Career Kickstarter: Women in Tech 2027

About the role

Optiver’s five-day Amsterdam program helps female-identifying students and graduates develop engineering skills through workshops, lectures, networking, and practical AI-assisted development. No prior finance or trading knowledge is required. Strong performers may be considered for a Graduate Software Engineer offer, with full-time start after the program or by February 2028.

Program Details

• The Career Kickstarter: Women in Tech program runs for five days, from April 12–16, 2027.
• The program takes place at Optiver’s Amsterdam headquarters.
• Top performers may be considered for a direct Graduate Software Engineer offer.
• Successful participants receive fully covered accommodation and travel expenses.

Learning Experience

• Attend hands-on technical workshops with guidance from Optiver engineers and strengthen existing coding skills.
• Hear experienced engineers discuss career paths and development through women-led panels.
• Build industry connections with peers and Optiver professionals through networking events.
• Attend technical lectures covering technologies, engineering careers, and concepts relevant to trading.
• Use AI tools, platforms, and workflows with real codebases and datasets while applying independent judgment.

Eligibility and Profile

• Applicants must be female-identifying students or graduates of a BSc, MSc, PhD, or related program.
• Graduation must fall between April 2025 and February 2028.
• Applicants must be proficient in common programming languages such as C++, Python, or Java.
• Applicants must study or have graduated from a university in the EU/EEA, UK, or Switzerland.
• Applicants must have appropriate visa, travel arrangements, or authorizations for in-person attendance.
• Applicants should demonstrate curiosity, collaboration, proactive problem-solving, and a willingness to learn.

Application Process

• The process includes an online assessment, a behavioral interview, and a technical interview.
• Online assessments are scheduled for mid-to-late January 2027.
• Interviews are scheduled from late January through mid-February 2027.
• Applications close at 23:59 on January 10, 2027.

Preferred Qualities

• Passion for simple, efficient solutions through clean code, well-architected systems, and optimized workflows.
• An entrepreneurial attitude and interest in the financial industry are valued.
• No previous finance or trading experience is required.