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Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling

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.


About the team


In Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), we drive and influence Xero to provide the most reliable experience for our customers. We are a global team based across New Zealand, Australia and the USA. 


We combine software and systems engineering to enable engineers across Xero to build and support products that are observable, stable, performant, tolerant to failure, and operate as intended in the face of varying conditions.


We strive to maximise the impact of post incident learning across the organisation to improve the reliability and robustness of the Xero platform, while providing enablement and training across observability, reliability engineering, incident management and service ownership.


About the role


Xero’s Head of SRE Observability & Tooling will assume responsibility for the build, delivery and ongoing maintenance of Site Reliability Engineering's tooling solutions as well as the Observability platform. 


The leader will be responsible for building a dedicated team of highly experienced industry professionals who will drive enduring reliability at Xero through robust and consistent tooling, automation and Observability solutions. They will be responsible for building a world class tooling ecosystem, owned and delivered by world class SRE professionals. 


This position requires a strategic leader with a strong technical background, deep experience in SRE, and a passion for building high performing teams. 


As a seasoned and relentless leader, they will drive the company's Observability strategy and contribute to the ongoing transformation of the Xero SRE culture. As an expert communicator, this leader will manage change and ensure the value of robust systems is communicated clearly across the business.


What you'll bring
  • You'll be an extremely technical leader with strong engineering and hands-on SRE background.
  • Deep and proven experience in building world class Observability solutions in a fast growing company.
  • Proven track record in leadership roles, with the ability to inspire and empower cross-functional teams to achieve operational excellence and drive continuous improvement.
  • Obsessed with delivering a high quality and highly stable customer experience, with 24/7 focus on incident response and remediation.
  • Drives a culture of customer-first thinking, coupled with a strong product mindset, understanding and anticipating customer needs. 
  • Broad and deep technical understanding of modern cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their incident and problem management practices, particularly high-growth, high-availability SaaS-based transactional systems.



Please note, applications will close EOD Wednesday 11th December




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.

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Average salary estimate

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What You Should Know About Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling, Xero

At Xero, we're on a mission to empower small businesses and their advisors through our beautifully easy-to-use platform. We’re currently seeking a dynamic Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling to join our passionate Site Reliability Engineering team. This role will put you at the helm of our tooling solutions and observability platform, steering a dedicated group of skilled professionals in enhancing reliability across the Xero ecosystem. You'll be diving deep into the intricacies of site reliability engineering, combining your technical expertise and leadership skills to build world-class observability solutions tailored for a fast-growing company. Your passion for operational excellence and incident management will help to foster a culture focused on delivering high-quality customer experiences. By harnessing modern cloud technologies like AWS, Azure, and GCP, you'll ensure our systems remain stable and resilient, even in challenging conditions. As a strategic leader, you will not only drive our observability strategy but also transform the SRE culture at Xero. We want someone who is excited about inspiring teams, communicating effectively, and making sure that our commitment to customer satisfaction permeates everything we do. If you’re ready to do the best work of your life while significantly impacting small businesses worldwide, we’d love to hear from you!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling Role at Xero
What qualifications do I need to apply for the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling position at Xero?

To apply for the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling position at Xero, candidates should possess a strong technical background in site reliability engineering and experience in leadership roles. Experience with modern cloud technologies such as AWS, Azure, or GCP is also essential. A proven track record of building observability solutions in a fast-paced environment will significantly bolster your application.

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What are the responsibilities of the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling at Xero?

The Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling at Xero will be responsible for overseeing the development, delivery, and maintenance of our tooling and observability platform. This includes building a high-performing team, driving the company's observability strategy, and fostering a culture that prioritizes reliability and operational excellence.

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How does the role of Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling contribute to Xero's mission?

The Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling plays a critical role in Xero's mission by ensuring that our platform operates reliably and efficiently. By leading the SRE team, this position directly influences the quality of the customer experience, allowing small businesses to thrive and grow through the use of our tools.

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What is the work culture like at Xero for the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling?

Xero offers a collaborative and supportive work culture for the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling. We encourage open communication, innovative thinking, and a customer-first mindset, all essential qualities in our ambition to drive change and improvement within our platform and teams.

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What are the career development opportunities for the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling at Xero?

At Xero, we invest heavily in the professional development of our staff. As the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling, you’ll have access to various training programs, mentorship opportunities, and the chance to develop your leadership qualities further, paving the way for future advancement within the company.

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How does Xero support the wellbeing of employees in the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling role?

Xero is committed to the wellbeing of all employees, offering generous paid leave, health insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program. For the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling role, additional benefits include flexible working arrangements and access to wellbeing programs designed to promote a balanced lifestyle.

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What impact does the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling role have on small businesses at Xero?

The Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling role has a significant impact on small businesses at Xero by enhancing the reliability of the products they use. A robust observability strategy ensures that our platform provides the necessary tools and resources that empower small businesses to succeed in their operations.

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Common Interview Questions for Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling
What is your experience with building observability solutions in a cloud environment?

When asked about your experience with observability solutions, be prepared to share specific examples of projects you've worked on. Highlight your understanding of different observability tools, such as monitoring and logging frameworks, and discuss how they contributed to operational stability and incident management.

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How do you approach leading and managing high-performing teams?

In your response, focus on your leadership philosophy and examples of how you've fostered collaboration, accountability, and empowerment among team members. Discuss how your approach has resulted in successful project outcomes or improved team morale.

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Can you discuss a challenging incident and how you managed the response?

Highlight a specific incident you’ve dealt with in the past and walk through your methodology to resolve it. Emphasize your hands-on involvement, communication with stakeholders, and how you later helped to enhance the resiliency of the system to prevent similar issues.

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What strategies do you use for continuous improvement in SRE processes?

Speak about the importance of data-driven decision-making and how you've applied metrics and feedback to refine SRE processes. Mention specific tools or techniques you've implemented to encourage a culture of continuous improvement within teams.

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How would you communicate the importance of observability to non-technical stakeholders?

In answering this question, discuss your ability to translate complex technical concepts into simple language. Provide an example of how you’ve successfully communicated the value of observability in terms of customer impact, service reliability, and organizational goals.

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What modern cloud technologies are you most comfortable with and how have you applied them?

Detail your experience with technologies like AWS, Azure, or GCP and how you've used specific services or frameworks to build scalable and reliable applications. Think about sharing specific projects or scenarios where these technologies played a crucial role.

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Describe your experience with incident management and response.

Discuss your approach to incident management by outlining your methodology during an incident, from identification to resolution. Highlight past experiences that showcase your ability to remain calm under pressure and work effectively with cross-functional teams.

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How do you ensure a customer-first mindset within your teams?

Share your techniques for instilling a customer-first culture, such as regular check-ins to understand customer feedback or involving your team in user research. Highlight the influence your strategies have had on service delivery and product enhancement.

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What role does automation play in your SRE practices?

Discuss your philosophy on automation in SRE, touching on its benefits for operational efficiency and reliability. Share some examples of how you've implemented automation processes or tools to optimize workflows or incident resolution.

Join Rise to see the full answer
What is your vision for the role of observability in the future of SRE?

Share your thoughts on the evolving nature of observability within SRE and its growing importance in proactive incident prevention, performance monitoring, and enhancing overall system reliability. Discuss trends you’re keeping an eye on and how you plan to integrate them.

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Xero is a New Zealand–based technology company that offers a cloud-based accounting software for small businesses. They have offices in New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, South Africa and Singapore.

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CULTURE VALUES
Inclusive & Diverse
Rise from Within
Mission Driven
Diversity of Opinions
Work/Life Harmony
Customer-Centric
Social Impact Driven
Passion for Exploration
BENEFITS & PERKS
Family Medical Leave
Maternity Leave
Paternity Leave
Family Coverage (Insurance)
Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Mental Health Resources
Life insurance
Disability Insurance
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
FUNDING
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Full-time, hybrid
DATE POSTED
November 26, 2024

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