Engineering Manager - AI-Driven Platform & Tech Lead

Xero; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Xero is seeking an Engineering Manager in New Zealand to own the roadmap and strategy for your team from end-to-end. You will be a technical voice in architecture discussions, balancing delivery velocity with technical excellence while championing AI-native workflows.

You will lead platform or product-focused teams across Payments, Small Business Experience, and Inventory, partnering with Product and Design to co-own domain strategy and drive meaningful outcomes for millions of customers.

Qualifications

• Experience owning and delivering software roadmaps end-to-end in AGILE environments.
• Deep expertise in software architecture and system design with modernisation focus.
• Proven track record coaching engineers and building high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Own the roadmap and strategy for your team from end-to-end, setting direction and prioritising work.
• Lead system design discussions, architectural trade-offs, and technical decisions.
• Champion AI-native workflows and guide teams to improve technical foundations.
• Partner with Product and Design; influence strategy with technical insight.
• Foster an inclusive, high-performing culture and empower engineers to own outcomes.

Skills

AI-native practices

Roadmap ownership

Software architecture

Team leadership

Mentoring & coaching

Decentralised decision-making

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Xero is seeking an Engineering Manager in New Zealand to own the roadmap and strategy for your team from end-to-end. You will be a technical voice in architecture discussions, balancing delivery velocity with technical excellence while championing AI-native workflows.

You will lead platform or product-focused teams across Payments, Small Business Experience, and Inventory, partnering with Product and Design to co-own domain strategy and drive meaningful outcomes for millions of customers.