Engineering Manager

Xero2 days ago

Location

CAN: British Columbia Remote

Workplace

Remote

Type

Full Time

Salary

CAD 188,000 – 236,000

Level

Manager

Role

Engineering Manager

Posted

Jul 17, 2026

Full TimeRemoteManager

The role

Summary

Join Xero as an Engineering Manager to lead a new Vancouver hub and spearhead a foundational leadership position guiding nine distributed engineers through a critical technological transition. You'll orchestrate the migration from legacy Microsoft SQL Server to modern open-source solutions (Aurora PostgreSQL, DynamoDB) while building internal compliance and observability tools that enable product teams to independently manage databases. This role combines strategic technical leadership with team building, requiring strong systems design expertise, proven delivery planning capabilities, and inclusive leadership skills to establish high-performing engineering culture.

What you'll do

Team Leadership and Development: Lead and mentor a team of nine engineers (including one lead, five senior engineers, and three developers) to establish a high-performing engineering culture with focus on inclusive leadership, professional development, and team cohesion following recent organizational changes.

Strategic Database Migration Program: Oversee the company-wide technology transition from legacy Microsoft SQL Server environment to modern, open-source cloud solutions including Aurora PostgreSQL and DynamoDB, ensuring smooth execution while maintaining system reliability and data integrity.

Internal Platform Development: Direct the design and development of internal compliance and observability tools that empower product teams across the organization to independently manage, monitor, and operate their databases with confidence and autonomy.

AI-Driven Insights Implementation: Champion the integration of artificial intelligence technologies to gather and surface intelligent insights to product teams, enabling them to confidently own, evolve, and optimize their database infrastructure.

Delivery Planning and Process Optimization: Establish and refine team processes, sprint estimation practices, and collaborative workflows to create a predictable delivery cadence and ensure technical roadmap execution aligns with business objectives.

Stakeholder Management and Roadblock Resolution: Manage critical dependencies, shield team from external pressures, communicate delivery timelines predictably, and collaborate across product teams to resolve technical blockers and maintain alignment.

Technical Audit and Architecture Review: Provide technical oversight and confidence in complex systems design, audit technical implementations without micromanaging, and maintain architectural standards across database infrastructure and tooling platforms.

Vancouver Hub Establishment: Build and foster a collaborative engineering culture in Xero's new Vancouver hub, coordinate distributed team operations across North American and New Zealand time zones, and establish team norms for hybrid work environment.

What we look for

Technical

Systems Design and ScalingDemonstrated expertise in designing and scaling distributed systems, preferably gained in high-scale cloud, platform, or monitoring organizations with experience in complex architecture decisions.

Database Systems KnowledgeDeep understanding of relational databases (SQL Server legacy systems), cloud-native databases (Aurora PostgreSQL), and NoSQL solutions (DynamoDB) with ability to lead technical transitions between database platforms.

Cloud InfrastructureStrong experience with cloud platforms, microservices architecture, and modern DevOps practices for building scalable, observable, and maintainable infrastructure.

Observability and Monitoring ToolsHands-on experience designing and implementing observability solutions, compliance tools, and monitoring infrastructure that enable teams to operate databases independently.

AI/ML IntegrationAptitude for leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to enhance tooling capabilities and provide intelligent insights to engineering teams.

Education

Computer Science FoundationBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience demonstrating strong foundation in computer science principles and software architecture.

Continuous Learning in Database TechnologiesCommitment to continuous professional development in modern database technologies, cloud platforms, and emerging engineering practices.

Experience

Engineering LeadershipProven experience leading distributed engineering teams through organizational transitions, establishing team processes, and building high-performing cultures in remote-first or hybrid environments.

Large-Scale Platform DevelopmentBackground building or leading the development of internal tools and platforms that support multiple product teams, with emphasis on scalability, reliability, and developer experience.

Technology Transition ManagementDemonstrated success managing complex technology migrations or modernization initiatives while maintaining business continuity and team productivity.

Stakeholder and Dependency ManagementProven ability to manage multiple stakeholders, communicate technical complexity effectively, and resolve cross-team dependencies to maintain delivery momentum.

Team Building and Culture DevelopmentExperience establishing fresh team processes, refining estimation practices, and fostering collaborative culture in newly formed or reorganized engineering teams.

Skills

Required skills

Technical LeadershipAbility to confidently audit complex technical work, maintain system health, and provide architectural guidance while maintaining healthy team dynamics without micromanagement.

Strategic ThinkingCapacity to envision technology transitions, align technical roadmaps with business objectives, and navigate through organizational complexity with clarity and foresight.

People ManagementInclusive leadership style that listens to, learns from, and builds alongside senior technical team members before introducing major changes; emotional intelligence and active listening skills.

Delivery PlanningProactive approach to delivery planning with ability to bring structure to distributed groups, improve estimation practices, and establish predictable delivery cadence.

Stakeholder CommunicationExceptional ability to manage stakeholder expectations, communicate timelines predictably, navigate organizational politics, and maintain alignment across product teams.

Systems ArchitectureDeep understanding of distributed systems, database architecture, and platform design with ability to evaluate technical tradeoffs and lead infrastructure decisions.

Nice to have

AI/ML Integration ExperiencePractical experience or strong interest in integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies into developer tooling and operational systems.

Open-Source Database ExperienceHands-on experience with PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, or other modern open-source databases in production environments at scale.

Internal Developer Platform DevelopmentExperience building internal developer platforms, compliance frameworks, or observability solutions that improve team autonomy and operational excellence.

Multi-Region Team LeadershipProven success leading geographically distributed teams across multiple time zones with established best practices for asynchronous communication and collaboration.

Fintech or SaaS BackgroundExperience working in regulated fintech or SaaS environments where compliance, security, and reliability are paramount considerations.

Agile and Modern Development PracticesExpertise in establishing agile workflows, sprint planning, estimation techniques, and continuous improvement practices within engineering organizations.

Compensation & benefits

Salary

CAD 188,000 – 236,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Variable Compensation Program

Eligible for annual bonus and equity (RSU) programs with performance-based incentives depending on role level and company performance.

Comprehensive Health and Wellness

World-class health, wellness, and retirement programs designed to support employee wellbeing and financial security.

Wellbeing Days

Dedicated paid time off for mental health, personal wellness, and work-life balance separate from standard vacation entitlements.

Generous Leave Policy

Competitive vacation days, parental leave, and other time-off benefits supporting work-life balance and family commitments.

Professional Development Budget

Dedicated annual budget for training, certifications, conferences, and continuous learning opportunities to support career growth and technical skill advancement.

Hybrid Work Environment

Flexible hybrid working arrangement with dedicated boost days in Vancouver office for collaboration and remaining days remote work flexibility.

Xero Perks Program

Comprehensive employee benefits package including wellness initiatives, learning resources, and various perks tailored to support employee quality of life.

Distributed Team Support

Tools, resources, and practices supporting effective collaboration across distributed teams spanning North American and international time zones.

Interview process

1
Initial Screening and Application Review — Xero uses AI-assisted screening to evaluate applications based on job-related qualifications and technical fit; human recruiters review all candidates before proceeding with subsequent interview rounds.
2
Recruiter Phone Screen — Initial conversation with recruiting team to discuss career trajectory, leadership philosophy, experience with distributed teams, and alignment with the Vancouver hub's foundational leadership mission.
3
Technical Leadership Interview — Discussion with senior engineering leaders or CTO to explore systems design expertise, database migration experience, technical depth in cloud platforms, and ability to audit complex technical work.
4
Team Dynamics and Culture Fit Interview — Conversation exploring inclusive leadership style, stakeholder management capabilities, experience building team culture, and approach to establishing processes within distributed engineering organizations.
5
Scenario-Based Problem Solving — Assessment of delivery planning capabilities, approach to managing dependencies, strategy for technology transitions, and decision-making methodology for complex technical and organizational challenges.
6
Senior Leadership Interview — Final round discussion with hiring manager or VP of Engineering covering strategic vision, expectations for Vancouver hub leadership, organizational fit, and long-term growth opportunities.