The role and its impact
As a Head of Engineering at Xero, you will lead and grow multiple engineering teams within your product portfolio; delivering high-quality software that improves the lives of hundreds of thousands of small business customers globally.
By acting as a technical anchor, you will maintain an informed opinion on system health and code quality while driving product delivery velocity. You will serve as a prominent change agent, establishing clarity and driving progress toward enterprise-wide goals by simplifying intricate cross-departmental hurdles.
In this role, you will empower your teams to refine their engineering excellence, advocating for AI-first methodologies and ensuring the delivery of high-impact results that support both commercial and user objectives.
As an engineering leader at Xero we expect you to come with high EQ, being self-aware, self-regulated, motivated and empathetic, with great interpersonal skills. You'll lead and live our vision and values – building and fostering an inclusive and positive team culture.
The team and how they connect
You will partner with leaders in Product and Design to ensure customer, business, and technical priorities are thoughtfully balanced across your portfolio. The team anchors on core principles of customer obsession and high support to foster psychological safety and innovation.
The team is currently working on
Championing the adoption of responsible AI architecture and AI-powered workflows to unlock productivity and accelerate time to value across the portfolio.
Leading technical modernisation efforts, such as moving from monoliths to decoupled services and adopting API-first integration patterns.
Executing complex, cross-team programs of work with clear accountability and proactive risk management to deliver reliable results.
Defining hiring strategies and growing high-performing talent to sustain a high-performance bar and support engineering career progression.
Raising the bar on operational excellence through strong ownership of high-quality production services, ensuring reliability, observability, and continuous improvement.
Where and how you can work
Xero offers a hybrid working environment with a mix of office-based collaboration and remote flexibility. We use boost days to bring teams together in our modern office spaces to foster connection, alignment, and creativity.
Here are some of the things we are looking for
You bring a deep understanding of software architecture, design trade-offs, and managing technical debt at scale.
Your background includes a proven track record of managing and growing high-performing leaders and engineering teams.
Navigating areas of conflict in an open, positive, and proactive way is a key strength you offer to the team.
You possess strong strategic acumen to identify and simplify complex, cross-functional challenges in fast-scaling environments.
Fostering a growth mindset and a culture of accountability across multiple teams comes naturally to you.
Having a bias for action helps you make good decisions fast rather than perfect decisions slowly.
Compensation & Total Rewards
At Xero, we value the impact and skills you bring to the team. We believe in a Total Package philosophy - ensuring your value is recognized through a holistic lens that includes base salary, performance incentives, and world-class benefits.
The expected base salary range for this role is $227,700 - $284,600 CAD.
Individual pay is determined by various factors, including geography, level of experience, and the specific skills you bring to the role.
In addition to base pay, Xero’s roles are eligible for the following forms of variable compensation:
Variable Pay: Permanent employees are eligible to participate in our annual bonus and equity (RSU) programs. You may also be eligible for performance-based cash or equity (RSUs) incentives depending on your role level, and company performance.
Comprehensive Benefits: World-class health, wellness, and retirement programs. Xero Perks including Wellbeing days, generous leave, and dedicated professional development budgets.
This is a posting for an existing vacancy.
Xero uses AI to help screen applications based on job-related qualifications. These tools assist our recruiters but do not make automated hiring decisions. A human recruiter reviews all candidates before any hiring action is taken.
Apply even if your experience isn't a perfect match! At Xero, we hire based on your skills, passion, and the unique perspective you can bring to enhance our culture and team.
Skills Required
- Deep understanding of software architecture, design trade-offs, and managing technical debt at scale.
- Proven track record of managing and growing high-performing leaders and engineering teams.
- Experience executing complex, cross-team programs with clear accountability and proactive risk management.
- Experience leading technical modernisation efforts (moving from monoliths to decoupled services) and adopting API-first integration patterns.
- Championing and advocating for responsible AI architecture and AI-powered workflows.
- Strong strategic acumen to identify and simplify complex cross-functional challenges in fast-scaling environments.
- High emotional intelligence, including self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and strong interpersonal skills.
- Ability to foster a growth mindset, culture of accountability, and support engineering career progression.
- Bias for action and ability to make timely decisions to drive delivery velocity and high-impact results.
- Focus on operational excellence including ownership of production service reliability and observability.
Xero Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — The U.S. package lists 21 days of annual leave, 10 days of wellbeing leave, five “Xtra” days, three year‑end company holidays, and a paid volunteer day. Global materials also point to 20+ days of annual leave and additional wellbeing time across regions, indicating broad coverage beyond the U.S.
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Parental & Family Support — Primary caregivers can receive up to 26 weeks of fully paid parental leave, with six weeks of paid partner leave. Family‑forming benefits (e.g., Carrot) and counseling/coaching access for employees and immediate family further strengthen support.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical (Cigna and Kaiser options), dental (Cigna PPO), and vision (VSP) are complemented by life, AD&D, and short/long‑term disability coverage. Modern Health mental‑health support and a funded ThrivePass wellbeing account add depth to the health offering.
Xero Insights
What We Do
Xero is small business accounting software that provides a platform on which businesses can build a fully integrated solution. It’s designed to make life better for people in small business, their advisors, and communities around the world. Xero minimises tedious admin by automating routine tasks, delivers valuable insights when needed, and brings together business data, trusted advisors, and powerful apps in one intuitive platform. By alleviating pain points, Xero empowers small business owners to supercharge their business, simplifying the complex and freeing up time from manual admin so they can focus on what really matters to build the business they’ve always envisaged.
Why Work With Us
Xero is a human-centric organization where you’ll have a tangible impact on the success of small businesses and their communities, globally. Our team of energised, forward-thinkers work to make life better for our customers and each other every day. We’re also always committed to supporting you with a flexible environment.
Gallery
Xero Teams
Xero Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
Join us from home or at one of our beautiful workspaces. Xero has offices in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Singapore, and South Africa.
