After the recruiter I met with leaders and it was very efficient and productive. They were an hour each. I started with the hiring manager and ended with the hiring manager. It took about 2 weeks to hear back but a positive response then I waited for the offer. Typical but positive experience overall.

I applied for a management position, but the hiring manager insisted on interviewing me for a team-lead job even though I did not want that job. I explained that I did not have all the technical skills required for that position, and wanted the manager position. Nobody asked about team culture. No one asked about leadership skills. If somebody is applying for any leadership role, whether manager, tech lead, or principal engineer, the hiring team should ask lots of questions about leadership skills. The fact that they didn't ask a single question about culture means they don't care about culture. That was a big red flag, because if the department leaders don't care about culture, they end up creating a toxic culture. No one asked tough questions about technical skills. I explained that I didn't have some specific skills even though I had other technical skills. They said I would pick up those skills, but once I got the job, the director didn't make time for me to learn those skills. He yelled at me in front of others for not knowing what I told him the interview that I did not know.