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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.03

                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                             --------------------

     This Employment Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered into 
effective as of ___________, 1998 (the "Effective Date") between ______________
(the "Employee") and Rational Software Corp. (the "Company").

                                   RECITALS

     A.  The Employee is and has been employed by the Company and is currently 
the Company's _______________________.

     B.  The Company and the Employee desire to enter into this Agreement to 
provide additional financial security and benefits to the Employee and to 
encourage the Employee to continue employment with the Company.

     C.  Certain capitalized terms used in the Agreement are defined in Section 
7 below.

                                   AGREEMENT

     In consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, and in 
consideration of the continuing employment of the Employee by the Company, the 
parties agree as follows:

     1.  Duties and Scope of Employment.
         ------------------------------

         (a)  Position.  The Company shall employ the Employee in the position 
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of ______________________, as such position has been defined in terms of duties
and responsibilities as of the Effective Date; provided, however, that the CEO
shall have the right, at any time prior to the occurrence of a Change of 
Control, to revise such duties and responsibilties as the CEO in his discretion
may deem necessary or appropriate. The Employee shall comply with and be bound
by the Company's operating policies, procedures and practices from time to time
in effect during employment.

         (b)  Obligations.  During the term of the Employee's employment with 
              -----------
the Company, the Employee shall devote substantially all of his full business 
efforts and time to the Company. The foregoing, however, shall not preclude the
Employee from engaging in such activities and services as do not materially
interfere or conflict with the Employee's duties and responsibilities to the
Company.

     2.  At-Will Employment.  The Company and the Employee acknowledge that the 
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Employee's employment is and shall continue to be at-will, as defined under 
applicable law.  If the Employee's employment terminates for any reason, the 
Employee shall not be entitled to any payments, benefits, damages, awards or 
compensation other than as provided by this Agreement, or 

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as may otherwise be available in accordance with the Company's established
employee plans. The terms of this Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of
(i) the date that all obligations of the parties hereunder have been satisfied
or (ii) four years after the Effective Date; provided, however, that until such
time as notice of non-renewal or termination of the Agreement is given by either
the Company or the Employee to the other, beginning three years after the
Effective Date, this Agreement shall automatically be extended by one month
effective as of the end of each month so that the remaining outstanding term of
this Agreement is approximately one year: provided further that in no event
                                          -------- -------
shall the term of this Agreement be so extended to a date more than seven years
from the Effective Date. A termination of the terms of this Agreement pursuant
to the preceding sentence shall be effective for all purposes, except that such
termination shall not affect the payment or provision of compensation or
benefits on account of a termination of employment occurring prior to the
termination of the term of this Agreement.

     3.  Base Compensation.  The Company shall pay the Employee as compensation 
         -----------------
for his services a base salary at the annualized rate of $_________.  Such 
salary shall be paid periodically in accordance with normal Company payroll 
practices.  The annualized compensation specified in this Section 3, as such 
compensation may be increased by the Board or the Compensation Committee of the 
Board, is referred to in this Agreement as "Base Compensation."

     4.  Annual Incentive.  For each fiscal year thereafter during the term of 
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this Agreement, the Employee shall be eligible to receive additional cash 
compensation under the Company's management incentive bonus plan (the "Annual 
Incentive") based upon specific financial and/or other targets approved by the 
Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board (the "Target Incentive").  
The Annual Incentive payable hereunder shall be payable in accordance with the 
Company's normal practices and policies.

     5.  Employee Benefits.  The Employee shall be eligible to participate in 
         -----------------
the employee benefit plans and executive compensation programs maintained by the
Company applicable to other key executives of the Company, including (without 
limitation) retirement plans, savings or profit-sharing plans, stock option, 
incentive or other bonus plans, life, disability, health, accident and other 
insurance programs, paid vacations, and similar plans or programs, subject in 
each case to the generally applicable terms and conditions of the applicable 
plan or program in question and to the sole determination of the Board or any 
committee administering such plan or program.

     6.  Severance Benefits.
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         (a)  Involuntary Termination.  If the Employee's employment terminates 
              -----------------------
as a result of Involuntary Termination other than for Cause, the Employee shall 
be entitled to receive a severance payment equal to the sum of (i) one times the
Employee's Base Compensation for the Company's fiscal year then in effect or if 
greater, one times the Employee's Base Compensation for the Company's fiscal 
year immediately preceding the Termination Date, plus (ii) one times the 
Employee's Target Incentive for the fiscal year then in effect (or, if no Target
Incentive is in effect for such year, the highest Target Incentive in the three 
(3) preceding fiscal years).  Any severance 

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payments to which the Employee is entitled pursuant to this Section 6(a) shall
be paid to the Employee (or to the Employee's estate or beneficiary in the event
of the Employee's death) in a lump sum within fifteen (15) calendar days of the
Employee's Termination Date.
 
     (b)  Voluntary Resignation: Termination For Cause.  If the Employee 
          --------------------------------------------
voluntarily resigns from the Company (other than as an Involuntary Termination),
or if the Company terminates the Employee's employment for Cause, then the
Employee shall not be entitled to receive severance or other benefits except for
those (if any) as may then be established under the Company's then existing
severance and benefits plans and policies at the time of such resignation or
termination.

     (c)  Options.  In the event the Employee is entitled to severance benefits 
          -------
pursuant to Section 6(a), then, in addition to such severance benefits, the
unvested portion of any stock option(s) held by the Employee under the Company's
stock option plans (or under any successor company's stock option plans) shall
vest and become exercisable in full. In addition, any such option(s) granted to
the Employee prior to the date of this Agreement with an exercise price higher
than the per-share fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on the date
of this Agreement, and all such stock options granted to the Employee on or
after the date of this Agreement, shall remain exercisable for the twelve (12)-
month period following the Employee's Termination Date, subject to the original
term of such option(s).

     (d)  Medical Benefits.  In the event the Employee is entitled to severance 
          ----------------
benefits pursuant to Section 6(a), then in addition to such severance benefits 
the Company shall pay the Employee a lump sum payment in an amount equivalent to
the reasonably estimated cost the Employee may incur to extend for a period of
twelve (12) months under the COBRA continuation laws the Employee's group
medical coverage in effect on the Termination Date. The Employee may use this
payment, as well as any other payment made under this Section 6, for such
continuation coverage or for any other purpose.

     (e)  Other Benefits.  In the event the Employee is entitled to severance 
          --------------
benefits pursuant to Section 6(a), then in addition to such severance benefits,
the Company shall continue to provide the Employee, for a period of twelve (12)
months after the Termination Date, life and disability insurance benefits or
such comparable benefits as the Company may, in its discretion, determine to be
sufficient to satisfy its obligations to the Employee under this Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Employee becomes covered under any life or
disability insurance plan(s) provided by a subsequent employer, then the amount
of coverage required to be provided by the Company hereunder shall be reduced by
the amount of coverage provided by the subsequent employer's life or disability
insurance plan(s).

  7. Definition of Terms.  The following terms referred to in this Agreement 
     -------------------
shall have the following meanings:

     (a)  Board.  "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
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     (b)  Cause.  "Cause" means (i) the Employee's willful failure to 
          -----
substantially perform his material duties for a period of sixty (60) days after
a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Employee by the
CEO that specifically identifies the manner in which the CEO believes that the
Employee has not substantially performed his duties, (ii) conviction of or
entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or a crime causing 
material harm to the Company, and (iii) a willful act by the Employee that 
constitutes gross misconduct and that is injurious to the Company.

          (c)   Change of Control.  "Change of Control" means the occurrence of 
                -----------------
any of the following events:

                (i)   The acquisition by any "person" (as such term is used in 
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act)(other than the Company or a person
that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common 
control with, the Company) of the "beneficial ownership" (as defined in Rule 
13d-3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company 
representing thirty percent (30%) or more of the total voting power represented 
by the Company's then outstanding voting securities: or

                (ii)  A change in the composition of the Board occurring within
a rolling two-year period, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the
directors are Incumbent Directors. "Incumbent Directors" shall mean directors
who either (A) are members of the Board as of the Effective Date, or (B) are
elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of
at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or
nomination (but shall not include an individual not otherwise an Incumbent
Director whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or
threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors to the Board); or

                (iii) A merger or consolidation of the Company with any other 
corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the
voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted
into voting securities of the surviving entity (including the parent corporation
of such surviving entity)) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting
power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving
entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the
approval by the stockholders of the Company of a plan of complete liquidation of
the Company or of an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all
or substantially all the Company's assets.

          (d)   Disability.  "Disability" means that the Employee has been 
                ----------
unable to substantially perform his duties under this Agreement as the result of
his incapacity due to physical or mental illness, and such inability, at least
twenty-six (26) weeks after its commencement, is determined to be permanent by a
physician selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Employee
or the Employee's legal representative (such agreement as to acceptability not
to be unreasonably withheld).


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          (e)   Exchange Act.  "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act 
                ------------
of 1934, as amended.
 
          (f) Involuntary Termination. "Involuntary Termination" means (i) any 
              -----------------------
purported termination of the Employee by the Company which is not effected for
Cause, or any purported termination for which the grounds relied upon are not
valid; (ii) termination of the Employee's employment with the Company by reason
of the Employee's death or Disability; or (iii) the failure of the Company to
obtain the assumption of this agreement by any successors contemplated in
Section 10 below. In addition, "Involuntary Termination" means termination of
the Employee's employment as a result of one or more of the following that
occurs within two (2) years after the occurrence of a Change of Control; (i)
without the Employee's express written consent, the relocation of the Employee
to a facility or a location more than 50 miles from the Employee's then present
location; (ii) without the Employee's express written consent, a reduction by
the Company in the Employee's Base Compensation or Target Incentive relative to
the Base Compensation or Target Incentive as in effect immediately prior to such
reduction (unless reductions comparable in amount and duration are concurrently
made for all other employees of the Company with responsibilities,
organizational level and title comparable to the Employee), (iii) without the
Employee's express written consent, the significant reduction of the Employee's
duties, authority or responsibilities relative to the Employee's duties,
authority and responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to such reduction
or the assignment to the Employee of such reduced duties, authority or
responsibilities; or (iv) without the Employee's express written consent,
material reduction by the Company in the kind or level of employee benefits to
which the Employee is entitled immediately prior to such reduction with the
result that the Employee's overall benefits package is significantly reduced.

          (g) Termination Date. "Termination Date" means (i) the date on which
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the Company delivers notice of termination to the Employee or such later date,
not to exceed ninety (90) days, specified in the notice of termination, (ii) in
the event the term of employment ends by reason of the Employee's death, the
date of death, or (iii) if the Agreement is terminated by the Employee, the date
on which the Employee delivers notice of termination to the Company.

     8.   Limitation on Payments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary 
          ----------------------
contained herein, in the event it shall be determined that any payment by the 
Company to or for the benefit of the Employee, whether paid or payable but 
determined without regard to any additional payments required under this Section
8 (a "Payment"), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or any comparable 
federal, state, or local excise tax (such excise tax, together with any interest
and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), 
then the Employee shall be entitled to receive an additional payment from the 
Company (a "Gross-Up Payment") in such an amount that after the payment of all 
taxes (including, without limitation, any interest and penalties on such taxes 
and the Excise Tax) on the payment and on the Gross-Up Payment, the Employee 
shall retain an amount equal to the Payment minus all applicable taxes on the 
Payment. The intent of the parties is that the Company shall be solely 
responsible for, and shall pay, any Excise Tax on the Payment and Gross-Up 
Payment and any income and employment taxes (including, without limitation, 
penalties and interest) imposed on any Gross-Up Payment, as well as any loss of 
tax 

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deduction caused by the Gross-Up Payment. All determinations required to be 
made under this Section, including without limitation, whether and when a 
Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the 
assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determinations, shall be made 
in writing in good faith by the accounting firm serving as the Company's 
independent public accountants immediately prior to the event giving rise to 
such Payment (the "Accountants").  For purposes of making the calculations 
required by this Section 8, the accountants may make reasonable assumptions and 
approximations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code.
The Company and the Employee shall furnish to the Accountants such information 
and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request to make a determination 
under this Section.  The Company shall bear all costs the Accountants may 
reasonably incur in connection with any calculations contemplated by this 
Section.

     9.  Non-Compete: Non-Solicit.
         ------------------------

         (a)  The parties hereto recognize that the Employee's services are 
special and unique and that the level of compensation and the provisions herein 
for compensation upon Involuntary Termination are partly in consideration of and
conditioned upon the Employee's not competing with the Company, and that the 
Employee's covenant not to compete or solicit as set forth in this Section 9 
during and after employment is essential to protect the business and good will 
of the Company.

         (b)  The Employee agrees that during the term of employment with the 
Company and for a period ending twelve (12) months following the Termination
Date (the "Covenant Period"), the Employee will not either directly or
indirectly, whether as a director, officer, consultant, employee or advisor or
in any other capacity render any planning, marketing or other services
respecting [the creation, design, license or sale of software products used to
develop mission critical software applications for use by any business, agency,
partnership or entity other than the Company. For purposes of this Section 9,
the term "Company" shall mean and include the Company, any subsidiary or
affiliate of the Company, any successor to the business of the Company (by
merger, consolidation, sale of assets or stock or otherwise) and any other
corporation or entity in which the Employee may serve as a director, officer or
employee at the request of the Company or any successor of the Company.

          (c)  During the Covenant Period, the Employee will not, directly or 
indirectly, induce or attempt to influence any employee of the Company to leave 
its employ and the Employee will not, directly or indirectly, become involved in
decisions to hire any employee who has left the Company's employ within the 
three (3)-month period preceding the Termination Date or the three (3)-month 
following the Termination Date.  This provision shall not apply to individuals 
who were employed by the Employee's present employer during the three (3)-month 
period ending on the Effective Date, and, in addition, shall not be construed to
affect any responsibility the Employee has with respect to the bonafide hiring 
and firing of Company personnel.

          (d)  The Employee agrees that the Company would suffer an irreparable 
injury if the Employee were to breach the covenants contained in Sections 9(b) 
or (c) and that the Company would by reason of such breach or threatened breach 
be entitled to injunctive relief in a court of 

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appropriate jurisdiction and the Employee hereby stipulates to the entering of
such injunctive relief prohibiting the Employee from engaging in such breach.
 
           (e)  If any of the restrictions contained in this Section 9 shall be 
deemed to be unenforceable by reason of the extent, duration or geographical 
scope or other provisions thereof, then the parties hereto contemplate that the 
court shall reduce such extent, duration, geographical scope or other provision 
hereof and enforce this Section 9 in its reduced form for all purposes in the 
manner contemplated hereby.

     10.   Successors.
           ----------

           (a)  Company's Successors.  Any successor to the Company (whether 
                --------------------
direct or indirect and whether by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation, 
liquidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the Company's business 
and assets shall assume the obligations under this Agreement and agree expressly
to perform the obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the 
same extent as the Company would be required to perform such obligations in the 
absence of a succession.  For all purposes under this Agreement, the term 
"Company" shall include any successor to the Company's business and assets which
executes and delivers the assumption agreement described in this Section 10(a) 
or which becomes bound by the terms of this Agreement by operation of law.

           (b)  Employee's Successors.  The terms of this Agreement and all 
                ---------------------
rights of the Employee hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be 
enforceable by, the Employee's personal or legal representatives, executors, 
administrators, successors, heirs, devisees and legatees.

     11.   Notice.
           ------

           (a)  General.  Notices and all other communications contemplated by 
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this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given
when personally delivered or when mailed by U.S. registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested and postage prepaid. In the case of the Employee,
mailed notices shall be addressed to him at the home address which he most
recently communicated to the Company in writing. In the case of the Company,
mailed notices shall be addressed to its corporate headquarters, and all notices
shall be directed to the attention of its Secretary.

           (b)  Notice of Termination.  Any termination by the Company for Cause
                ---------------------
or by the Employee as a result of an Involuntary Termination shall be
communicated by a notice of termination to the other party hereto given in
accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement. Such notice shall indicate the
specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, shall set forth in
reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for
termination under the provision so indicated, and shall specify the Termination
Date (which shall be not more than ninety (90) days after the giving of such
notice). The failure by the Employee to include in the notice any fact or
circumstance which contributes to a showing of Involuntary Termination shall not
waive any right of 

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the Employee hereunder or preclude the Employee from asserting such fact or
circumstance in enforcing his rights hereunder.
 
      12.  Miscellaneous Provisions.
           ------------------------

           (a)    No Duty to Mitigate.  The Employee shall not be required to 
                  -------------------
mitigate the amount of any payment contemplated by this Agreement (whether by 
seeking new employment or in any other manner), nor shall any such payment be 
reduced by any earnings that the Employee may receive from any other source.

           (b)    Waiver.  No provision of this Agreement shall be modified, 
                  ------
waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to 
in writing and signed by the Employee and by an authorized officer of the 
Company (other than the Employee). No waiver by either party of any breach 
of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the 
other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision
or of the same condition or provision at another time.

           (c)    Whole Agreement.  No agreements, representations or 
                  ---------------
understandings (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) which 
are not expressly set forth in this Agreement have been made or entered into by 
either party with respect to the subject matter hereof.

           (d)    Choice of Law.  The validity, interpretation, construction and
                  -------------
performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of 
California.

           (e)    Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any 
                  ------------
provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or 
enforceability of any other provision hereof, which shall remain in full force 
and effect.

           (f)    Arbitration.  Any dispute or controversy arising out of, 
                  -----------
relating to or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by
binding arbitration in San Jose, California, in accordance with the National 
Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration 
Association then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's award 
in any court having jurisdiction. The Company and the Employee shall each pay 
one-half of the costs and expenses of such arbitration, and each shall 
separately pay its counsel fees and expenses. Punitive damages shall not be 
awarded.

           (g)    No Assignment of Benefits.  The rights of any person to 
                  ------------------------- 
payments or benefits under this Agreement shall not be made subject to option or
assignment, either by voluntary or involuntary assignment or by operation of 
law, including (without limitation) bankruptcy, garnishment, attachment or other
creditor's process, and any action in violation of this Section 12(g) shall be
void.


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           (h)    Employment Taxes.  All payments made pursuant to this 
                  ----------------
Agreement will be subject to withholding of applicable income and employment 
taxes.
 
          (i)  Assignment by Company. The Company may assign its rights under
               ---------------------
this Agreement to an affiliate, and an affiliate may assign its rights under
this Agreement to another affiliate of the Company or to the Company; provided,
however, that no assignment shall be made if the net worth of the assignee is
less than the net worth of the Company at the time of assignment. In the case of
any such assignment, the term "Company" when used in a section of this
Agreement shall mean the corporation that actually employs the Employee.

          (j)  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
               ------------
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the
case of the Company by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and year first
above written.


COMPANY:                                       RATIONAL SOFTWARE CORP.

    
                                               By: ____________________________

                                               Title: _________________________


EMPLOYEE:                                      _________________________________



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