Engineer
Backend Engineer · Mid · Full Time
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Role
What you'll do.
Join Xero's Accounting Core team as a Backend Engineer focused on architecting modern microservices that power global accounting infrastructure. This role involves transitioning from monolithic systems to cloud-native solutions using C# and AWS, resolving complex database scalability challenges, and collaborating across Wellington and Vancouver to accelerate product velocity. You'll work on systems that directly impact small business accounting workflows while mentoring teammates and driving technical excellence through test-driven development and DevOps best practices.
Responsibilities
- Architect and Deliver Scalable Microservices: Design and implement high-quality backend services using C# and .NET Core that transition Xero from monolithic architecture to modern cloud-native microservices, ensuring systems are robust, maintainable, and aligned with business goals
- Resolve Complex Architectural Challenges: Identify and solve ambiguous problems independently involving database scalability, legacy system modernization, service interface design, and API optimization to remove delivery bottlenecks and improve platform efficiency
- Build and Operate AWS Cloud Infrastructure: Deploy, monitor, and maintain services in production cloud environments on AWS, implementing modern DevOps practices, automated testing, and continuous integration pipelines to ensure reliability and performance
- Apply Distributed Systems Principles: Implement service-to-service communication patterns, ensure eventual consistency, apply resilience patterns, and design systems that communicate effectively across team boundaries globally
- Drive Test-Driven Development and Code Quality: Establish and maintain trunk-based development practices, comprehensive automated testing strategies, and code quality standards that ensure high reliability and reduce technical debt in production systems
- Mentor and Collaborate Across Teams: Foster an inclusive team culture by mentoring other engineers, sharing constructive feedback with empathy, and collaborating across Wellington and Vancouver offices to drive technical excellence and accelerate product velocity
- Manage Stakeholder Communication: Provide clear, thoughtful communication to technical product partners and internal stakeholders, ensuring alignment on priorities, progress, and technical decisions that impact broader platform initiatives
- Participate in Continuous Improvement: Actively contribute to planning, delivery processes, and retrospectives, advocating for technical improvements and automation opportunities that enhance team efficiency and engineering practices
Qualifications
What we look for.
Technical
Backend Development Experience
Proficient hands-on experience with modern backend development using C#, .NET, Java, Go, or similar languages, with ability to design and implement production-grade services
Distributed Systems Knowledge
Solid understanding of service-to-service communication patterns, eventual consistency models, and resilience patterns essential for microservices architecture
Relational Database Expertise
Practical experience working with relational databases, understanding transactional data integrity, ACID principles, and optimization strategies for accounting-grade consistency requirements
DevOps and Automation
Familiarity with modern DevOps practices, automated testing frameworks, continuous integration pipelines, and infrastructure-as-code approaches for cloud deployments
Cloud Platform Experience
Working knowledge of cloud platforms such as AWS, including container orchestration, service deployment, and production monitoring practices
Education
Computer Science or Related Field
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience demonstrating core computer science fundamentals
Experience
Professional Backend Development
Minimum 3-5 years of professional experience building production backend systems, microservices, or large-scale distributed applications
Cloud-Native Development
Experience deploying and maintaining applications in cloud environments, preferably AWS, with understanding of cloud-native architectural patterns
Team Collaboration
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in collaborative team environments, communicate technical concepts clearly, and mentor or support other engineers
Skills
Required
C# and .NET Core
Strong proficiency in C# and .NET Core for backend service development, API design, and cloud-native application architecture
SQL and Relational Databases
Advanced SQL skills and database design knowledge, including performance optimization, indexing strategies, and ACID transaction management
Microservices Architecture
Ability to design, implement, and maintain microservices with clear boundaries, effective communication patterns, and independent deployability
AWS Cloud Services
Working knowledge of AWS services including EC2, RDS, Lambda, CloudWatch, and container services for production deployments
Automated Testing
Expertise in unit testing, integration testing, and test-driven development (TDD) practices using frameworks like NUnit or xUnit
CI/CD Pipelines
Experience building and maintaining continuous integration and deployment pipelines using tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or AWS CodePipeline
Distributed Systems Principles
Deep understanding of CAP theorem, eventual consistency, idempotency, service mesh patterns, and failure resilience strategies
Git and Version Control
Proficiency with Git, trunk-based development practices, and collaborative code review processes in distributed team environments
Preferred
Java or Go Experience
Nice to haveAdditional experience with Java or Go would strengthen ability to work across diverse backend technology stacks
Kubernetes Orchestration
Nice to haveExperience with Kubernetes for container orchestration, service discovery, and scaling microservices in production environments
Event-Driven Architecture
Nice to haveFamiliarity with event sourcing, CQRS patterns, message queues, and asynchronous communication models for distributed systems
API Design and REST Principles
Nice to haveStrong background in designing RESTful APIs with proper versioning, error handling, rate limiting, and developer experience considerations
Database Migration and Modernization
Nice to haveExperience modernizing legacy database systems, schema migrations, and transitioning applications to new data architectures
Monitoring and Observability
Nice to haveProficiency with application performance monitoring (APM) tools, logging aggregation, distributed tracing, and metrics collection
AI and Developer Productivity Tools
Nice to haveComfort using modern AI tools like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, and other productivity enhancers to streamline development workflows
Accounting Domain Knowledge
Nice to haveFamiliarity with accounting concepts, invoicing workflows, transactional accounting, or financial data models would be advantageous
Tech stack
Languages
Frameworks
Databases
Tools
Other
Compensation
Pay and benefits.
Base·CAD 131,800 – 150,000
Equity·Stock options
Benefits
Competitive Health and Wellness Programs
World-class health, dental, vision, and mental wellness benefits covering employees and dependents with comprehensive coverage options
Retirement and Financial Planning
Employer-sponsored retirement plans, pension contributions, and financial planning resources to support long-term financial security
Generous Leave and Time Off
Flexible paid time off, wellness days for mental health, sick leave, parental leave, and sabbatical opportunities to support work-life balance
Professional Development Budget
Dedicated annual budget for courses, certifications, conferences, and training to support continuous learning and career advancement
Equity and Variable Compensation
Eligible for annual bonus programs and Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) equity awards based on company performance and role level
Xero Perks Program
Exclusive employee benefits including discounts on products and services, wellness initiatives, and lifestyle perks through the Xero Perks platform
Flexible Work Arrangements
Hybrid work model with one to two days per week in the Vancouver office and flexibility to work remotely, supporting work-life integration
Onboarding and Relocation Support
Comprehensive onboarding including travel to New Zealand office for team immersion, supporting new team member integration
Global Team Culture
Opportunity to work with collaborative, diverse teams spanning Vancouver and Wellington, participating in an inclusive, supportive engineering culture
Process
Interview steps.
- 01
Initial Application and AI Screening
Submit your application through the Ashby portal. Xero uses AI tools to screen applications based on job-related qualifications, assisting recruiters in identifying strong technical matches. Note that AI assists but does not make final hiring decisions.
- 02
Recruiter Phone Screening
A human recruiter reviews your application and conducts an initial conversation to discuss your background, experience with backend development, cloud platforms, and motivations for joining Xero's Accounting Core team
- 03
Technical Screening Interview
In-depth technical conversation with a senior engineer covering distributed systems concepts, database design, microservices architecture patterns, and your approach to solving scalability challenges in production environments
- 04
System Design Interview
Collaborative session designing a scalable backend system, discussing trade-offs between different architectural approaches, service boundaries, data consistency models, and operational considerations
- 05
Code Review and Problem-Solving
Technical exercise involving code review, debugging, or implementing a backend component using C# or similar language, demonstrating test-driven development practices and code quality standards
- 06
Team and Culture Alignment Interview
Conversation with team members from Accounting Core and Product Platforms to discuss collaboration style, communication approach, mentoring philosophy, and cultural fit within Xero's inclusive engineering community
- 07
Final Hiring Manager Interview
Discussion with the hiring manager covering role expectations, career development opportunities, team structure, and next steps in the hiring process
Full posting
Original listing.
The role / impact
You will deliver high-quality, impactful software that aligns with team and business goals, always keeping customer needs and outcomes front of mind. By identifying and solving complex, ambiguous problems independently, you will produce robust, high-quality, and scalable software that helps change the world by supporting small businesses. Your daily work will focus on systems, scalability, and engineering quality while collaborating across teams to drive technical excellence and developer efficiency.
Through clear and thoughtful communication, you will ensure stakeholders are well-informed and aligned. You will play a key part in fostering an inclusive team culture by mentoring others and sharing feedback with empathy. Your active participation in planning, delivery, and continuous improvement will contribute directly to the success of the broader Xero community.
The team / how they connect
You will join the Accounting Core team within Product Platforms, which forms the critical foundation underneath core product areas like invoices, bills, payments, and payroll. The team exists to make it easy for other groups across Xero to build on a strong foundation of accounting concepts, data, and libraries safely and efficiently. Operating across Wellington and Vancouver, we collaborate closely to reduce tight coupling, establish clear service boundaries, and accelerate product velocity global-wide.
The team is currently working on / Initially, you will focus on
Transitioning from a monolithic architecture to modern microservices to remove delivery bottlenecks and improve efficiency.
Building and operating services in a production cloud environment utilizing C#, .NET Core, and AWS.
Resolving complex legacy problems, database scalability challenges, and modernizing service interfaces or APIs.
Automating manual processes and applying test-driven and trunk-based development practices.
Where and how you can work
This role is based at our on-site location in Vancouver. We operate on a hybrid model where you will spend one to two days a week in the office for collaborative technical discussions and team alignment, with the flexibility to work from home on the other days. You will also have the opportunity to travel to New Zealand for onboarding after your first couple of weeks.
Here are some of the things we are looking for
You bring proficient backend development experience with one or more programming languages such as C#, .NET, Java, or Go.
A solid understanding of distributed systems concepts, including service-to-service communication, eventual consistency, and resilience patterns belongs in your toolkit.
Your background features practical experience working with relational databases where transactional data integrity and ACID principles are critical.
Having a familiar working knowledge of modern DevOps practices, automated testing, and continuous integration pipelines will help you succeed.
Showing an interest in utilizing modern artificial intelligence tools will enable you to enhance personal productivity and streamline engineering workflows.
You possess strong communication and collaboration skills, with the capacity to manage internal stakeholders like a technical product partner.
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.
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 131,800 - 150,000 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.
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