# Engineer - Product
**Company:** [Xero](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/xero)
Join Xero's Accounting Core team as a Backend Engineer driving the transition from monolithic architecture to modern microservices. You'll build scalable, cloud-native services using C#, .NET Core, and AWS while resolving complex legacy challenges and modernizing critical financial infrastructure that supports millions of small businesses globally. This role requires strong distributed systems expertise, relational database knowledge, and a passion for engineering excellence in a hybrid Vancouver-based environment.
**Role:** Backend Engineer
**Seniority:** Mid
**Locations:** CAN: Vancouver (333 Seymour St)
**Salary:** 131800–150000 CAD
[Apply](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/xero/36b85cef-cb1f-4170-8fc1-f836e0a903b6)
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/jobs/xero/engineer-product
---
## Responsibilities

- Architect and Deliver Microservices: Design and implement production-grade microservices in AWS cloud environment using C# and .NET Core, focusing on removing monolithic bottlenecks and improving system scalability. Lead the decomposition of tightly coupled legacy systems into loosely coupled, independently deployable services that accelerate product velocity across the organization.
- Drive Distributed Systems Excellence: Engineer resilient service-to-service communication patterns, implement eventual consistency models, and apply industry-standard resilience patterns such as circuit breakers, retries, and timeouts. Ensure critical accounting data maintains transactional integrity and ACID compliance across distributed service boundaries.
- Modernize Legacy Systems and APIs: Identify and resolve complex technical debt, database scalability challenges, and outdated service interfaces. Refactor existing APIs to meet contemporary standards while maintaining backward compatibility and zero-downtime migrations for critical accounting platforms.
- Implement DevOps and Quality Practices: Establish trunk-based development workflows, build comprehensive automated test suites (unit, integration, and contract testing), and create robust continuous integration pipelines. Collaborate with infrastructure teams to optimize deployment processes and minimize deployment friction.
- Foster Technical Excellence and Mentorship: Share deep technical knowledge with team members through code reviews, pair programming, and mentoring sessions. Contribute to architectural decisions across the Product Platforms organization and help establish clear service boundaries and governance patterns.
- Collaborate Across Teams and Stakeholders: Work closely with product managers, other engineering squads, and cross-functional teams to understand business requirements and translate them into scalable technical solutions. Maintain clear communication with internal stakeholders and manage technical trade-offs with business context.
- Automate and Optimize Operations: Identify manual processes and repetitive tasks, then build automation solutions to improve operational efficiency. Monitor production systems, analyze performance metrics, and implement optimization strategies to ensure optimal system reliability and user experience.

## Requirements

### education

- {"name":"Computer Science or Related Field","description":"Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related discipline, or equivalent practical software engineering experience. Self-taught engineers with demonstrated mastery of core concepts are welcome to apply."}

### technical

- {"name":"Backend Development Experience","description":"Proficient backend development with primary expertise in C# and .NET Core, or strong experience with complementary languages such as Java or Go. Should demonstrate solid foundation in object-oriented design, SOLID principles, and modern backend architectural patterns."}
- {"name":"Distributed Systems Mastery","description":"Deep understanding of distributed systems concepts including service-to-service communication (gRPC, REST APIs), eventual consistency models, CAP theorem, and resilience patterns. Experience designing systems that operate reliably across multiple services and network boundaries."}
- {"name":"Relational Database Expertise","description":"Practical hands-on experience with relational databases (SQL Server, PostgreSQL, or MySQL) with strong focus on transactional data integrity, ACID compliance, query optimization, and schema design. Understanding of database scalability challenges and migration strategies."}
- {"name":"Cloud Platform Operations","description":"Production experience with AWS or equivalent cloud platforms including EC2, RDS, Lambda, or container orchestration. Comfortable navigating cloud architectures, understanding cost implications, and deploying applications at scale."}
- {"name":"DevOps and Testing Practices","description":"Working knowledge of modern DevOps practices, infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, CloudFormation), continuous integration/deployment pipelines, and automated testing frameworks. Experience with trunk-based development, feature flags, and blue-green deployments."}

### experience

- {"name":"Backend Engineering Experience","description":"Minimum 4-6 years of professional backend engineering experience building production systems. Should have ownership experience shipping features from design through production monitoring and maintenance."}
- {"name":"Microservices Architecture Experience","description":"Demonstrated experience working with or transitioning to microservices architectures. Understanding of the trade-offs between monolithic and distributed approaches, and practical experience navigating service decomposition challenges."}
- {"name":"Database and Data Integrity Work","description":"Hands-on experience managing relational database challenges in production environments, including handling data consistency issues, migrations, and scaling strategies. Familiarity with database performance tuning and indexing optimization."}

## Skills

### required

- {"name":"C# and .NET Core","description":"Strong proficiency in C# with production experience using .NET Core framework for building scalable backend services and APIs."}
- {"name":"AWS Cloud Platform","description":"Hands-on experience deploying and operating applications on AWS, including EC2, RDS, Lambda, and containerization technologies."}
- {"name":"SQL and Relational Databases","description":"Advanced SQL skills with deep understanding of relational database design, optimization, and transactional consistency patterns."}
- {"name":"API Design and Development","description":"Ability to design and implement RESTful APIs or gRPC services following industry best practices and versioning strategies."}
- {"name":"Automated Testing","description":"Experience writing comprehensive unit, integration, and contract tests using frameworks like xUnit or NUnit for .NET ecosystems."}
- {"name":"Git and Version Control","description":"Proficiency with Git version control, trunk-based development practices, and collaborative code review workflows."}
- {"name":"System Design and Scalability","description":"Ability to think critically about system design, anticipate scalability challenges, and implement solutions that perform under production load."}

### preferred

- {"name":"Java or Go Programming","description":"Experience with Java or Go demonstrates adaptability to different backend technology stacks and understanding of polyglot engineering environments."}
- {"name":"Microservices Orchestration","description":"Familiarity with Kubernetes, Docker, or container orchestration platforms for managing distributed microservices deployments."}
- {"name":"Event-Driven Architecture","description":"Experience designing and implementing event-driven systems using message brokers like Kafka, RabbitMQ, or AWS SQS for asynchronous communication."}
- {"name":"Domain-Driven Design","description":"Understanding of Domain-Driven Design principles for structuring complex business logic and establishing bounded contexts in distributed systems."}
- {"name":"AI-Assisted Development Tools","description":"Familiarity with modern AI tools such as GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, or similar technologies for enhancing developer productivity and code generation."}
- {"name":"CI/CD Pipeline Development","description":"Experience building and maintaining continuous integration and deployment pipelines using tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or GitHub Actions."}
- {"name":"Observability and Monitoring","description":"Experience implementing distributed tracing, structured logging, and metrics collection using tools like DataDog, New Relic, or Prometheus."}
- {"name":"FinTech or Accounting Domain Knowledge","description":"Background in financial technology, accounting software, or payments systems demonstrates understanding of domain complexity and regulatory considerations."}

## Tech stack

### tools

- {"name":"AWS","description":"Cloud infrastructure platform providing EC2, RDS, Lambda, and managed services for deploying and operating microservices at scale."}
- {"name":"Docker and Containers","description":"Containerization technology for packaging services with all dependencies, enabling consistent deployments across different environments."}
- {"name":"Git","description":"Distributed version control system for collaborative development, trunk-based workflows, and managing code across teams."}
- {"name":"CI/CD Pipelines","description":"Automated build, test, and deployment infrastructure for continuous integration and continuous delivery of software changes."}

### others

- {"name":"Microservices Architecture","description":"Architectural approach to designing distributed systems as loosely coupled, independently deployable services with clear boundaries."}
- {"name":"gRPC and REST APIs","description":"Modern protocols for service-to-service communication, enabling efficient and reliable interaction between distributed microservices."}
- {"name":"Distributed Systems Patterns","description":"Industry-standard patterns including circuit breakers, retry logic, timeouts, and eventual consistency for building resilient systems."}
- {"name":"Test-Driven Development","description":"Engineering discipline of writing automated tests before implementation, ensuring code quality and reducing defects in production."}

### databases

- {"name":"SQL Server","description":"Enterprise relational database platform used for mission-critical accounting data with ACID compliance and advanced transaction management."}
- {"name":"PostgreSQL","description":"Open-source relational database offering robust ACID guarantees and advanced features for complex data integrity requirements."}

### languages

- {"name":"C#","description":"Primary backend programming language for this role, used extensively across Xero's platform for building scalable services and business logic."}
- {"name":".NET Core","description":"Modern, open-source framework for building high-performance backend services, APIs, and microservices with cross-platform capabilities."}
- {"name":"SQL","description":"Query language for relational database management, critical for data integrity and transactional consistency in accounting systems."}

### frameworks

- {"name":"ASP.NET Core","description":"Web framework built on .NET Core for creating RESTful APIs and backend services with dependency injection and middleware support."}
- {"name":"Entity Framework Core","description":"Object-relational mapper for .NET enabling data access through LINQ while maintaining clean separation of data and business logic."}

## Benefits

### benefits

- {"name":"Annual Bonus Program","description":"Eligible for performance-based annual bonus tied to individual and company performance metrics, recognizing exceptional contribution to team and organizational goals."}
- {"name":"Equity Compensation (RSUs)","description":"Participate in Xero's Restricted Stock Unit program, aligning your financial interests with long-term company success and providing wealth-building opportunities."}
- {"name":"Comprehensive Health Coverage","description":"World-class health and wellness benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage with competitive premiums and family plan options."}
- {"name":"Retirement and Savings Programs","description":"Employer-matched retirement savings plans (RRSP contributions in Canada) helping you build long-term financial security."}
- {"name":"Wellbeing Days","description":"Dedicated paid days for mental health, wellness, and personal recovery beyond standard vacation allowance to support holistic well-being."}
- {"name":"Generous Leave Policy","description":"Competitive vacation allowance, paid time off for personal needs, and support for work-life balance across all life stages."}
- {"name":"Professional Development Budget","description":"Annual dedicated budget for training, conferences, certifications, and learning opportunities to advance your technical skills and career growth."}
- {"name":"Relocation and Onboarding Support","description":"Assistance with relocation to Vancouver if needed, plus sponsored travel to Wellington, New Zealand for in-person onboarding and team connection."}
- {"name":"Hybrid Work Flexibility","description":"One to two days per week in-office collaboration with flexibility to work remotely from home, supporting productivity and work-life integration."}

## Compensation

- **max:** 150000
- **min:** 131800
- **currency:** CAD
- **stockOptions:** true

## Interview process

### steps

- {"name":"Application Screening","description":"Your application will be reviewed with support from AI tools that evaluate job-related qualifications. Human recruiters review all candidates before any hiring decisions, ensuring fair and thorough evaluation of your background."}
- {"name":"Recruiter Conversation","description":"Initial conversation with Xero's talent acquisition team to discuss your background, career interests, and alignment with the Accounting Core team's mission and culture."}
- {"name":"Technical Assessment","description":"Practical technical evaluation assessing your backend development skills, distributed systems understanding, and problem-solving approach. May include coding exercises or architectural design discussions relevant to Xero's platform challenges."}
- {"name":"Team Technical Interview","description":"In-depth conversation with current Accounting Core team members exploring your experience with microservices, database optimization, and cloud platforms. Expect detailed discussions about past projects and technical decision-making."}
- {"name":"Architecture and Systems Design Discussion","description":"Conversation focused on your ability to design scalable systems, understand distributed systems trade-offs, and think critically about engineering challenges at Xero's scale."}
- {"name":"Manager and Culture Alignment Interview","description":"Discussion with your potential manager covering team dynamics, collaboration style, mentoring philosophy, and alignment with Xero's values of customer focus, transparency, and inclusive culture."}
- {"name":"Offer and Total Package Discussion","description":"Once selected, you'll receive a comprehensive offer including base salary, performance incentives, equity awards, and benefits package customized to your situation."}

## Full description
**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**](https://careers.xero.com/inside-xero/benefits-wellbeing/) 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.