Lead Engineer

The role / impact

You will focus on solving engineering problems at scale, moving beyond feature delivery to influence the architecture and implementation of distributed systems. By refactoring complex, monolithic systems and building high-quality, scalable software, your work ensures our platform remains robust and reliable for millions of global users.

As a senior member of the team, you will have the autonomy to make major code design decisions and contribute to global engineering standards. You will balance technical excellence with mentorship, acting as a role model and coaching others through complex technical challenges to help them grow.

The team / how they connect

You will join a collaborative environment where engineers, product owners, and designers work together using agile and delivery practices to ship meaningful code. The team prioritises continuous learning and mastery, frequently participating in code reviews and knowledge-sharing sessions to maintain a high bar for technical craft.

The team is currently working on / Initially, you will focus on

• Modernizing systems by refactoring monolithic components into distributed, scalable architectures.

• Enhancing the developer experience through the maturation of CI/CD concepts, tooling, and TDD practices.

• Building and maintaining a diverse tech stack that includes C#,.Net, React, AWS, and Kubernetes.

• Developing and implementing technical solution designs that align with long-term engineering frameworks.

Where and how you can work

This role is based onsite our Vancouver office, where we embrace a hybrid working model, 1-2 days in office a week. You will have the flexibility to work from home while joining the team in the office for “boost days” to collaborate, socialize, and solve complex problems in person.

Here are some of the things we are looking for

• Proven experience delivering and operating complex, large-scale systems (distributed/high-availability environments), with strong fundamentals and the ability to ramp quickly across adjacent technologies (we’re tech-stack agnostic).

• You bring a growth mindset and a passion for proactively maintaining and sharing technical knowledge with your peers.

• A background in designing and building high-quality software within a range of languages and tools is essential.

• You possess the ability to lead major code design decisions and contribute to wider technical solutioning.

• Experience with modern engineering practices like automated testing, refactoring, and agile delivery is key to your success.

• You enjoy mentoring other engineers and helping them grow their technical skills through supportive coaching.

• A deep care for technical excellence and a drive to solve large-scale engineering challenges motivates your daily work.

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. We are also tech stack agnostic, so please apply if you’ve worked with adjacent technologies.

Compensation Philosophy

At Xero, we value the impact and skills you bring to the team. We don’t just hire for a role; we invest in people. We believe in a Total Package philosophy – which means your value isn’t just a single number on a paycheck. While base salary is a core component, we look at your compensation through a holistic lens that includes equity, performance incentives, and world-class benefits.

The base salary range for this role in Canada is $186,000 – $236,000 CAD.

Please note that this range represents base salary only. We believe in rewarding our people for their total contribution, which is why we look at compensation through a holistic lens. In addition to base pay, your total package may include:

• Variable Pay: Eligibility commissions or equity based on role and performance.

• Comprehensive Benefits: World-class health, wellness, and retirement programs.

• Xero Perks: Inside Xero Explore our full suite of benefits, from wellbeing initiatives to professional development.

Individual pay is determined by various factors, including geography, level of experience, and the specific skills you bring to the role