Staff Applied Scientist

Position: Staff Applied Scientist
Location: Vancouver, CA (Remote)
Type: Permanent

About Xero:

At Xero, we are dedicated to supercharging businesses by automating routine tasks, providing actionable insights, and connecting businesses with the right data, advisors, and applications. Our goal is to improve the lives of small business owners while building a stronger economy that can drive global change.

Position Overview:

As a Staff Applied Scientist at Xero, you will collaborate with teams across the business to solve complex problems through scientific thinking, algorithms, and analytical data processing. You will also guide and mentor teams, contributing to the development of intelligent, data-driven products and services that deliver real value to our customers. Your work will help drive the strategy and application of quantitative sciences across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

Science:

• Collaborate with Principal Scientists to develop Xero’s applied science roadmap.
• Identify opportunities to enhance data utilization and improve data quality for core products and services.
• Contribute to defining best practices for applied research in data-intensive applications.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest developments in applied science and apply them to Xero’s products.
• Lead and mentor teams, fostering scientific competence across the organization.
• Guide the development of new products and features through rigorous scientific methods.

Engineering:

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of coding standards, balancing research speed and code quality.
• Collaborate with Engineering/Architecture teams to design pipelines supporting data-driven applications.
• Lead improvements to research tooling, driving the development of efficient solutions for data challenges.

Problem Definition:

• Translate business challenges into scientific research programs that align with Xero’s strategic goals.
• Ensure that research programs are ethically sound and meet both customer and business needs.
• Lead teams in ensuring alignment with Xero’s values and strategic priorities.

Influence:

• Represent Xero externally, sharing your expertise at public forums and enhancing the company’s reputation in the field.
• Help shape how product, engineering, and design teams view data and applied science.
• Contribute to recruitment efforts, helping Xero attract top talent in Applied Science.

Key Competencies:

• Proven track record in translating business objectives into research programs and leading teams to deliver outcomes.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to bridge business and technical perspectives.
• Leadership ability to inspire and motivate cross-functional teams.
• Ability to adapt to changing business needs with creativity and effective judgment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a knack for building trust and credibility.

Experience:

• Expert-level hands-on skills in applied science (refer to technical addendum).
• Proven success in delivering real-world impact through applied science, from theory to deployment.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in the development and delivery of impactful solutions.
• Mentoring experience, helping teams and individuals grow both technically and non-technically.

Why Xero?

Xero fosters a culture of respect, fairness, and inclusion, helping individuals thrive both in and outside the workplace. We offer generous paid leave, health insurance, employee assistance programs, and a wide range of benefits that support your wellbeing and career development. Join us at Xero, where you’ll do the best work of your life.

Apply Now:

If you’re passionate about working with data and shaping the future of small business platforms, apply today to join our team!