Graduate engineers
Graduate engineers work with front-end and back-end teams, enhancing functionality, features, architecture, and more.
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.
With a choice of rotations throughout the grad year, you’re empowered to drive your own learning and explore different teams and ways of working. This will help you decide what is most important to you at this stage of your career and what you’d like to focus on.
What we’d like to see from you
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 both a technical and soft skills interview.
Applications for the 2026 program are open from 7 April to 20 April 2025.
Locations
For 2026, 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 2026. If you’re a current or past university student applying for a role in your field of study, you’ll need to provide a copy of your transcript. You’ll 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 2025 through to February 2026.
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 2026. If you’re a current or past university student applying for a role in your field of study, you’ll need to provide a copy of your transcript. You’ll 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 2025 through to February 2026.
You’ll be invited to complete both a behavioural and a technical assessment. For roles in the technical program, the technical assessment is a HackerRank test which helps us understand your current range and level of skills – you can practise the test beforehand. For the design program, there’s a multiple-choice skills test to help us understand your level of technical knowledge.
Practise the HackerRank testYou’ll be invited to complete both a behavioural and a technical assessment. For roles in the technical program, the technical assessment is a HackerRank test which helps us understand your current range and level of skills – you can practise the test beforehand. For the design program, there’s a multiple-choice skills test to help us understand your level of technical knowledge.
Practise the HackerRank testNext, 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 the end of 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 the end of May.
The grad day is a half-day virtual event held at the end of May or in early June 2025, 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 at the end of May or in early June 2025, 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.