Engineering Manager - Multiple Roles

JobSpace; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Xero is seeking an Engineering Manager to own the roadmap and strategy for the team, driving delivery of high-quality software through inclusive, high-performing teams. You will be a technical voice, lead system design discussions, and shape the evolution of technical foundations while partnering with Product and Design to align strategy and resolve dependencies.

Hybrid work available across NZ and AU. Initially, you will focus on championing AI engineering, driving throughput via architecture,

Qualifications

• Proven track record of owning and delivering software roadmaps end-to-end in agile environments.
• Deep experience in software architecture and system design.
• Passion for coaching and career progression of engineers.
• Ability to lead through influence across Product and Design.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive AI engineering initiatives across the SDLC.
• Improve throughput with strong architecture and decoupled legacy systems.
• Enhance Developer Experience by removing toil and brittle environments.
• Scale system health and visibility to make debt actionable.

Skills

Software architecture

Team leadership

AI integration

Agile execution

Job description

As an Engineering Manager, you will own the roadmap and strategy for your team end-to-end, setting direction, making prioritisation calls, and driving the delivery of high-quality software through high-performing, inclusive teams.

You won't just manage the work; you will be a genuine technical voice in the room, leading system design discussions, navigating architectural trade-offs, and shaping how the team evolves its technical foundations. Your impact spans both delivery velocity and technical excellence. You will actively contribute to critical engineering decisions, from system architecture and platform design to build-vs-buy trade-offs, while championing AI-native workflows and guiding your team to hone their craft in ways that deliver meaningful business and customer outcomes.

You will lead a coordinated platform or product-focused team where building trust through transparency and seeking diverse perspectives are core to how we work. As an equal partner with Product and Design, you will co‑ownership the strategic direction of your domain — resolving dependencies early, influencing product thinking with technical insight, and creating a sustainable environment where engineers can do their best work.

Initially, you will focus on:

• Championing AI Engineering by encouraging the team to inject AI across the entire SDLC to drive efficiency gains.


• Driving high engineering throughput through strong architecture, code quality, and decoupling legacy systems.


• Elevating the Developer Experience by identifying and removing the \"complexity tax,\" such as toil and brittle environments.


• Scaling system health and visibility to ensure product status and technical debt are actionable and discoverable.

This role can be based in Melbourne or Sydney in Australia and Auckland or Wellington in New Zealand. We offer a hybrid working model that balances local team presence with a global scope of work. You will have the flexibility to work from home while connecting with your colleagues in our modern office spaces during designated boost days.

Here are some of the things we are looking for:

• You bring a proven track record of owning and delivering software roadmaps end-to-end in agile environments, including managing complex dependencies and making strategic prioritisation decisions.


• You have deep experience in software architecture and system design, with the confidence to lead technical trade‑off discussions and steer teams through significant modernisation efforts.


• You have a passion for providing high support through coaching, mentoring, and advocating for the career progression of your engineers.


• Your approach to leadership involves making fast, decentralised decisions and empowering your team to take ownership.


• You possess the ability to lead through influence, building strong partnerships across Product and Design; contributing technical perspectives to shape shared strategy, not just align to it.


• A bias for action is part of your DNA, allowing you to proactively redirect focus when work isn't moving the needle on business outcomes.

At Xero, we hire based on your skills, passion, and the unique perspective you can bring to enhance our culture and team.