Head of Engineering

Xero3 days ago

Location

NZ: Wellington: Xero One (19-23 Taranaki St)

Type

Full Time

Salary

NZD 180,000 – 250,000

Level

Lead

Role

Engineering Manager

Posted

Apr 7, 2026

Full TimeLead

The role

Summary

A senior leadership role at Xero responsible for driving engineering excellence across multiple product teams, focusing on AI-powered workflows, technical modernization, and building high-performing engineering teams in a cloud-based accounting software platform.

What you'll do

Technical Leadership: Act as a technical anchor for multiple engineering teams, maintaining system health and code quality while driving product delivery velocity

Strategic Innovation: Champion adoption of responsible AI architecture and AI-powered workflows to unlock productivity across product portfolio

Technical Modernization: Lead efforts to transition from monolithic architectures to decoupled services and API-first integration patterns

Team Development: Define hiring strategies, grow high-performing talent, and support engineering career progression

Operational Excellence: Ensure high-quality production services with strong focus on reliability, observability, and continuous improvement

What we look for

Technical

Software ArchitectureDeep understanding of software architecture, design trade-offs, and technical debt management at scale

AI TechnologiesExperience with AI architecture and workflow integration in enterprise software environments

Education

Computer Science/EngineeringAdvanced degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent professional experience

Experience

Leadership ExperienceProven track record of managing and growing high-performing engineering leaders and teams

Cross-Functional ManagementExperience navigating complex, cross-functional challenges in fast-scaling technology environments

Skills

Required skills

Leadership SkillsStrong strategic thinking, cross-team collaboration, and ability to drive organizational change

Technical StrategyAbility to make informed technical decisions and simplify complex architectural challenges

Nice to have

Cloud TechnologiesExperience with cloud-based SaaS platforms and microservices architecture

AI/ML IntegrationBackground in implementing AI technologies in enterprise software ecosystems

Compensation & benefits

Salary

NZD 180,000 – 250,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Hybrid Work

Flexible working environment with a mix of office-based collaboration and remote work options

Professional Growth

Opportunities for career progression and continuous learning in a global technology company

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Preliminary discussion of background, experience, and alignment with Xero's engineering culture
2
Technical Leadership Interview — In-depth exploration of technical strategy, leadership approach, and experience managing complex engineering challenges
3
Team Fit Assessment — Interview focusing on cultural fit, team dynamics, and leadership philosophy