Principal Engineer

Xero1 weeks ago

Location

AU: Melbourne: (260 Burwood Rd)

Type

Full Time

Salary

AUD 200,000 – 280,000

Level

Principal

Role

Principal Engineer

Posted

Apr 20, 2026

Full TimePrincipal

The role

Summary

A Principal Engineer role at Xero focused on driving technical excellence, transforming complex systems into scalable cloud-native architectures, and leading engineering innovation across product groups. The ideal candidate will shape technical strategy, mentor engineers, and drive architectural improvements that enable faster, more effective software delivery.

What you'll do

Technical Leadership: Define engineering excellence standards and lead technical initiatives across product groups

Architectural Transformation: Refactor monolithic systems into scalable, cloud-native distributed architectures

Strategic Mentorship: Coach and mentor engineers across all levels, guiding technical and career development

Technical Strategy: Develop and advocate for long-term technical vision and engineering best practices

DevOps Culture: Promote modern DevOps practices and technology adoption across the organization

What we look for

Technical

Cloud ArchitectureProven experience leading complex technical projects on cloud-native platforms

DevOps TechnologiesExpertise with AWS, Kubernetes, and modern cloud deployment technologies

Software ArchitectureStrong skills in designing scalable, high-performance distributed systems

Education

Computer ScienceBachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field

Experience

Technical Leadership5+ years of experience in senior technical leadership roles

Cloud MigrationDemonstrable experience in transforming monolithic systems to cloud-native architectures

Skills

Required skills

Cloud ComputingAdvanced knowledge of cloud infrastructure and distributed systems design

Technical MentorshipAbility to coach and develop engineering talent across multiple levels

Strategic ThinkingCapability to simplify complex technical challenges and drive actionable outcomes

Nice to have

ReactExperience with modern frontend frameworks like React

MicroservicesDeep understanding of microservices architecture and implementation

Compensation & benefits

Salary

AUD 200,000 – 280,000 (annual)

Benefits

Hybrid Work Model

Flexible working arrangement with office and remote work options

Professional Development

Opportunities for continuous learning and career growth

Team Collaboration

Boost days designed to enhance team connection and collaboration

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Review of resume and initial qualifications
2
Technical Discussion — In-depth conversation about technical experience and leadership capabilities
3
Leadership Interview — Assessment of strategic thinking and mentorship potential
4
Technical Challenge — Architectural design or problem-solving exercise
5
Final Interview — Meeting with senior leadership to align on vision and team fit