Principal Engineer

Xero1 weeks ago

Location

CAN: British Columbia Remote

Type

Full Time

Salary

CAD 231,000 – 281,000

Level

Principal

Role

Principal Engineer

Posted

Mar 7, 2026

Full TimePrincipal

The role

Summary

A visionary Principal Engineer role at Xero, driving long-term architectural evolution of a global cloud-based accounting platform. The position requires a strategic technical leader who can navigate complex distributed systems, establish engineering standards, and inspire technical excellence across a global organization.

What you'll do

Architectural Leadership: Lead the transition of critical global infrastructure to next-generation distributed patterns and architectures

Strategic Technical Direction: Drive the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and methodologies to maintain Xero's technical leadership in the fintech industry

Developer Experience: Establish and champion the global 'golden path' for developer experience, security, and operational excellence

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Build deep relationships across the global business to ensure technical alignment and foster a culture of shared ownership

Technical Mentorship: Mentor senior talent and cultivate a world-class technical culture within the engineering organization

What we look for

Technical

Distributed SystemsProven experience in delivering and operating complex, large-scale distributed and high-availability systems

Cloud ArchitectureExtensive experience leading architectural direction for massive, complex cloud-based distributed systems

Software Delivery LifecycleDeep understanding of optimizing software delivery processes for large engineering teams

Education

Advanced DegreePreferred: Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field

Experience

Technical LeadershipProven track record of leading technical strategy and guiding architectural decisions at an enterprise scale

Stakeholder EngagementDemonstrated ability to influence both technical and non-technical stakeholders across organizational levels

Skills

Required skills

Architectural DesignAdvanced skills in designing scalable, resilient distributed system architectures

Strategic ThinkingAbility to align technical solutions with long-term business goals

CommunicationExceptional ability to articulate complex technical strategies and their business impact

Nice to have

Fintech ExperienceBackground in financial technology platforms and accounting software ecosystems

MentorshipExperience in developing and guiding technical leadership talent

Compensation & benefits

Salary

CAD 231,000 – 281,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Variable Pay

Eligibility for commissions or equity based on role and performance

Comprehensive Health Benefits

World-class health, wellness, and retirement programs

Professional Development

Opportunities for continuous learning and career growth

Hybrid Work Model

Flexible working arrangements with occasional in-office collaboration days

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Review of candidate's experience and alignment with role requirements
2
Technical Leadership Interview — In-depth discussion of architectural experience and strategic thinking
3
System Design Challenge — Technical assessment of candidate's ability to design complex distributed systems
4
Executive and Peer Panel — Final interviews with senior leadership and potential team members