Xcelerate internship program | 2026 grad program
Xcelerate interns work for 12-months full-time at Xero in data engineering, machine learning, and related roles.
Develop your skills over 12 months
The Xero Xcelerate program offers a 12-month, full-time fixed-term contract to students who’ve completed their penultimate year of study in data engineering or machine learning and related fields.
You'll receive technical skills training, participate in GradLab power skills sessions, and get ongoing support from your people lead, buddy, and team lead, with continuous feedback and learning opportunities.
At the end of the 12 months, you'll return to university to finish your studies, and if successful, you’ll transition into an associate role at Xero once you complete your degree at the end of that year.
Recruitment for Xcelerate begins July/August 2025
Data engineer intern
As a data engineer intern, you'll create, manage, and deliver data products, including reporting, data sets, analytical processing and machine learning solutions. You'll focus on building data pipelines, testing products, resolving issues, and driving continuous improvement using engineering standards and frameworks.
Machine learning intern
As a machine learning intern, you'll design and build infrastructure for AI products, create and test software, resolve issues, and contribute to continuous improvement using engineering standards and frameworks.
When internships run
The Xcelerate internships run for 12 months from February 2026 to mid-February 2027.
What an internship looks like
These are paid internships where you’ll join a team and do real work alongside other Xero employees. You’ll stay with one team for the duration of your internship (unlike technical roles in the grad program which rotate through different teams).
Why do an internship with Xero
You’ll learn heaps and meet some awesome people. You’ll gain in-depth technical skills within your chosen field and an opportunity to fast-track your career to skip the traditional graduate year and return as an associate.
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.
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 valuesIt’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 valuesIt 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 usIf you’re applying from overseas, please get in touch with the grad team to discuss your options in more detail.
Email usThe 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.
Want to know more?
Check out the FAQ page for details about the grad program and answers to some common questions.
“The internship was cool because we had a whole week of workshops before we started doing anything. It was like being at uni but with more focused, hands-on collaborative learning in a small group.”
Kaia Costanza-Van Den Belt | Graduate engineer
