Graduate engineers

Graduate engineers work with front-end and back-end teams, enhancing functionality, features, architecture, and more.

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The role

As a graduate engineer, you’ll have the opportunity to rotate through different specialisations in both product and platform teams.

In our product teams, we innovate new features, fix bugs, and enhance functionality. Our teams are made up of front-end and back-end specialists, and we work on desktop and mobile applications and do full-stack development.

In our platform teams, we build things that last a long time and that everyone relies on. Rotations include platform development, site and data reliability, development, architecture, integration, and platform-as-a-service engineers.

What we’d like to see from you

Two graduate engineers get to know each other at the start of the grad program.

Ideally you’ll:

  • be able to take a logical approach to work and cope well with change
  • be a great communicator who likes working in agile teams
  • like working with servers or data, and if you like to script or write code, then that’s a great combo
  • love problem-solving, thinking on your feet, helping other people and taking the initiative
  • enjoy investigating why things work, not just how they work
  • enjoy building solutions for other Xero staff, removing pain points and making their lives easier

As a graduate engineer, you’ll get:

  • three rotations across the technology teams in your grad year
  • access to learning programs to build on your professional and technical skills
  • support from your mentors, managers and the grad team
  • networking opportunities across our global teams

If this sounds like you, get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.

How to apply

Due to the number of applications we receive, we ask that you only apply for one role in one location. Please take some time to research each opportunity available before submitting your application.

If you’re invited to a grad day, it will include technical and soft skills interviews, as well as group and individual challenges.

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

Locations

For 2025, we'll be hiring graduate engineers in Auckland and Wellington

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 New Zealand 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 New Zealand 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, 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, where you’ll be assessed across different activities. You’ll also have an opportunity to learn more about Xero and the grad program.

Questions? Send us a message.

Keen to understand the program in more detail? Or have questions about the application process? Send us an email at gradcareers@xero.com and we'll get back to you to run through anything you need once applications open.