Lead Engineer (API)

The role and it’s impact

As a hands-on Lead Engineer and technical authority in our Product Platform division, you will shape the technical direction for Xero’s API and SDK surfaces. You will treat APIs as first-class products, balancing external developer experience with internal platform consistency to build a reliable foundation for the future of our accounting services.

Your work will directly enable external partners to embed Xero capabilities into their own systems and unlock intelligent automation through AI-ready interfaces. By designing composable and safe APIs, you will help create experiences that allow small businesses to thrive in a more efficient, automated economy.

The team and how they connect

You will join our new API Platform team in Vancouver, which focuses on positioning APIs as Xero’s core product surface. We work together to deliver the API pillar of our technical strategy that supports AI, mobile, and ecosystem use cases.

The team is currently working on

• Our current technical stack includes an open source graph technologies powered by gRPC, and backend services built in modern languages like C#, Go, or Java.

• We are standing up a developer platform to provide a seamless path from domain models to running APIs integrated with CI/CD and production runtimes.

• You will help deliver across core accounting and tax domains using the Supergraph model to consolidate our technical stack and developer experience.

• The team is beginning a legacy burndown to replace or front expensive back-channel endpoints with coherent, strongly-typed interfaces and stable contracts.

Where and how you can work

This role is based in our Vancouver office. We embrace a hybrid working model that balances the flexibility of remote work with purposeful in-person collaboration.

Here are some of the things we are looking for

• You bring deep expertise in backend and platform engineering at scale, particularly within multi-tenant SaaS or high-throughput environments.

• A background in designing external-facing APIs and SDKs means you understand how to create interfaces that are discoverable, composable, and easy for other humans to use.

• Proficiency in modern backend stacks like C#, Go, or Java allows you to build high-availability services and experiment with new tools when they add value.

• A commitment to driving and evolving best practices allows you to champion modern engineering principles, coupled with an authentic passion for coaching and mentoring other engineers.

• Building strong partnerships across different product and engineering domains comes naturally to you, ensuring we collaborate effectively to achieve shared goals.

• Your curiosity about AI and agentic architectures helps you design API contracts that are ready for the future of intelligent automation and LLM orchestration.

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.

Compensation & Total Rewards

At Xero, we value the impact and skills you bring to the team. We believe in a Total Package philosophy - ensuring your value is recognized through a holistic lens that includes base salary, performance incentives, and world-class benefits.

The expected base salary range for this role is $173,900 - $217,400 CAD.

Individual pay is determined by various factors, including geography, level of experience, and the specific skills you bring to the role.

In addition to base pay, Xero’s roles are eligible for the following forms of variable compensation:

• Variable Pay: Permanent employees are eligible to participate in our annual bonus and equity (RSU) programs. You may also be eligible for performance-based cash or equity (RSUs) incentives depending on your role level, and company performance.

• Comprehensive Benefits: World-class health, wellness, and retirement programs. Xero Perks including Wellbeing days, generous leave, and dedicated professional development budgets.

This is a posting for an existing vacancy.

Xero uses AI to help screen applications based on job-related qualifications. These tools assist our recruiters but do not make automated hiring decisions. A human recruiter reviews all candidates before any hiring action is taken.