Team Lead - Engineering (Small Business Growth)

The **Team Lead - Engineering** at **Xero** is responsible for guiding high-performing engineering teams in delivering exceptional software. This involves providing hands-on technical mentorship, fostering a strong team culture, facilitating cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring the operational health of your team. Your role also includes empowering your engineers to grow individually and collectively, setting goals that align with broader division objectives.

To be successful in the **Team Lead - Engineering** role at **Xero**, candidates should have substantial experience in software delivery and leadership. Familiarity with Lean or Agile methodologies is crucial, along with a proven record of mentoring teams in best practices. High emotional intelligence, strong interpersonal skills, and a dedication to personal growth are essential traits we look for in potential candidates.

At **Xero**, we deeply value diversity and inclusion, and this is reflected in the **Team Lead - Engineering** role. We believe that a diverse workforce enhances our ability to understand and serve our customers better. We encourage applicants from various backgrounds to apply, even if they don't meet every single qualification, believing that different perspectives enable innovation and growth.

The **Team Lead - Engineering** at **Xero** benefits from numerous professional development opportunities. We value the ongoing growth of our employees and provide avenues for skill advancement, mentorship programs, and access to resources that support both technical and personal development. With our collaborative culture, you’ll find ample support and encouragement every step of the way.

Xero offers a fantastic range of benefits for its **Team Lead - Engineering** position, including generous paid leave, mental wellbeing support programs, free medical insurance, and extensive parental leave. Additionally, we prioritize career development, flexible working arrangements, and an inclusive office environment, ensuring that all employees feel valued and equipped to do their best work.

In answering how you approach team leadership at **Xero**, focus on your philosophy around empowering individuals and fostering a collaborative culture. Highlight your experience in leveraging Lean or Agile methodologies, and discuss specific examples where you’ve successfully mentored engineers or resolved team dynamics.

When discussing your experience with Agile methodologies, illustrate it with a specific project where you led your team through the Agile process. Explain the challenges you faced, your strategies for overcoming them, and the outcomes, emphasizing how this experience would translate to your role as a **Team Lead - Engineering** at **Xero**.

For this question, share specific strategies that you’ve successfully employed to keep your team engaged. Discuss the importance of providing feedback, recognizing achievements, and creating a supportive environment that fosters individual and team growth—qualities that are crucial for a **Team Lead - Engineering** at **Xero**.

When asked about balancing hands-on involvement with delegation, explain your approach for understanding when to step in and when to empower your team. Discuss the importance of trust and communication in maintaining this balance, which is essential for a successful **Team Lead - Engineering** at **Xero**.

In responding to this question, highlight your conflict resolution skills. Discuss techniques such as active listening, open communication, and mediation strategies you’ve used in the past to resolve conflicts constructively—skills that are particularly important for a **Team Lead - Engineering**.

When tackling this question, emphasize your belief in mentorship as a cornerstone of effective leadership. Provide examples of how you have mentored team members in your previous roles, showcasing the positive impact it had on their growth and the team's overall performance, which resonates with Xero's values.

To answer this question effectively, outline your strategies for ensuring adherence to engineering standards. Discuss the importance of ongoing training, regular code reviews, and fostering an open dialogue about best practices within your team—core values for a **Team Lead - Engineering** at **Xero**.

When describing a significant change, focus on a specific case where your leadership was crucial. Detail the situation, the steps you took to implement the change, and the outcomes, demonstrating your ability to navigate and lead transformation within an engineering team.

When discussing prioritization, explain your methods for evaluating project requirements, considering stakeholder input, and aligning with strategic objectives. Provide examples of how effective prioritization has directly benefited your team in past roles, a vital skill for a **Team Lead - Engineering**.

For this question, share your insights into the current challenges in the engineering sector, such as rapid technological changes and talent retention. Discuss actionable strategies you would employ as a **Team Lead - Engineering** at **Xero** to meet these challenges head on while fostering a high-performing team environment.