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Lead Engineer - Front End Platform & Design System

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The Role

The role and it’s impact

You'll help shape the technical direction of our Front End Platform, working across multiple teams to deliver the shared tools, systems and standards that make front end development at Xero faster, safer and more consistent. This is a role for someone who enjoys tackling open-ended, multi-team problems, and who can move comfortably between hands-on technical work and broader strategic influence.

You'll build deep relationships across engineering, product and design, breaking down silos and helping teams reach the best outcome regardless of level or title. You'll guide technical design, identify the technical gaps holding teams back, and champion modern front end practices, all while coaching engineers toward their next level.

The team and how how they connect

The Front End Platform team builds and maintains the shared foundations, from component libraries and design systems to developer tooling, that product engineering teams across Xero rely on daily.

We work in close partnership with design, product engineering and infrastructure teams to keep what we build genuinely useful and well adopted. It's a team that thinks in multi-year horizons while staying grounded in the everyday realities of the teams we support.

Initially, you will focus on

  • Leading the technical direction of Xero’s front end

  • Guiding a modern front end stack (React, TypeScript, and associated tooling) across multiple teams

  • Influencing CI/CD and delivery pipeline improvements at a platform level

  • Shaping the longer term roadmap for front end performance, accessibility and developer experience

  • Leveraging Harness Engineering to moderise legacy front end pages and components

Where and how you can work

This role can be either hybrid or fully remote anywhere across the East Coast of Australia.

For those that are looking for a hybrid role, we have beautiful offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. We come together in the office for connection, collaboration and our regular boost days, with flexibility to work from home the rest of the time.

Here are some of the things we're looking for, for this role

  • Deep expertise in front end engineering, with the ability to pick up new languages and tools as needed

  • Proven experience and genuine interest in large scale shared platforms and developer experience

  • Solid grounding in CI/CD concepts, automated testing and TDD, and enjoy helping others build good habits around them

  • Skilled at designing secure, scalable and maintainable systems, including distributed architectures

  • You'll bring a track record of influencing roadmaps and technical direction across multiple teams, not just your own

  • Comfortable balancing strategic thinking with hands-on problem solving when a team needs it

  • Experience coaching and mentoring engineers, with a genuine interest in helping others grow toward senior roles

  • A collaborative approach to disagreement, able to work through different viewpoints to reach the best outcome for the wider team

  • A track record of using AI tools and principles to work more efficiently and solve problems within a development team

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 enhance our culture and team.

Lead Engineer - Front End Platform & Design System

Apply Now
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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

Vancouver

Vancouver, B.C.
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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.

Not ready to join us just yet?

Join our talent community to stay in the loop.

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