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Senior Forward Deployed Engineer

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The Role

The role / impact

As a Senior Engineer within the Internal AI Accelerator Squad, you will be at the forefront of Xero’s transformation into an AI-native company. You will act as a forward-deployed engineer, embedding yourself within various internal business teams to co-design and operationalise agentic AI workflows that remove manual toil and fundamentally reshape how our people work end-to-end.

Your impact extends beyond the code; you will lead the delivery of high-stakes AI agents from discovery to production, while acting as a technical partner and evangelist. By defining the patterns, guardrails, and tooling for intelligent automation, you will create the blueprint that enables the rest of Xero to harness the power of AI safely and effectively.

The team / how they connect

You will join a dedicated, high-velocity squad focused on boosting the adoption of agentic AI and intelligent automation across the global business. The team connects through a shared mission of rapid experimentation and "vibe-coding," working closely with product owners and SMEs to turn complex, messy workflows into elegant, automated solutions.

The team is currently working on / Initially, you will focus on

  • Designing and iterating on AI agents and workflow orchestrations using tools like Claude, Gemini, and MCP.

  • Integrating AI systems with core enterprise platforms including Salesforce, Workday, Slack, and NetSuite.

  • Developing reusable automation patterns and shared templates to be used by the business

  • Building evaluation and monitoring frameworks to measure performance and ensure the safety of AI-native workflows.

Where and how you can work

At Xero, we embrace a hybrid way of working that prioritises both flexibility and meaningful connection. You will have the autonomy to work from home, supported by regular boost days in our modern office spaces designed to foster collaboration, brainstorming, and team bonding.

Here are some of the things we are looking for

  • You bring a wealth of experience in building and operating applications or automations within production environments, particularly involving APIs and cloud infrastructure.

  • Your background includes hands-on delivery of AI-driven solutions such as agents, copilots, or RAG systems using LLMs like Claude or Gemini.

  • You possess proficiency in programming languages such as Python or TypeScript and feel comfortable navigating SDKs and webhooks.

  • A systems-thinking approach is part of your toolkit, allowing you to design agents with security, auditability, and controlled blast radius at the forefront.

  • You have a track record of partnering with non-technical stakeholders to translate business pain points into technical solution designs.

  • You are a natural coach who enjoys uplifting the AI fluency of those around you through pairing, workshops, and clear communication.

Compensation & Total Rewards

At Xero, we value the impact and skills you bring to the team. We don’t just hire for a role, we invest in people. We believe in a Total Package philosophy which means your value isn't just a single number on a paycheck. While base salary is a core component, we look at your compensation through a holistic lens that includes equity, performance incentives, and world-class benefits.

The expected base salary range for this role in:

  • CAD $180K – CAD $210K

  • Plus bonus and equity

Individual pay is determined by various factors, including geography, level of experience, and the specific skills you bring to the role.

In addition to base pay, Xero’s roles are eligible for the following forms of variable compensation:

  • Variable Pay: Permanent employees are eligible to participate in our equity (RSU) programs. You may also be eligible for performance-based cash or equity (RSUs) incentives depending on your role level, and company performance.

  • Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401(k) match, and 21 days PTO. Xero also provides eligible employees with Wellbeing leave, volunteer leave, holidays, paid parental leave. Further information included on our Xero Perks page.

Senior Forward Deployed Engineer

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Explore our tech teams

Engineering

45 open vacancies

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Data & AI

6 open vacancies

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Melbourne

Xero’s head office in Australia is in the buzzing suburb of Hawthorn, a stone’s throw from the CBD. Here, a diverse mix of Xeros work in both global and regional teams.

Brisbane

Our beautiful sunlit office is close to Brisbane Central Train Station and walking distance from Queen Street Mall as well as King George Square.

Sydney

Our office is in the heart of the Sydney CBD with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We're just over by Wynyard Park so it's easy to get to.

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Toronto

Our Canadian office is located in the heart of Toronto and has the city’s financial district at its doorstep.

Calgary

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New Zealand

Aotearoa New Zealand is our birthplace and where our work is anchored in three foundational themes reflecting both our heritage and our global ambition: Pioneering Innovation, Kiwi Roots, Globally Driven, and Community at our Core.

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Wellington (HQ - Xero One)

Our home base. We’ve got a world-class office space with almost every part of the business having a team here.

Auckland

Our Auckland employees are based in a bright, modern building in Parnell. Te Ara Turoa means ‘the journey of enduring light’, which refers to the history and significance of the land where the building stands.

Napier, Hawke's Bay

A converted old wool-store is where you'll find our Hawke’s Bay office. It’s a sunny base for our customer support crew and other teams.

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Singapore

Located in the heart of Singapore, our office is the headquarters for the South East Asia region.

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South Africa

Our Cape Town office is Xero's base in South Africa, and Johannesburg is home to the Syft team. In South Africa, we have a history of being first to market with ground-breaking features that solve real problems for accountants, bookkeepers and small businesses. We're proud to have built a thriving community in South Africa for 10+ years.

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Cape Town

Our South African office is located in Cape Town. It's a brand new office space just a stone’s throw from a collection of coffee shops, restaurants, and shops.

Johannesburg

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Milton Keynes (HQ + Experience Center)

This vibrant office is our welcoming UK headquarters. It’s close to the train station as well as cycling and walking paths.

London

The office is a 2 minute walk from the station - Exit Liverpool Street Station from the Bishopsgate exit, cross at the traffic lights and turn left onto New Street and follow the road.

Manchester

At the center of Manchester’s thriving tech hub and business district, this UK office is surrounded by creativity and innovation.

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Denver

Headquarters for the Americas, the sleek and modern Denver office is in the heart of the Platte Street area and right near the scenic Platte River.

New York

Xero’s (and Melio's) office is conveniently located in midtown Manhattan.

San Mateo

Our Bay Area office located in San Mateo features collaborative and transformative spaces perfect for team gatherings.

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Welcome to life inside Xero — where we're building the future of small business around the world.

No matter where you join us from, you’ll find a team that balances global impact and high performance with genuine flexibility, ensuring you have the space to be your best and supercharge your career.

Step into our world

How we hire

We know interviews can be a bit nerve-wracking. So we've laid out what to expect, how to prepare, and what to expect through the process. 

Connect with our talent team

You’ll connect with our talent team for the initial screen via Google Meet. This call will go over your background, experience, and career goals, as well as what to expect in the process and any questions you may have. We’re focused on finding folks who not only have the right skills, but also align with our values and dynamic way of working.

Show us your skills

In this interview(s) we want to learn more about your job skills and domain expertise. Anticipate a case study, a tech exercise, a portfolio review, and/or time with your team to dive into role related activities. Don't worry, no matter the role we'll make sure you're prepared to put your best foot forward!

Values in action

We want to hear how you demonstrate and connect with our values and the future of work at Xero. Be prepared to share examples of how you drive results and work cross-functionally and focus on the “customer”. You’ll be meeting with your potential new team so it’s a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have, too. Go Bold. Go Fast. Go Further. Go Together.

LEADership Interview (people leaders only)

For people leaders, our interviews focus on our four LEAD principles: 1) Lead with vision 2) Elevate capability 3) Act like an owner 4) Distill and solve problems

Decision and offer

Once you've connected with the team and manager, and everyone (including you!) agree we've found the best fit, we'll move to offer.

Supporting Xeros to thrive

From flexible working and wellbeing support to professional growth and meaningful perks, we help you do your best work, and feel great doing it.

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Leave

Annual leave: 20+ days a year

Wellbeing leave: 10+ days a year, pro-rated based on start date

Xtra leave: Five days a year to use whenever and however

Parental leave: 26 weeks paid leave with top-ups, up to 100%, Partner leave: 6 weeks paid leave in baby’s first year

Holiday leave: Three extra days over year-end shutdown (it's on the house!)

Lifestyle leave: Purchase additional time off, spread the cost over the year

Community Connect: One paid day per year for volunteering

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Wellbeing

Flexible working is not just a nice to have at Xero, itʼs the way we do things.

Employee Assistance Programs (EAP): Access free, confidential support for you and your family as part of our wellbeing program.

Modern Health: A free benefit, and our global EAP, for Xero employees and immediate family members to support and promote the wellbeing of Xeros and their families as part of our global wellbeing strategy. This service includes six coaching and six counselling sessions plus access to unique work life services that are available globally.

Mentorloop: Every Xero has access to Mentorloop, our platform for finding a mentor.

Local wellbeing programs: New wellbeing programs and activities are offered regularly in each region.

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Rewards

Employee Share Plan (ESP): Own a small portion of Xero through the employee share plan (ESP). Each year, every Xero receives a percentage of their base salary in Xero shares. The number of shares varies yearly based on salary and share price. Shares are typically offered in July and, for new employees, they’re pro-rated depending on start date.

Medical insurance: Xeros in all regions can expect exceptional medical insurance coverage provided by Xero. Many regions even have a fully subsidised option for eligible Xeros.

Retirement: Competitive retirement plan options with a matching contribution from Xero.

Life insurance: Life insurance coverage is provided to Xeros with a minimum coverage amount equivalent to their base annual salary.

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Xero

Xero subscription: Use our beautiful easy-to-use accounting software for your side gig or personal finances.

Xero rewards: Gain access to an array of retail discounts including stores, restaurants, holidays and products.

Global impact: Work for a company that’s in 9 countries and has 23 offices.

Environmentally conscious: Xero is certified carbon neutral and committed to supporting our customers, partners and their communities to become more sustainable.

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