Lead Engineer - job 1 of 2

As a Lead Engineer at Xero, you will be responsible for driving innovation in technology and software delivery. You’ll lead software application development across our product suite, ensuring the development of new and improved customer experiences. Your role will involve mentoring team members, establishing strong communication across the organization, and ensuring best practices in coding and security standards. You will also coordinate incident management and help facilitate discussions around application design.

To excel as a Lead Engineer at Xero, candidates should have substantial experience in technologies like C#/.NET, React, SQL Server, and AWS. Additionally, expertise in distributed systems architecture, ability to lead discussions on application design, and experience in scaling products to accommodate growth are essential qualifications. Mentoring and coaching skills, along with a robust understanding of security and testability standards, are also crucial for this role.

Xero is committed to fostering professional growth for all its employees, including Lead Engineers. We provide opportunities for mentorship, access to training programs, and encourage participation in discussions surrounding industry standards and practices. Our collaborative environment allows for knowledge sharing and innovation, enabling you to stay updated on the latest technologies and methodologies.

The work culture at Xero is dynamic and supportive, encouraging collaboration and innovation among its engineering teams. As a Lead Engineer, you will work in an environment that values communication, relationship-building, and a commitment to company values. We prioritize employee well-being with flexible working options, ensuring that you can maintain a work-life balance while contributing to exciting projects.

Xero offers a fantastic range of benefits to its Lead Engineers, including generous paid leave, dedicated wellness programs, private medical insurance, and gym memberships. We provide extensive parental leave for primary caregivers, an Employee Share Plan, and a vibrant office atmosphere, ensuring our employees feel valued and supported in both their professional and personal lives.

In your response, highlight specific projects where you utilized C#/.NET, focusing on how you contributed to software development and improvements. Discuss any challenges you faced and how you overcame them, showcasing your problem-solving skills and technical expertise.

Discuss your approach to establishing coding standards, such as creating documentation, code reviews, and mentoring sessions. Emphasize the importance of maintaining high-quality code and how collaboration among team members plays into achieving these standards.

Share your methods for effective mentorship, such as providing constructive feedback, encouraging pair programming, and facilitating learning opportunities through workshops or projects. Highlight how mentoring contributes to team growth and success.

Outline the key steps you would take to ensure a smooth scaling process, including assessing current architecture, optimizing performance, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Discuss your experience in leading similar projects to reinforce your capabilities.

Provide a concise overview of a specific incident, your role as incident coordinator, and the steps you took to resolve the issue. Focus on your ability to remain calm under pressure and effectively communicate with your team and stakeholders during the incident.

Talk about emerging technologies that interest you, such as machine learning or cloud computing, and how you see them influencing software development practices. Highlight your willingness to experiment with new tools and approaches.

Discuss the strategies you use to facilitate clear communication, such as regular check-ins, utilizing project management tools, and ensuring alignment with overall company objectives. Emphasize the importance of transparency and inclusivity.

Detail your approach to code quality, which may include regular audits, utilizing automated testing tools, and encouraging feedback loops within your team. Share how these practices lead to enhanced software quality and team performance.

Share a specific example where you guided your team to develop or implement a novel solution. Discuss the brainstorming process, how you encouraged creativity, and the successful outcome of your efforts.

Explain how you prioritize tasks and manage time efficiently. Discuss your belief in the value of quality and how you work with your team to ensure that deadlines are met without compromising the integrity of the code.