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As Engineering Manager for Machine Learning at Xero, you'll lead a high-performing team of ML and platform engineers responsible for transforming research and models into production-grade ML infrastructure operating at scale. Your focus will balance predictable delivery with system health, driving MLOps maturity, observability, and operational excellence for AI systems in production.
You'll work within Xero's Data & AI organisation under the AI Products division, reporting to the GM of ML Engineering. The team partners closely with Applied Science, Data Engineering, and Product to move ideas from prototype to production. Current initiatives include production ML infrastructure supporting Xero's AI-native product suite, JAX (Just Ask Xero)—a conversational GenAI assistant—Auto Bank Rec, smart document capture with AI-powered transaction matching and extraction, and future work on cash flow forecasting and embedded ML capabilities.
Key responsibilities include leading team growth and delivery rigor, championing AI-native workflows across the software development lifecycle, and working closely with senior individual contributors including staff and principal engineers who shape technical architecture. You'll stay hands-on when needed, comfortable writing, reviewing, or debugging production code to unblock your team or support incidents.
Xero seeks candidates with a strong track record of leading, coaching, and developing engineers while building team capability over time. You should demonstrate strong technical judgment across architecture, system design, and engineering trade-offs. Experience translating business goals into executable engineering plans, balancing short-term delivery against long-term system health, and delivering roadmaps predictably in fast-paced, evolving environments is essential. Machine learning or AI systems experience is a bonus; genuine curiosity about the space is valued. The role supports a flexible hybrid working model combining remote work with office collaboration and team boost days.
