Engineering Manager: AI-Driven Systems & Team Leadership

Apply; Auckland, Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Xero in Auckland or Wellington seeks an Engineering Manager to own team roadmaps and strategy end-to-end, driving delivery of high-quality software through inclusive teams.

You will shape architecture, lead design discussions, and champion AI-native workflows while partnering with Product and Design. Hybrid work model with potential NZ-wide scope enables local collaboration and global impact.

Qualifications

• Champion AI-native practices in engineering (AI-assisted PR reviews, code generation, tooling, agentic workflows) and turn experimentation into durable practice.
• Proven track record of owning and delivering software roadmaps end-to-end in agile environments, including managing complex dependencies and prioritisation decisions.
• Deep experience in software architecture and system design, with the confidence to lead technical trade-off discussions and modernisation efforts.
• Passion for coaching, mentoring, and advocating for engineers' career progression.
• Decision-making: fast, decentralised, empowering your team to own outcomes.
• Ability to influence Product and Design with technical insight and strategic thinking.
• Bias for action to re-direct focus when work isn't delivering business impact.

Skills

AI-native practices

Roadmap ownership

Software architecture

Agile leadership

Mentoring engineers

Decentralised decision making

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Xero in Auckland or Wellington seeks an Engineering Manager to own team roadmaps and strategy end-to-end, driving delivery of high-quality software through inclusive teams.

You will shape architecture, lead design discussions, and champion AI-native workflows while partnering with Product and Design. Hybrid work model with potential NZ-wide scope enables local collaboration and global impact.