Software Engineering Internship 2027

Cambridge, UK | Full-time | Fixed-term, 10–12 weeks | Hybrid

Salary: £30,000–£35,000 per annum, depending on experience, paid pro rata for the internship duration.

Our full-time summer internships give current students in technical fields the opportunity to apply their skills and expertise in an industrial setting. 

You will join us at our head office in Cambridge, UK, for 10 to 12 weeks, working alongside talented software and hardware engineers, mathematicians, quantum information theorists and physicists who are experts in their fields. 

You will have a dedicated supervisor and work on a project designed to make the best use of your existing skills while developing your knowledge of quantum computing and quantum error correction. We will support you in producing a meaningful piece of work that you can be proud of by the end of your internship. 

Previous interns have committed code to industry-standard open-source compilers, co-authored research papers and led the design of new software tools. 

• →

  Design, develop and test software that contributes to Riverlane’s quantum error correction technology.

• →Work closely with colleagues across software engineering, research and other technical disciplines 

• →Explore ideas, evaluate different approaches and contribute to technical problem-solving 
• →Communicate your work clearly through discussions, presentations and written reports 
• →Develop your understanding of quantum computers, quantum error correction and their potential applications 

• You must be a current student at the time of application, studying towards a Bachelor’s degree (second year or later), Master’s degree or PhD.

• You must be studying Computer Science, Software Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Electronic Engineering or another related technical subject.

• Experience using at least one general-purpose programming language, demonstrated through coursework, personal projects or research.

• An understanding of core programming concepts, including data structures and algorithms.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Clear written and verbal communication skills.

• The ability to take initiative and work effectively as part of a team.

• An interest in applying your software skills to quantum computing; prior quantum computing knowledge or experience is not required.

• Availability to work full-time for 10–12 weeks.

• You have experience with C++ or Python, the main languages you will use during the internship.

• You have experience writing tests, debugging code or using version control tools such as Git.

• You have developed software as part of a collaborative project.

Please upload a CV and covering letter through our careers page. Your CV should include the grades you have received so far in your degree(s). Your covering letter should explain why you are applying for the software engineering internship and what skills and experience you would bring.

Please submit your application by Friday 6 November 2026. Interviews will be held in Cambridge, or virtually if required.

What can you expect from us 

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer private medical insurance, a health cash plan and life assurance, as well many other benefits.

You can also expect a diverse work environment that brings together experts in many fields (including software and hardware development, quantum information theory, physics and maths) and over 25 different nationalities. 

If you have any queries, please contact jobs@riverlane.com. Please do not send your applications to this email address, all applications should be submitted via our careers page.

Everyone is welcome at Riverlane. We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from eligible and suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender reassignment, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity/paternity. 

Women and other underrepresented groups may be less likely to apply for a role unless they meet all or nearly all of the requirements.  If this applies to you, we still encourage you to apply - you may be a great fit, even if you don’t meet every single qualification. We’d love to hear from you. 

If you need any adjustments made to the application or selection process so you can do your best, please let us know. We will be happy to help. 

GDPR notice: Riverlane collects and processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws. If you are a European Job Applicant see the privacy notice for further details.