---
title: 'Principal Software Engineer - React Native at Xero'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-software-engineer-react-native-xero-melbourne-6xd4t0q4hd6j'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-19'
---

# Principal Software Engineer - React Native at Xero

- **Company:** [Xero](https://feeny.ai/companies/xero)
- **Location:** Melbourne, Australia
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-07-29
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-19
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/xero/ef013117-4e51-4d60-81e3-6dd78f9cbede/application

**Skills:** Mobile Application Development, Native Mobile Development, React Native, Cloud-Native Backend Services, APIs, AWS, System Design, SLOs, AI-led Engineering

> The Principal Software Engineer will define engineering standards and architectural direction for the Xero Accounting App, bridging product vision and execution. This role involves leading hybrid mobile evolution, establishing operational excellence frameworks, and driving AI-led engineering initiatives to improve d...

## Job description

## The role / impact

We are looking for a Principal Engineer to join the teams behind the Xero Accounting App (XAA), our flagship mobile experience that helps small business owners stay on top of their finances wherever they are. You will define the standard for engineering excellence at Xero, strengthening technical capabilities and evolving the architectural direction to support our global product roadmap.

Core Tech Stack (Non-Negotiable): React Native, TypeScript, and cloud-native backend APIs form the foundation of this role. You will be architecting, building, and leading across all three domains as an integrated system. You will bridge the gap between product vision, strategy, and execution, shaping the React Native technical roadmap to ensure our architectural decisions align with strategic goals. We need a leader who can solve complex mobile engineering problems at scale, seeking clarity within complexity and demonstrating smart ways to simplify while breaking down silos and driving cross-functional collaboration between mobile and backend teams.

Initially, you will focus on

- React Native Excellence: Establishing reference patterns, best practices, and architectural standards for high-performance React Native applications. Optimize for bundle size, performance, native module integration, and TypeScript-first development—raising the bar across the codebase.
- Cross-Boundary Technical Leadership: Leading collaboration across mobile and backend teams, ensuring API contracts are designed with mobile consumption patterns in mind, and removing friction at the feature boundary. You'll advocate for the mobile perspective in system design while owning the React Native side fully.
- TypeScript-First: Championing strict TypeScript practices across the React Native codebase, establishing type safety standards, and mentoring engineers on patterns that catch errors at compile time rather than at runtime.
- Systemic Operational Excellence: Leading strategic prevention of issues by defining frameworks for SLOs, quality standards, crash analytics, and reliability metrics specific to mobile performance and UX.
- Capability Elevation: Acting as a force multiplier by coaching lead engineers in React Native architecture, recruiting top React Native + TypeScript talent, and engaging with the broader React Native community.
- API & Backend Exposure: Practical experience working across the feature boundary with backend services and BFF/API layers. You can reason about API contracts, mobile consumption patterns, and troubleshoot integration issues—but you're not expected to be a deep backend engineer owning infrastructure, databases, or full service architecture.
- AI-Led Engineering for Mobile: Define and execute a vision for AI-assisted development that transforms how React Native code is written, tested, and optimized—delivering step-function improvements in mobile development velocity.

Additional Strengths:

- You bring extensive experience building and leading mobile applications in high-growth, large-scale environments—understanding the unique challenges of scaling React Native codebases, build pipelines, and release automation.
- Your approach ensures React Native architecture and product strategy are inextricably linked, translating technical possibility into beautiful, performant customer experiences.
- You focus on strategic prevention rather than reacting to incidents, using delivery and production metrics (crash rates, API latency, bundle size trends) to identify systemic improvements.
- A natural ability to thrive in ambiguity allows you to act as a stabilising force, translating shifting business directions into high-level React Native technical roadmaps.

## Why this matters

React Native powers ~70% of the Xero Accounting App. Success in this role means establishing the technical standard for how we build mobile at Xero—defining architecture patterns, TypeScript practices, performance benchmarks, and the processes that support high-velocity mobile development. You'll influence hiring, technical culture, and the mobile engineering roadmap for years to come. This is not a backend role; it's about owning mobile excellence end-to-end.

Where and how you can work Our teams are located in Australia and this hybrid role is based in Melbourne or Sydney, offering the flexibility to balance deep-focus work with high-bandwidth collaboration in our beautiful offices. Please 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 our culture.

## About Xero

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Xero provides cloud-based accounting and financial management software for small businesses, serving over 4.9 million customers worldwide.
- **Entity Type**: Public (ASX: XRO, S&P/ASX 200 component)
- **Headquarters**: Wellington, New Zealand
- **Founded**: July 6, 2006
- **Founders**: Rod Drury, Hamish Edwards

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Cloud accounting software (SaaS)
- **Target customers**: Small businesses, accountants, and bookkeepers (B2B)
- **Mission**: To make life better for small businesses globally by automating routine tasks and delivering actionable insights.

## Products & Services
- **Xero Accounting Software**: Cloud-based platform for invoicing, bank reconciliation, expense tracking, payroll, and financial reporting. Sold by subscription (Starter, Standard, Premium tiers).
- **JAX – AI Finance Partner**: An AI-powered assistant integrated into Xero that automates routine tasks and provides insights to help businesses grow.
- **Xero Ecosystem**: Over 1,000 third-party app integrations via the Xero App Store, covering payments, inventory, CRM, and more.
- **Xero for Nonprofits**: Discounted subscriptions (25% off) for eligible nonprofit and community organisations.
- **Xero for Purpose**: Social impact initiatives including financial literacy programmes (Unlock Your Numbers), sustainability tools (Sumday carbon app), and the Xero Beautiful Business Fund (NZ$750,000+ in funding annually).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed in provided sources (publicly traded with market cap available on ASX; latest data not included in search results).
- **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue NZ$2.103 billion (FY2025); Net income NZ$227.8 million (FY2025).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Board Chair David Thodey; CEO Sukhinder Singh Cassidy. In June 2025, Xero announced an agreement to acquire Melio, a New York-based payments provider, for $2.5 billion.
- **Growth Signals**: Achieved Rule of 40 outcomes of 41.0% (May 2024) and 43.9% (Nov 2024). Customer base grew to 4.9 million. Headcount of 4,610 employees (2025). Expanding globally with offices in New Zealand, Australia, UK, US, Canada, South Africa, and Singapore.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Market leader** in cloud accounting across New Zealand, Australia, and the UK.
- **AI-first approach** with JAX, embedded directly into the core product to reduce manual work.
- **Extensive integration ecosystem** (1,000+ apps) creating high switching costs for customers.
- **Strong brand trust** built over 19 years with a focus on small business success.

## Strategic Focus
- **AI and automation**: Deepening AI capabilities (JAX) to deliver predictive insights and automate finance workflows.
- **Payments expansion**: Acquisition of Melio to strengthen payments capabilities for small businesses.
- **Sustainability**: Reducing carbon emissions (72% reduction in scope 1 & 2), offering free carbon accounting tools, and supporting small business sustainability.
- **Social impact**: Scaling programmes like the Beautiful Business Fund and financial literacy initiatives.

## Why Work Here
- **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.

## Sources
1. [Wikipedia – Xero](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xero)
2. [Xero About Page](https://www.xero.com/au/about/)
3. [Xero Careers – Inside Xero](https://careers.xero.com/inside-xero/)
4. [Xero Careers – Teams](https://careers.xero.com/)
5. [Xero Homepage](https://www.xero.com/)

## Other roles at Xero

- [Senior AB Journey Manager - Onboarding](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-ab-journey-manager-onboarding-xero-san-mateo-f1eamh70fgx5) — San Mateo, CA
- [Marketing Manager, North America](https://feeny.ai/job/marketing-manager-north-america-xero-denver-e5306hbahke3) — Denver, CO
- [Lead Engineer (Accounting Core Team)](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-engineer-accounting-core-team-xero-vancouver-166dm2s9yxbk) — Vancouver, Canada
- [Senior/Applied Scientist - AI Products](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-applied-scientist-ai-products-xero-melbourne-kwwa3xcj3n0r) — Melbourne, Australia
- [Senior Account Executive](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-account-executive-xero-san-mateo-m0t8f26txf5q) — San Mateo, CA
- [Paid Social Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/paid-social-specialist-xero-wellington-j8czp8heb6sn) — Wellington, New Zealand
- [Paid Social Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/paid-social-specialist-xero-auckland-y5g3d60s3bt2) — Auckland, New Zealand
- [Paid Social Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/paid-social-specialist-xero-brisbane-8v2tb12v3t36) — Brisbane, Australia
- [Paid Social Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/paid-social-specialist-xero-sydney-8nxjxhgaa8cg) — Sydney, Australia
- [Paid Social Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/paid-social-specialist-xero-melbourne-9hg51nh8039n) — Melbourne, Australia