Senior Engineer - Database

Role Overview and Impact

As a Senior Database Engineer at Xero, you will collaborate closely with database engineers and product development teams to uphold the robustness, quality, and efficiency of our core database infrastructure. Leveraging both deep technical expertise and contemporary AI tooling, your role will optimise daily operations across an extensive SQL Server fleet and proactively manage risks, changes, and deployments.

You will be pivotal in evolving our data architecture, assisting the migration of services from SQL Server RDS to Aurora Postgres RDS. Your strategic advice on query optimisation and database design will empower product teams with vital technical insights, fostering scalable and sustainable infrastructure to serve millions of users.

The Team and Collaboration

You will join a cohesive team of senior database professionals located across Australia and New Zealand, functioning as trusted consultants for internal product squads. The team thrives on open dialogue and cooperative problem-solving, engaging in daily standups and frequent technical exchanges to support ongoing delivery and shared learning across database platforms.

Initial Focus Areas

• Operating and refining daily tasks across a broad SQL Server and SQL Server RDS database environment.
• Leading comprehensive database migrations from SQL Server to Aurora Postgres RDS.
• Incorporating AI technologies into engineering processes to boost efficiency in query evaluation, risk detection, and preventive maintenance.
• Collaborating with product teams to advise on schema modelling, query optimisation, and database visibility leveraging AWS tools.

Work Environment

This position is open to candidates residing in New Zealand or Australia, offering flexible work models without strict onsite mandates. Employees may utilise local office spaces and are encouraged to participate in periodic in-person events and team gatherings throughout the calendar year.

Preferred Qualifications and Attributes

• Extensive knowledge and experience with SQL Server and SQL Server RDS, emphasizing query performance and tuning.
• Hands-on experience or familiarity with Aurora Postgres RDS, with enthusiasm to contribute to active migration projects.
• A practical and responsible approach to technical ownership, capable of early risk identification and sustainable solution implementation.
• Effective communication skills that allow complex database concepts to be conveyed clearly to product teams and cross-disciplinary collaborators.
• A curious mindset open to integrating AI tools to streamline routine engineering tasks and improve productivity.

We encourage candidates to apply even if their background does not match every qualification perfectly. At Xero, we value passion, skills, and the unique perspectives you bring to enhance our team culture.