Technical grad program | 2025 grad program

Technical grads complete three 4-month rotations over 12 months, working with teams across the business in their chosen field.

An abstract image of overlapping shapes in shades of blue, with a purple nought and cross.

What is the technical grad program?

If you want to navigate your way into a career as a software engineer, the technical grad program is the place for you.

Each rotation has learning outcomes designed to maximise the benefit you get from the teams you’re embedded in, ensuring you’re ready to hit the ground running at the end of the program.

Throughout the entire year, you’ll get the chance to diversify your skills, meet new people and better understand how the business operates. You’ll also have opportunities to work on a wide range of products in a variety of capacities, including full stack, front-end, back-end, mobile, and data reliability.

To aid with your development and provide meaningful support during this crucial year, you’ll have a dedicated manager, a buddy in each team you rotate through, and an awesome grad network.

Applications for the 2025 program open from 18 March to 12 April 2024

Graduate engineers

Graduate engineers work with front-end and back-end teams, enhancing functionality, new feature innovation, site and data reliability, architecture, and more.

A grad security engineer sits on a bean bag working at their laptop.

Grad and intern program application process

Applicants for the grad program must have fewer than 12 months professional working experience in relevant industries, either have the right to work full-time in Australia or will be eligible to work full-time after graduating, and be able to start full-time in February 2025. You will also need to send your CV but only so we can use it to verify your eligibility. If you’re applying for an internship, you must be in your penultimate year of study in your chosen field and be available for full-time work from November 2024 through to February 2025.

Applicants for the grad program must have fewer than 12 months professional working experience in relevant industries, either have the right to work full-time in Australia or will be eligible to work full-time after graduating, and be able to start full-time in February 2025. You will also need to send your CV but only so we can use it to verify your eligibility. If you’re applying for an internship, you must be in your penultimate year of study in your chosen field and be available for full-time work from November 2024 through to February 2025.

You’ll be invited to complete a technical assessment which, for roles in the technical program, will be a HackerRank test as it helps us understand what level and range of skills you currently have. You can practise it beforehand. For the design program, there’s a multiple-choice skills test to help us understand your level of technical knowledge.

Practise the HackerRank test

You’ll be invited to complete a technical assessment which, for roles in the technical program, will be a HackerRank test as it helps us understand what level and range of skills you currently have. You can practise it beforehand. For the design program, there’s a multiple-choice skills test to help us understand your level of technical knowledge.

Practise the HackerRank test

Next, you’ll be invited to pre-record a video interview for our team. If your video interview is successful, you’ll be invited to attend a grad day. We’ll review all applications before making a decision, so you can expect to hear from us by early May.

Next, you’ll be invited to pre-record a video interview for our team. If your video interview is successful, you’ll be invited to attend a grad day. We’ll review all applications before making a decision, so you can expect to hear from us by early May.

The grad day is a half-day virtual event, held near the end of May 2024, where you’ll be assessed across different activities. You’ll also have an opportunity to learn more about Xero and the grad program.

The grad day is a half-day virtual event, held near the end of May 2024, where you’ll be assessed across different activities. You’ll also have an opportunity to learn more about Xero and the grad program.

Application basics and tips

It’s not all about your grades – we want to know who you are and what you’re passionate about. We live by our values, so show us if and how you resonate with those.

See our values

It’s not all about your grades – we want to know who you are and what you’re passionate about. We live by our values, so show us if and how you resonate with those.

See our values

It makes no difference when you send in your application as long as it’s before the closing date. Every eligible applicant is given the same opportunity to go through the assessment process and we’ll process all applications once the application date has closed.

It makes no difference when you send in your application as long as it’s before the closing date. Every eligible applicant is given the same opportunity to go through the assessment process and we’ll process all applications once the application date has closed.

To keep our process fair for everyone who applies, we can’t accept any applications past the application close date.

To keep our process fair for everyone who applies, we can’t accept any applications past the application close date.

Cover letters are not a part of Xero’s graduate recruitment process. We’ll find out everything we need through the application process.

Cover letters are not a part of Xero’s graduate recruitment process. We’ll find out everything we need through the application process.

If you’re applying from overseas, please get in touch with the grad team to discuss your options in more detail.

Email us

If you’re applying from overseas, please get in touch with the grad team to discuss your options in more detail.

Email us

The entire Xero grad recruitment process is online, with a virtual assessment centre as the last stage, so you won’t need to travel.

The entire Xero grad recruitment process is online, with a virtual assessment centre as the last stage, so you won’t need to travel.

Got more questions?

Check our FAQ page for details about the grad programs and answers to some common questions.

Get the inside story at a grad event

Come along to one of our virtual or face-to-face events to meet some past grads and our grad team, and get a true understanding of life at Xero. See upcoming events.

“The grad program is designed for learning. You don’t need to be a brilliant developer right away, because we’re here to learn the skills we need and try out different areas.”

Kaia Costanza-Van Den Belt | Graduate Engineer

Photo of Kaia Costanza-Van Den Belt, a graduate engineer in the grad program