Career Kickstarter - Tech

About the role

Five-day, all-expenses-paid technology program at Optiver’s Amsterdam headquarters for students and recent graduates exploring engineering careers in mission-critical trading systems. Participants complete coding sessions, system design workshops and a collaborative project, with potential direct consideration for a Graduate Software Engineer offer. No prior finance or trading experience is required.

Program activities

• Build and iterate on an engineering project mirroring the work of Optiver’s engineering teams.
• Attend coding sessions, system design workshops, lectures and senior engineer panel discussions.
• Explore high-performance system architecture, optimisation, scaling, computer systems and engineering career paths.
• Use AI tools, platforms and workflows to navigate codebases, test ideas and accelerate development responsibly.
• Receive mentoring and feedback from Optiver’s full-time Education Team throughout the program.
• Accommodation, travel expenses and meals are covered during the Amsterdam program.

Eligibility requirements

• Be a current student or graduate with a BSc, MSc or PhD in a related technical field.
• Graduate between May 2025 and February 2028, and study or have graduated within the EU, EEA or UK.
• Demonstrate proficiency in C++, Python or Java, with strong computer architecture and systems knowledge.
• Understand algorithms, memory and concurrency models, CPU architecture, operating systems and relational databases.
• Have appropriate visas, travel arrangements or authorisations to attend the program in person.
• Be available to start full-time as a Software Engineer by March 2028 at the latest.

Dates and selection

• Program dates: 10–14 May 2027, hosted at Optiver’s Amsterdam headquarters.
• Applications close on 7 February 2027 at 17:00 CET.
• Online assessment takes place in the second half of September; candidates have seven days to complete it.
• Successful assessment candidates progress to technical interviews scheduled through mid-March.
• Top performers may receive direct consideration for a Graduate Software Engineer position.