Lead Engineer (API Platform)
Core
Shape technical direction for Xero's API and SDK surfaces, treating APIs as first-class products to enable external partners to embed Xero capabilities and unlock intelligent automation.
Role type
Staff/Lead Backend Platform Engineer (API)
Builds
Composable, safe, and AI-ready API contracts and SDKs for external developers and internal platforms.
Domain
Accounting SaaS, API Platform Engineering, AI/LLM Orchestration
Deliverable
production ML models | product features | infrastructure
Required skills
Backend and platform engineering at scale, multi-tenant SaaS architecture, external-facing API and SDK design, modern backend stacks (C#, Go, Java), AI and agentic architectures, coaching and mentoring
Preferred skills
Supergraph model implementation, legacy system modernization, CI/CD integration for APIs
Technologies
gRPC, C#, Go, Java, Supergraph
Responsibilities
Design composable and safe APIs, consolidate technical stack using the Supergraph model, replace expensive back-channel endpoints with coherent interfaces, mentor other engineers, collaborate across product and engineering domains
Seniority
Staff/Lead, hands-on IC with mentorship