Head of Engineering
XeroJobsCloseBy Editorial Insights
Xero is seeking a Head of Engineering in Sydney to lead multiple teams and deliver software for thousands of small business customers. You will act as a technical anchor, balancing system health and delivery velocity while removing friction across teams. The role champions AI-first methodologies, responsible AI architecture, and modernization from monoliths to decoupled services with API-first patterns. You’ll lead with high EQ, foster an inclusive culture, and own cross-functional programs and risk management. Focus areas include reliability, observability, hiring and talent development. Apply even if not a perfect match; demonstrate strategic judgment, collaboration, growth mindset, bias for action and a track record in scaling teams.
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.
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.