Head of Engineering - Data

Xero is a beautiful, easy-to-use platform that helps small businesses and their accounting and bookkeeping advisors grow and thrive. 

At Xero, our purpose is to make life better for people in small business, their advisors, and communities around the world. This purpose sits at the centre of everything we do. We support our people to do the best work of their lives so that they can help small businesses succeed through better tools, information and connections. Because when they succeed they make a difference, and when millions of small businesses are making a difference, the world is a more beautiful place.

The team 

The Data team at Xero plays a pivotal role in fostering a culture of collaborative, data-driven decision-making, impacting not only our internal teams but also our diverse, global community of small business owners, bookkeepers, and accountants. Our work involves crafting, overseeing, and delivering a broad spectrum of data services. These range from essential reporting and key data sets to advanced, scalable solutions in analytical data processing, storage, machine learning, and API-driven predictive services.

We pride ourselves on being a hub of knowledge and innovation in data architecture, data modelling, machine learning, ethical data usage, and artificial intelligence service design. Our mission extends beyond technical expertise; we are dedicated to elevating data and AI understanding across Xero, emphasising inclusivity and accessibility in technology. We particularly focus on empowering our product management and engineering teams worldwide, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and tools to make a meaningful impact in their roles.

The role 

In this role you will work closely with the GM - Data and the Data leadership team to grow,  lead, and manage a portfolio of engineering teams to develop new data capabilities and services, and enhance our existing solutions and practices. 

• Collaborate with the Data Leadership team to proactively manage the risk of delivery and drive consistency in the way we deliver
• Ensure your team is aware and aligned with the Xero engineering standards, compliance and best practices  ensuring your teams are aligned to Xero’s product and engineering strategic objectives and priorities.
• Collaborate with architecture and engineering leaders to define, design and build data solutions and platforms. Lead small teams to implement these solutions, ensuring timely and successful delivery
• Be a leader of leaders, actively lead and mentor engineering leaders, fostering a collaborative environment that emphasises knowledge sharing and collective problem-solving
• Lead by example, by being a dedicated to automation, documentation, and collaboration at all stages of the engineering workflow, including improving existing solutions or proposing alternative solutions where applicable 
• Lead initiatives that help drive continuous improvements to data quality, standards, principles and procedures, including a consistent approach to how data quality is measured, monitored and reported

• Extensive practical experience in data platforms, engineering and modelling.
• Experience being a leader of leaders
• Proven ability to plan and implement strategic change, while getting buy-in from stakeholders
• Knowledgeable in modern product principles and practices
• Data and technical background demonstrating innovation, initiative and a passion for data
• The ability to navigate areas of conflict, cascading information appropriately through all levels of the organisation

Why Xero? 

Offering very generous paid leave to use however you’d like (plus statutory holidays!), dedicated paid leave to care for your physical and mental wellbeing as well as an Employee Assistance Program to access mental health care for you and your family, health insurance, life insurance, and income protection, wellbeing and sports programmes, employee resource groups, 26 weeks of paid parental leave for primary caregivers, an Employee Share Plan, beautiful offices, flexible working, career development, and many other benefits that reflect our human value, you’ll do the best work of your life at Xero.