NextGen Academy – Perth Graduate Training Program

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing
Job Description Summary:
At Rocket Software we build world-class, enterprise-grade software for the for mainframe, cloud, and also hybrid platforms. Rocket Software was founded in 1990, and today we are a global software development vendor, supporting over 12,500 companies and 750 partners worldwide. At Rocket Software we put people first, in everything that we do, and our core values are Empathy, Humanity, Trust and Love.

Start your next big adventure with Rocket Software's NextGen Academy - a training and career development program designed for early-career technologists.

The mainframe underpins the world-economy, and the global mainframe footprint is growing exponentially, year after year. This is a niche opportunity to learn about this platform, working alongside a collaborative cohort of experts in the industry, and to gain hands-on experience with enterprise software used by some of the world's biggest companies.

Successful applicants will join our NextGen Academy for a six-month training program. This is an extraordinary opportunity to obtain mainframe training, while you get paid

Throughout the six-month program, you'll receive structured technical training, and work on real-world projects, and be mentored by expert-level engineers.

Upon successful completion of the program, you may be offered a full-time role in one of our engineering teams, for example as a software engineer or a quality assurance engineer.

Our Perth NextGen Academy kicks off in February 2026. This is a full-time, in-office opportunity at our new software development lab on the Swan River in Elizabeth Quay, Perth.

What You'll Do:

• Participate in a paid, immersive training program that covers software engineering, operating systems, quality assurance and enterprise technologies
• Learn core programming languages and tools used in large-scale software systems
• Build your understanding of the IBM zOS enterprise operating system
• Complete individual and team assignments to solve real-world business problems
• Learn professional software practices including Agile methodology, DevOps principles and secure development
• Collaborate with teammates across departments and geographies
• Receive ongoing mentoring, feedback, and learning opportunities throughout the 6-month Academy

Who You Are:

• Permanent resident or citizen of Australia

• Computer Science degree, or equivalent

• Recent graduate, or writing your final exams at the end of 2025

• Proficient in at least one programming language (e.g., Java, C/C++, Python, JavaScript)

• Passionate about coding and/testing, as evident by previous participation in internships, bootcamps, academic work, or personal projects (e.g., coding at home, building apps, contributing to GitHub)
• Curious, self-motivated, and eager to learn about systems, networks, and software engineering
• A keen interest in low-level programming
• A collaborative team player with good communication and interpersonal skills

Nice to Have (but not required):

• System Programming familiarity, gained through either experience or study
• Mainframe-related knowledge, evident by IBM training badges obtained (for example IBM z Xplore – available free of charge)
• Passionate about AI, with exposure gained through formal (e.g. study), or informal (e.g. personal interest) pathways
• Assembler programming knowledge
• Familiarity with relational databases (SQL, Db2, Oracle, PostgreSQL)
• Awareness of enterprise systems, cybersecurity, or networking basics
• Familiarity with writing automated tests, especially using Python
• Participation in coding competitions, tech meetups, or open-source contributions

What We Offer:

• Academy experience and full-time training (38 hours a week) for 6 months
• Competitive compensation for the full duration of the Academy training program
• In-person, cohort-based learning and mentoring from industry experts
• A mission-driven, inclusive culture that values growth, curiosity, and collaboration
• Opportunity for full-time employment at the conclusion of the Academy, at our fantastic Perth location, working for an organization named one of the Best Companies to Work For in the U.S. News & World Report

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment and, in some circumstances, ongoing background checks, which includes a criminal history and global sanctions check.
Rocket Software Inc. is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Rocket Software Inc. is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

Rocket is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please call: or send an email to We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us