Quantum Systems Software Engineer Intern (m/f/x)

🏢 IBM

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Role Type

🛠️ Engineer / Developer

Role Focus

💻 Code Systems

Seniority

🌱 Internship / Entry-Level

Employer Type

🏢 Industry

This internship at IBM Quantum Software focuses on system-level development, specifically advancing the low-level software stack connecting quantum devices to cloud services. The role requires contributing to the development and testing of this critical software infrastructure. Interns will gain hands-on experience in systems programming, cloud-native architectures, and modern software engineering practices while collaborating with globally distributed teams.

Key Responsibilities

Contribute to the advancement of the low-level software stack integrating quantum devices into cloud services.

Assist in the development and testing of software that supports quantum systems.

Gain hands-on experience with test automation and writing efficient, maintainable code.

Collaborate with reliability and operations teams to understand system performance and incorporate feedback into future development.

Required Skills

Exposure to software development, especially in cloud-native or systems programming environments.

Familiarity with distributed systems and their basic architectural concepts.

Experience writing code in Go, Python, Rust, or C++.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Experience using modern software development tools like Git or CI/CD pipelines.

Nice-to-have Skills

Master's Degree (Preferred Education).

Basic familiarity or interest in quantum computing concepts.

Exposure to quantum libraries such as Qiskit or the IBM Quantum Platform.

Technology Tags

Classical programming

The role explicitly requires experience or familiarity with classical programming languages like Go, Python, Rust, and C++.

Control software

The intern will contribute to the low-level software stack integrating quantum devices, which includes control functionalities.

Quantum Middleware

The role is focused on the low-level software stack necessary to interface quantum hardware with cloud services, functioning as quantum middleware.

Quantum Computing

Interest in basic quantum computing concepts is listed as preferred experience for the role.

Cloud platforms

The role focuses on cloud-native service development and integrating quantum devices into cloud services.

IBM Quantum

The internship is with IBM Quantum Software and preferred experience includes the IBM Quantum Platform.

Distributed QC

The intern will work on distributed systems and cloud-native architectures connecting quantum devices.

Source Job Description

Introduction

IBM Research takes responsibility for technology and its role in society. Working in IBM Research means you'll join a team who invent what's next in computing, always choosing the big, urgent and mind-bending work that endures and shapes generations. Our passion for discovery, and excitement for defining the future of tech, is what builds our strong culture around solving problems for clients and seeing the real world impact that you can make. IBM's product and technology landscape includes Research, Software, and Infrastructure. Entering this domain positions you at the heart of IBM, where growth and innovation thrive.

Your Role And Responsibilities

At IBM Quantum Software, we are seeking a motivated intern to join our system-level development team. As an intern, you will contribute to the advancement of our low-level software stack that integrates quantum devices into our cloud services. This role sits at the intersection of systems programming and cloud-native service development.

You Will Have The Opportunity To

Assist in the development and testing of software that supports quantum systems.
Learn about distributed systems, cloud-native architectures, and modern software engineering practices.
Gain hands-on experience with test automation and writing efficient, maintainable code.
Collaborate with reliability and operations teams to understand system performance and help incorporate feedback into future development.

This internship is ideal for students with a solid understanding of software engineering who are eager to learn and grow in a collaborative, cutting-edge environment. Strong communication skills and a willingness to engage with globally distributed teams are essential.

Preferred Education

Master's Degree

Required Technical And Professional Expertise

Exposure to software development through coursework, personal projects, or internships, especially in cloud-native or systems programming environments.
Familiarity with distributed systems and their basic architectural concepts.
Introductory experience or coursework in parallel/concurrent programming.
Experience writing code in one or more of the following languages: Go, Python, Rust, or C++—even if not in a production setting.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an interest in collaborating across globally distributed teams.
Interest in cloud technologies and understanding of how services operate in cloud environments.
Experience using modern software development tools (e.g., Git, CI/CD pipelines) in academic or project-based settings.
Enthusiasm for learning agile development practices and contributing to real-world software systems.

Preferred Technical And Professional Experience

Basic familiarity or interest in quantum computing concepts, and exposure to libraries such as Qiskit or the IBM Quantum Platform through coursework, personal projects, or online learning.