Role overview

As an Applied Scientist in AI Products at Xero, you will transform complex, ambiguous business challenges into elegant, data-driven solutions. Working within a seven-person team based in Melbourne, you’ll apply the right scientific approach—whether that’s a simple heuristic, traditional machine learning, or large language models—to solve real problems for small business customers.

Key responsibilities

Move between experimental design, prototyping, evaluation and implementation to solve genuine business problems through evidence-based science.
Select and apply the most appropriate technical approach for each problem, resisting unnecessary complexity in favour of the right solution.
Write testable, maintainable and reusable code in Python while building robust data pipelines alongside engineering colleagues.
Apply techniques such as natural language processing and computer vision to real product challenges at Xero’s scale.
Work closely with cross-functional teams to move ideas smoothly from theory into production deployment.
Contribute to lifting scientific capability across Xero by fostering a culture of intellectual rigour, healthy scepticism and evidence-based thinking.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience applying machine learning techniques like NLP or computer vision to live product challenges, not just academic study.
Strong software engineering fundamentals with the ability to write code that is testable, maintainable and built for longevity.
Working knowledge of probability, linear algebra and calculus as practical tools for solving machine learning problems.
Proficiency with data wrangling, pipeline development, and hands-on experience with evaluation, measurement and experimentation in practice.
Ability to take a loosely defined business problem and shape it into a clear research direction while collaborating with product, design and engineering partners.
High standards of integrity and ownership, combining confidence in your work with genuine scepticism about your results.

What makes this role worth considering

You’ll be joining a close-knit, seven-person team in Melbourne that balances business priorities with research rigour to solve tangible customer problems. Xero offers a flexible hybrid working model that blends office collaboration with remote work autonomy, with office days and collaborative boost days designed to help your team connect and deliver effectively.