PhD Software Security Internship - 2026 summer placement

Cambridge Consultants

INTRODUCTION   The Defence & Security Business Unit is responsible for delivering designs that range from small RF sub-modules through to complete wireless systems. The engineering teams work alongside other disciplines to deliver these services to clients and are therefore fortunate to work closely with a wide range of groups across the company.   As an RF Engineer, with support from your mentors and peers, you will participate in the development of new ground-breaking wireless products, from initial concept through to product specification and verification across defence & security sector. This placement can be between 3- and 6-months duration with a flexible start date, and is suitable for PhD students who have completed their first year of study. There is no deadline for this role, as we recruit on a rolling basis. Once the position is filled, we will close the advert. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.      WHAT WE CAN OFFER   The role involves contributing to RF systems design, antenna development, board-level RF circuit design and design validation of our clients’ products.   You will have the opportunity to work on ground-breaking wireless designs, for example:   * Communication systems * Radar systems * Force protection systems    Some of your responsibilities will include:   * System design, propagation modelling, protocol design * Field experiments to validate concepts * PCB level RF circuit design and laboratory-based design validation   * Development of system models * Antenna modelling using our sophisticated design tools * Participate in the regulatory approval and/or field based design validation * As required, present designs, results and conclusions    * Work as part of a close-knit, multi-disciplinary project team focused on delivering design solutions to our clients     WHAT YOU CAN BRING   We are looking for someone with a degree in a relevant subject, such as engineering, electronics, computer science, mathematics, or physics and currently studying towards a relevant PhD. You’re someone who:    * Has an interest in electronics hardware design and radio frequency design.    * Communicates effectively and enjoys working as part of a team.   * Is passionate about current technology and stays up to date with new developments.    Developing innovative and imaginative solutions requires an inquisitive approach and a willingness to tackle complex problems. You should be keen to learn new skills and open to new approaches. Good oral and written communication skills will be key to interacting effectively within Cambridge Consultants and our clients’ organisations.     Experience with any of the following would be advantageous, though not essential:   * Knowledge of wireless communication systems   * Competence in driving RF test equipment   * Programming with Python * Understanding a Smith chart   Some projects at Cambridge Consultants are subject to security restrictions. This role will require you to obtain a Security Check level security clearance ( https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vetting-applicant ). You must be able to work in the UK without restrictions in accordance with UK National Law and be prepared to successfully undertake an appropriate level of UK National Security Vetting according to UK Government National Security Vetting criteria.   Please ensure your CV includes your A Level (or equivalent) subjects and grades, as well as any relevant university modules. Covering statements are advantageous though by no means a necessity.     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By submitting an application to Cambridge Consultants, you confirm that the information provided in this application, together with any supporting documentation, is true, complete, and accurate to the best of your knowledge and belief. You understand that any false statement, misleading information, or material omission may render you liable to disqualification from the recruitment process, withdrawal of any offer of employment, or dismissal without notice if discovered following appointment. You acknowledge that the organisation reserves the right to verify the information supplied. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Qube Research & Technologies

Programme duration: from 3 to 6 months, starting in 2026. Who qualifies: Penultimate or final year students completing a Bachelor's, Master's, PhD. Qube Research & Technologies (QRT) is a global quantitative and systematic investment manager, operating in all liquid asset classes across the world. We are a technology and data driven group implementing a scientific approach to investing. Combining data, research, technology, and trading expertise has shaped our collaborative mindset which enables us to solve the most complex challenges. QRT’s culture of innovation continuously drives our ambition to deliver high quality returns for our investors.   Over the years, QRT has invested in a global research and execution platform which has been deployed to cover all geographies and asset classes. This platform covers a broad spectrum from high to low frequency trading systems. We thrive at the intersection of cutting-edge technology, smart automation, and scalable processes, enabling us to move fast, think big, and deliver at scale. We are committed to identifying and developing exceptional talent, and are inviting a new cohort of outstanding individuals to join us in the year ahead. Our internship offers a stimulating, intellectually rigorous, and high-performance environment, where collaboration is key to success. You will work alongside and be mentored by industry-leading professionals, gaining invaluable experience and positioning yourself for the opportunity to secure a full-time graduate role upon successful completion of the program. Your future role at QRT Throughout the recruitment process, we will work to align your skills, interests, and potential with the teams where you can make the greatest impact. Quant Developer As a Quantitative Developer at QRT, you will contribute to the engineering solutions that power our world-class quantitative research and trading, building the tools, platforms, and infrastructure that enable researchers and traders to operate at their best. You will be tackling projects that demand both technical depth and creativity. Software Engineer   As a Software Engineer, you will operate at the heart of the firm’s trading and investment activities. We design and deliver the platforms, infrastructure, and analytical tools that enable our strategies to perform in the world’s most competitive financial markets. As an intern, you will have the opportunity to join one of several specialist teams and work alongside exceptional engineers, quants, and researchers, contributing to systems that demand the highest standards of performance, reliability, and scalability. Data As part of QRT’s data teams, you will work at the heart of our research and trading operations - designing, building, and managing the data solutions that underpin our strategies. You will collaborate closely with Traders, Researchers, and Engineers to ensure our data infrastructure is robust, scalable, and able to power cutting-edge quantitative research. Your work will involve tackling complex challenges in data acquisition, engineering, and platform design. Infrastructure As part of QRT's Platform Technology Services, you will join a global group bringing together our SRE, Cloud, Infrastructure, Network Operations, and Security teams. We design, build, and operate the high-performance platforms that power our research, trading, and business operations. We provide the secure, reliable, and scalable foundation that enables QRT to operate at the forefront of global quantitative trading.   FPGA Engineering   As part of QRT's FPGA team, you will design and build ultra-low-latency hardware systems that power QRT’s trading platforms. By developing custom logic directly on cutting-edge FPGA devices, we enable trading strategies to process market data and execute orders with exceptional speed and precision. Working at the intersection of hardware and software, the team uses SystemVerilog, C++, and Python to deliver high-performance, reliable solutions that give QRT a competitive edge in global markets. Your present skillset * Genuine interest in software engineering, infrastructure, or data engineering within a low-latency environment, working in Python, C# or C++ * Interest to build expertise in high-performance, real-time trading systems * Excellent communication and analytical skills - you will interact directly with Traders and Researchers * Drive for rapid autonomy and the ability to work in a fast-paced, high-performance setting  * Rigorous and structured approach to problem-solving Interview Process: * Application - Submit your applications online. We review applications on a rolling basis, so we recommend applying early to maximize your chances. * Technical assessment - Selected candidates will be invited to complete a coding challenge designed to evaluate core technical and problem-solving skills.    * Interviews - Shortlisted applicants will proceed to interviews conducted either on-site or via Microsoft Teams. These will assess both your technical expertise and your alignment with our culture and values.      QRT is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome diversity as essential to our success. QRT empowers employees to work openly and respectfully to achieve collective success. In addition to professional achievement, we are offering initiatives and programs to enable employees achieve a healthy work-life balance

Cambridge Consultants

THE ROLE We have an exciting opportunity for an internship within our AI & Algorithms department. This placement can be between 6- and 12-months duration with a flexible start date, and is suitable for PhD and Masters students who have completed their first year of study. As an AI & Algorithms Engineer (PhD Intern), you’ll have the opportunity to get involved with a range of diverse projects working and supported by a talented team of experts and mentors. You'll engage in hands-on tasks such as modelling, training, testing, and data-wrangling. With cutting-edge labs and computing resources at your disposal, you'll use technology to solve problems in the real world.   WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING * Working alongside our engineers building AI systems, developing your skills through hands-on coding and training/testing models. * Supporting projects for our clients to solve real-world problems. * Learning software development skills in mixed-discipline teams, attending stand-ups and contributing to planning sessions. * Contributing to our internal research and development programs, building on state-of-the-art AI literature to produce our own, market-leading solutions and compelling demonstrations that showcase our expertise to clients. * Communicating the results of your work to your colleagues and clients.        WHAT YOU CAN BRING We are looking for someone with a degree in a relevant subject, such as AI/machine learning, computer science, mathematics, physics or theoretical physics, and currently studying towards a relevant PhD or Master’s.  You will also have: * Interest in applying AI and algorithmic techniques to real-world problems. * Strong Python programming skills and understanding of modern version control (e.g. Git) * Demonstrable research experience in a data-driven field (such as project work, conference proceedings, journals publications).   Some projects at Cambridge Consultants are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to obtain a Security Check level security clearance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vetting-applicant). You must be able to work in the UK without restrictions in accordance with UK National Law and be prepared to successfully undertake an appropriate level of UK National Security Vetting according to UK Government National Security Vetting criteria.   While not essential requirements, we would also be very interested if you have experience with any of the following: * Information science, Bayesian statistics * Signal processing * Bioinformatics * Reinforcement learning * Transformer and diffusion models * Robotics (including VLA models) * Edge compute   WHY CAMBRIDGE CONSULTANTS? Cambridge Consultants creates exciting and novel breakthroughs in technology and products. Our work on intelligent systems area has helped create world-first and market-changing technologies including real-time AI-enhanced medical imaging, autonomous defence systems against cyberattacks, and edge algorithms to help visually impaired people navigate indoor spaces. We combine our research output with engineering rigour to create innovative and robust solutions to solve complex problems presented to us by our clients. We help clients across a diverse range of markets, including defence/security, healthcare, biotech, industrial and energy, so there is no shortage of variety. At the heart of what we do are talented and motivated multi-disciplinary teams empowered to create cutting edge technologies and systems to solve difficult problems for our clients. We offer a diverse, fun, and challenging work environment where you'll have the chance to work on a wide variety of projects that deliver real value using technology.  We recognise and celebrate individual talent and we understand the importance of letting individuals be just that. Our people are here to do the best work of their lives and our job is to provide the platform for them to do it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By submitting an application to Cambridge Consultants, you confirm that the information provided in this application, together with any supporting documentation, is true, complete, and accurate to the best of your knowledge and belief. You understand that any false statement, misleading information, or material omission may render you liable to disqualification from the recruitment process, withdrawal of any offer of employment, or dismissal without notice if discovered following appointment. You acknowledge that the organisation reserves the right to verify the information supplied. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------