Xero

Engineering Manager - Data at Xero (Melbourne, Australia)

Xero· Melbourne, Australia·

Role details

Work type
Hybrid
Employment
Full-Time

Xero at a glance

Cloud accounting and financial-management software for small businesses and their advisors.

Xero is cloud-based accounting software for small businesses and the accountants and bookkeepers who serve them. It automates invoicing, bank reconciliation, bill and expense capture, reporting and cash-flow forecasting, and connects to more than 1,000 third-party apps. Its newer AI agent, JAX, automates routine tasks and answers plain-language questions about a business's finances.

Job description

The role / impact

As our 'Engineering Manager - Data', you will lead the engineering team responsible for creating and maintaining core models on our data platform. In this role, you will balance strategic leadership with technical delivery, shaping platform architecture while staying close enough to execution to ensure delivery, stability, and quality standards are met. You will empower and grow senior engineering talent, establish operational standards, and manage risk and dependencies across key quarterly initiatives. Partnering closely with product, platform, and security teams, you will ensure high-quality, scalable data products are delivered to solve meaningful customer problems. The team & how they connect The 'Dataverse' team consists of nine engineers located across Australia, New Zealand, and Canada who build and maintain the core models in our data platform. Working across remote locations, the team collaborates closely to manage cross-team dependencies and maintain continuous alignment. They foster an environment grounded in knowledge sharing, constructive feedback, and empathy for stakeholders. Initially, the role may focus on

  • Designing and building core models on the data platform using AWS and Snowflake infrastructure.
  • Streamlining real-time data flows and streaming architecture across platform services.
  • Leading delivery execution for complex data platform initiatives while managing dependencies and risks.
  • Coaching senior engineers, elevating engineering standards, and supporting team adoption of DataOps practices.

Where and how you can work This role offers flexible hybrid working arrangements based out of our Sydney or Melbourne offices. You can balance remote work with designated office boost days to connect, whiteboard, and collaborate in person with your team. Here are some of the things we're looking for, for this role:

  • A background in data platform delivery alongside data engineering expertise and data modelling capability.
  • Practical familiarity with cloud infrastructure like AWS and Snowflake, along with an understanding of real-time streaming technologies and data flows.
  • Your leadership style combines delivery focus with the technical breadth required to guide architectural decisions and step in hands-on when required.
  • Proven capability in coaching senior engineers, setting clear expectations, and supporting individual career progression.
  • Demonstrated proficiency managing platform health, establishing Service Level Objectives, and leading operational performance.
  • Strong collaborative skills to build trusted relationships across product, platform, and security teams.

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.

Why work at Xero

  • Culture: Values-driven, human-centric organisation with a focus on making a tangible impact on small businesses globally.
  • Flexibility: Emphasises a flexible environment and time for what matters most (remote/hybrid policy not explicitly stated but implied).
  • Perks & benefits:
    • One paid day off per year for volunteering (Community Connect programme).
    • Free access to Sumday carbon accounting app for employees.
    • Financial literacy resources and mentorship programmes.
  • Engineering & innovation: Dedicated Engineering and Data & AI teams (open roles visible on careers page). Global collaboration across 7+ countries.
  • Diversity & inclusion: Indigenous inclusion initiatives (te ao Māori in NZ, Reconciliation Action Plan in Australia), support for Indigenous communities.
  • Sustainability focus: Employees can contribute to environmental goals through company-wide initiatives.

Application questions