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Xello

K-12 college and career readiness software

Principal Software Engineer

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/24/2026
CA$180k - CA$220k
Expert
Remote in Canada
RemoteRemote role open across Canada; working hours aligned to Eastern Time.
Software Engineering

About the job

Requirements
  • At least 15 years of software engineering experience, including at least 5 years at staff or principal level in high-growth SaaS businesses or startups.
  • Demonstrated technical credibility in opinionated engineering environments, with deep expertise in software development methodologies and best practices and a track record of balancing quality, speed, and maintainability.
  • Expertise in C#/.NET for backend development, TypeScript and Angular for modern single-page applications, web standards and frontend architecture, SQL and Redis, and building and operating systems in Azure.
  • Experience applying AI to engineering workflows, with sound judgment around tradeoffs, guardrails, and best practices, and a track record of using AI to reduce toil, improve quality, and increase team effectiveness.
  • A track record of reducing complexity while enabling scale, resilience, and velocity.
  • Ability to navigate disagreement respectfully, evaluate competing ideas fairly, and drive evidence-based decisions.
  • Ability to articulate complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Ability to collaborate with sales, product, and design teams.
  • Commitment to staying current with technology and assessing its relevance to company objectives.
Responsibilities
  • Define and evolve the long-term technical roadmap in alignment with product and business strategy.
  • Collaborate with product, design, sales, and client-facing teams to ensure technology decisions support user needs and company growth.
  • Set technical direction across teams and guide architecture toward scalable, secure, and maintainable systems.
  • Partner with engineering leaders to advance AI use in the development lifecycle by establishing practical patterns, guardrails, and workflows that improve velocity, quality, and developer experience while managing risk.
  • Identify and prioritize technical debt, balancing long-term system health with ongoing product delivery.
  • Champion continuous integration and continuous delivery processes with the DevOps team to ensure software solutions are highly available, performant, and secure.
  • Collaborate with QA to strengthen quality strategy, emphasizing reliability, security, and performance.
  • Lead design reviews, planning sessions, and critical discussions, fostering inclusive discussions and effective compromises.
  • Help shape the development, alignment, and effectiveness of senior technical talent across the organization.
  • Play an instrumental role in the hiring strategy to attract and retain talent.

About the company

X

Xello

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Website

Xello provides college and career readiness software for K-12 schools. The platform helps students build self-knowledge, explore careers and academic paths, and create personalized plans for their futures. Schools pay a subscription for access, and the tool works on mobile, tablet, and desktop while meeting WCAG 2.0 AA accessibility standards. Xello aims to improve student engagement, achievement, and college admissions by guiding every student toward a personalized, accessible path to future success.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Toronto, Canada

Founded

1997

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Xello won the 2026 CODiE Award in July and Breakthrough award in June.
  • Boston, Philadelphia, Waterbury, and Wisconsin wins validate 2026 pipeline momentum and procurement strength.
  • Future World 2026 gathered 200 educators from 30 states, expanding partner and buyer relationships.

What critics are saying

  • SchooLinks launched Intelligence Studio in July 2026, sharpening feature parity and district sales pressure.
  • Wisconsin’s current Xello contract ends June 30, 2026, forcing renewal execution risk.
  • If district mandates shift to bundled suites, Xello’s standalone CCR model gets displaced quickly.

What makes Xello unique

  • Wisconsin renewed Xello statewide through 2035, embedding it into academic planning statewide.
  • Boston Public Schools selected Xello in March 2026 for MyCAP and 48,000 students.
  • Xello’s AI-powered Advising Assistant and Reports Hub target counselor workflow, not just student exploration.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Paid Vacation
  • Parental Leave
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Hybrid Work Options
  • Remote Work Options
  • Professional Development Budget

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

11%

1 year growth

13%

2 year growth

13%
The Montreal Gazette
Jul 17th, 2026
Xello wins 2026 CODiE Award for Best College Readiness Solution.

Xello wins 2026 CODiE Award for Best College Readiness Solution. TORONTO - Xello, the leading K-12 college and career readiness platform, announced it has been named the 2026 CODiE Award winner for Best College Readiness Solution. Selected from 228 finalists across 75 categories, the CODiE Awards recognizes the most innovative products, platforms, and services across technology and education. Winners were chosen through a rigorous evaluation... July 17, 2026 at 9:05 a.m. TORONTO - Xello, the leading K-12 college and career readiness platform, announced it has been named the 2026 CODiE Award winner for Best College Readiness Solution. Selected from 228 finalists across 75 categories, the CODiE Awards recognizes the most innovative products, platforms, and services across technology and education. Winners were chosen through a rigorous evaluation process led by independent industry experts who reviewed each solution for innovation, functionality, market impact, and overall value. "We're honored to receive this CODiE Awards recognition," said Jeff Harris, President and Co-Founder of Xello. "It's a testament to the commitment of the entire Xello team, who dedicate themselves to building and delivering the resources and support educators, students, and families truly need. We're deeply grateful to the thousands of educators who partner with us every day. Their dedication to student success inspires us to continually improve." Xello supports more than eight million students across 3,500+ school districts in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, helping learners confidently prepare for the future. In addition to winning Best College Readiness Solution, Xello was also recognized as a finalist in the Best CTE Solution category, highlighting its commitment to supporting every student's postsecondary pathway. Students in Xello discover colleges that align with their goals through detailed college profiles, connect directly with institutions through the platform, and make more informed application decisions using visualizations based on historical admissions data. Xello also streamlines the application process with transcript and recommendation letter requests, real-time application tracking, FAFSA monitoring, and personalized scholarship matching. "The 2026 CODiE Award winners represent some of the most innovative and impactful solutions in the industry," stated Jennifer Baranowski, President of the CODiE Awards. "These organizations are solving meaningful challenges, delivering measurable outcomes, and helping shape the future of technology." About the CODiE Awards: The CODiE Awards are the technology industry's most established peer-reviewed recognition program. Since 1986, the CODiE Awards have recognized the companies and products transforming the way the world learns, works, and communicates. About Xello: Our mission is simple yet powerful: To equip every student with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to build a successful, meaningful future. Nicolas DesRoches, Director of Brand & Communications at Xello, [email protected]

The Montreal Gazette
Jun 23rd, 2026
Xello named Finalist in two 2026 edtech CODiE award categories.

Xello named Finalist in two 2026 edtech CODiE award categories. TORONTO - Xello, a leading K-12 college and career readiness (CCR) platform, announced it has been named a Finalist in two categories of the 2026 CODiE Awards: Best CTE Solution and Best College Readiness Solution. "Being recognized as a finalist in both categories is a tremendous honor," said Matt McQuillen, CEO and Co-Founder of Xello... June 23, 2026 at 9:06 a.m. TORONTO - Xello, a leading K-12 college and career readiness (CCR) platform, announced it has been named a Finalist in two categories of the 2026 CODiE Awards: Best CTE Solution and Best College Readiness Solution. "Being recognized as a finalist in both categories is a tremendous honor," said Matt McQuillen, CEO and Co-Founder of Xello. "We're committed to helping every student discover pathways and build plans for their future. These nominations reflect the dedication of our team and the trust that school districts place in Xello to support student success at every stage of their journey." Xello helps students become future ready through engaging career exploration, personalized planning, and powerful reporting tools that enable educators to support students every step of the way. For CTE-bound students, Xello's Work-Based Learning module connects them with local employers and real-world opportunities, while The Real Game life simulation develops financial literacy, decision-making skills, and purposeful future planning. Through Xello's College Planning tools, students explore postsecondary options, compare programs and admission requirements, track important deadlines, request transcripts and recommendation letters, and monitor application progress all within a single, streamlined platform. Recognition in both categories reinforces Xello's position as a complete college and career readiness solution, empowering students to explore their options and take the next step toward their future goals. "The 2026 CODiE finalists represent some of the most exciting innovations we've seen in the program's 40-year history," said Jennifer Baranowski, President, CODiE Awards. "These products don't just push boundaries - they solve real problems for the organizations, educators, and users they serve." The CODiE Awards are the technology industry's most established peer-reviewed recognition program. Finalists are selected through a rigorous evaluation process conducted by hundreds of independent industry experts, including business leaders, educators, and subject matter specialists. Winners will be announced on July 15, 2026. To view the full list of finalists, visit codieawards.com/finalists. About the CODiE Awards: The CODiE Awards are the technology industry's most established peer-reviewed recognition program. Since 1986, the CODiE Awards have recognized the companies and products transforming the way the world learns, works, and communicates. About Xello: Our mission is simple yet powerful: To equip every student with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to build a successful, meaningful future. Nicolas DesRoches, Director of Brand & Communications at Xello, [email protected]

Yahoo Finance
Mar 17th, 2026
Boston Public Schools selects Xello to strengthen MyCAP and advance college and career readiness.

Boston Public Schools selects Xello to strengthen MyCAP and advance college and career readiness. Business Wire BOSTON, March 17, 2026-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Boston Public Schools (BPS) has selected Xello as its college and career readiness (CCR) partner following a competitive RFP process, strengthening alignment with the district's My Career & Academic Planning Process (MyCAP). As BPS' MyCAP instrument, Xello will be a tool that helps students build personalized future plans with support from school counselors, teachers, social workers, pathways coordinators, and partners. "We are honored to partner with Boston Public Schools in supporting more than 48,000 students as they plan their futures," said Matt McQuillen, CEO and co-founder of Xello. "Together, we're advancing a more connected, student-centered approach to college and career readiness that guides every learner to pursue pathways aligned with their goals." BPS selected Xello for its personalized assessments, intuitive interface, and goal-tracking tools that empower students to take ownership of future planning. The district is particularly enthusiastic about Xello's career planning features. Through guided experiences, students can connect their interests to career clusters and to BPS pathways including Career & Technical Education, Early College, Innovation Career Pathways, International Baccalaureate, and Advanced Placement programs. "Xello has the potential to strongly support our district's Vision of a Graduate: A student who is prepared, connected, and engaged in shaping their own future," said Marsha Inniss-Mitchell, Executive Director of Postsecondary Initiatives at BPS. "In a time when students are navigating an ever-changing world of education and work, Xello is exactly the right tool to help them chart their course. It feels relatable to all of our students, no matter their background or starting point." Xello is committed to helping students build self-knowledge, explore meaningful opportunities, and turn their aspirations into future plans. By highlighting nine postsecondary pathways, both traditional and non-traditional, Xello encourages students to explore their options while retaining lifelong access to their portfolios beyond graduation. BPS serves K-12 students across 121 schools in 17 neighborhoods, representing 141 countries and 54 languages. About Xello: Our mission is simple yet powerful: To equip every student with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to build a successful, meaningful future. Nicolas DesRoches, Director of Brand & Communications at Xello, [email protected]

StreetInsider
Jun 5th, 2025
Xello Named to TIME's 2025 List of the World's Top EdTech Companies

Xello named to TIME's 2025 list of the World's Top EdTech Companies.

PR Newswire
Dec 10th, 2024
School District of Philadelphia Partners with Xello to Elevate College and Career Readiness for 200,000 Students

School District of Philadelphia partners with Xello to elevate college and Career Readiness for 200,000 students.