Graduate security engineer

Graduate security engineers help ensure Xero’s systems are secure, keeping the good in and the bad out.

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The role

The security of our product is fundamental to Xero. The security teams work with all areas of the business to ensure our systems are secure. We keep the good in and the bad out. We help engineers produce secure products, defend Xero from cyber attacks, and do everything in between to keep our systems safe.

You’ll have the opportunity to rotate within different security teams, or spend one or more rotations in our core technical program.

You’ll be self-driven, enjoy collaborating with different teams across the business, and thrive on technical challenges. All you need is an interest in security; you don’t need to have studied it.

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

What our security engineers do

Security engineers focus on the technical side of security at Xero and help build the foundations for ensuring our product is safe and secure.

The security engineer role will see you doing a range of jobs, including:

  • building security infrastructure
  • ensuring correct internal access build their code with security at its core
  • building defences against external threats to our customers

What we’d like to see from you

Ideally you’ll:

  • have a passion for and express interest in the security and privacy of our customers
  • 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 Xeros, removing pain points and making their lives easier
  • diving deep and analysing root causes of issues and potential vulnerabilities

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 open on 17 July 2023 - 11 August 2023.

Graduate security engineer: Wellington

Apply here

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 2024. 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 2023 through to February 2024.

You’ll be invited to complete behavioural cognitive and, for some roles, technical assessments. For roles in the technical program, you’ll need to complete a HackerRank test, which you can practise beforehand, as it helps us understand what level and range of skills you currently have. 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 September.

The grad day is a half-day virtual event where you’ll be assessed across different activities. You’ll also have an opportunity to learn more about Xero and the grad program. These days will be held at the end of September 2023

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 mid-July 2023