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

Have you ever dreamed of leading a dynamic team in the tech world? Xero is on the lookout for a Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling to join our exceptional team! At Xero, we focus on making life easier for small businesses and their advisors, and our purpose is at the core of everything we do. In this pivotal role, you’ll be steering our Site Reliability Engineering efforts, ensuring that we deliver a reliable and top-quality experience for our users. Your responsibilities will include building a world-class tooling ecosystem and enhancing our observability platform, ensuring our products are top-notch in performance and stability. You'll lead a talented group of experts dedicated to driving enduring reliability through effective tooling, automation, and observability solutions. This isn’t just a job; it’s an opportunity to shape the future of how we operate. Your strategic mindset paired with your technical expertise will be crucial in influencing the SRE culture at Xero. You’ll work across teams, driving a customer-first approach while providing the guidance needed for operational excellence. Joining Xero means being part of a company that believes in the value of its people. With plentiful benefits like flexible work arrangements and generous paid leave, you’ll be empowered to do your best work. So, if you’re ready to make an impact and inspire high-performing teams, Xero is the place for you!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling Role at Xero
What responsibilities does the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling at Xero have?

The Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling at Xero is responsible for leading the design and maintenance of Site Reliability Engineering's tooling solutions and observability platform. You will build a dedicated team that champions reliability through intelligent tooling, automation, and observability, driving the company's overall strategy in these areas.

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What qualifications are required for the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling role at Xero?

To be successful in the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling role at Xero, you’ll need a strong technical background in SRE, experience in leadership positions, and a proven track record in creating innovative observability solutions, ideally in fast-paced, high-growth environments.

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What unique benefits does Xero offer to employees in the Head of Engineering position?

Xero offers a range of unique benefits for employees in the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling position, including generous paid leave options, dedicated mental health support, health and life insurance, and an Employee Share Plan, making it a compelling place to work.

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How does the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling role impact customer experience at Xero?

The Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling significantly impacts customer experience by ensuring high-quality, reliable tools and solutions are in place to support the platform. This role prioritizes delivering a stable and efficient customer experience through effective incident response and system reliability.

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What kind of team culture can the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling expect to foster at Xero?

The Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling at Xero can expect to cultivate a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer-first thinking. Your leadership will inspire cross-functional teams to work towards operational excellence.

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What technologies will the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling be working with at Xero?

The Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling will work with modern cloud technologies like AWS, Azure, and GCP. Familiarity with managing incidents and problems within high-availability, SaaS-based transactional systems is essential.

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What is the application deadline for the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling position at Xero?

Applications for the Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling position at Xero will close at the end of the day on Wednesday, December 11th, so be sure to submit your application before then!

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Common Interview Questions for Head of Engineering - SRE Observability & Tooling
Can you explain your experience with observability solutions and how you've implemented them in past roles?

When answering this question, articulate specific observability tools you’ve utilized and how you implemented them. Highlight your strategic approach to observability and any metrics you improved as a result.

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How do you prioritize tasks and manage a team during an incident response?

Describe your incident management strategy, emphasizing your ability to maintain calm in high-pressure situations and how you delegate tasks effectively during an incident to ensure swift resolution.

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What strategies have you used to foster a culture of continuous improvement in your teams?

Discuss your methodologies for encouraging feedback and learning from past experiences. Mention specific training programs, retrospective meetings, and other practices that cultivate an environment focused on improvement.

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What tools do you consider essential for a successful Site Reliability Engineering practice?

Share a list of tools you find crucial for SRE, explaining why they are necessary for reliability and observability. Focus on both monitoring and alerting tools, as well as those that facilitate team collaboration.

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How do you communicate the importance of reliability engineering to stakeholders?

Emphasize the importance of storytelling in effectively communicating with stakeholders. Provide examples of how you’ve previously outlined the business value of reliability and how it impacts customer satisfaction.

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Describe a time you led a major change in your organization’s SRE approach. What challenges did you face?

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to describe a specific scenario where you led a significant change. Discuss the obstacles you encountered and how you overcame them.

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What metrics do you use to measure the success of your SRE initiatives?

Identify key metrics like SLA adherence, error rates, and availability that help gauge the effectiveness of SRE initiatives. Explain how tracking these metrics drives improvements.

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How do you ensure that all team members are aligned with the company's goals?

Describe techniques you employ to ensure alignment, such as regular one-on-ones, team meetings focused on company objectives, and the use of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) to set clear goals.

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What is your approach to mentoring junior engineers in an SRE role?

Discuss your philosophy on mentorship, emphasizing personalized approaches, regular check-ins, and hands-on guidance. Showcase how mentoring contributes to the team’s overall strength.

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How do you stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in SRE?

Answer by mentioning various resources such as industry blogs, webinars, conferences, and peer networks that you partake in to remain informed about advancements in Site Reliability Engineering.

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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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Badge ChangemakerBadge Diversity ChampionBadge Family FriendlyBadge Future MakerBadge Work&Life BalanceBadge Rapid Growth
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)
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Full-time, remote
DATE POSTED
November 27, 2024

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