a shared spec doc, design QA checklist, and regular syncs) to keep everyone accountable. Emphasize that you treat shipping as a team sport, but you personally own technical completeness and flag risks early.

Pro tip: Show that you prevent surprises by over-communicating early and often—e.g., a quick daily async update in a shared channel—so PM and design can course-correct before the timeline slips. Mention that you involve QA and design in defining edge cases during refinement, not after code is written.

1. Align on scope and acceptance criteria upfront

During refinement or kickoff, work with PM and design to define what 'done' means, including edge cases, error states, and design specs. Document these in a shared spec or ticket to create a single source of truth.

2. Break down work and identify risks

Decompose the feature into small, testable tasks and flag technical unknowns or dependencies early. Use a checklist or risk log to track edge cases and design requirements.

3. Maintain tight feedback loops

Hold short, regular syncs (e.g., daily standup or async updates) with PM and design to review progress, demo work-in-progress, and adjust scope if needed. Use a shared board to visualize status.

4. Enforce quality gates and design QA

Before marking complete, run through a design QA checklist with the designer and verify edge cases with tests. Ensure code review includes checks against the spec.

5. Communicate timeline and trade-offs transparently

If risks arise, immediately discuss with PM to re-prioritize or cut scope. Use a simple burndown or milestone tracker to keep everyone informed about timeline health.

Key Points to Mention

  • Shared spec document or ticket with clear acceptance criteria and edge cases
  • Design QA checklist and involvement of designer in code review or pre-release review
  • Regular syncs (standup, weekly planning) and async updates to maintain alignment
  • Risk log or dependency tracking to surface blockers early
  • Definition of Done that includes edge cases, error handling, and design fidelity
  • Transparent communication about trade-offs and timeline adjustments

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.