Software Engineer Internship, PQShield
6 Months
Quantum-resistant cryptography
Open for applications
Quantum-resistant cryptography
21-100 employees
Open for applications
21-100 employees
Company mission
To create the global standards and core technologies that power the security layer for 500 of the world's leading organisations.
Role
Who you are
- Currently pursuing or recently completed a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, or a related field
- Proficiency in programming languages such as C, C++, and Python
- Familiarity with cryptographic principles and security protocols
- Experience working with Linux environments and open-source software
- Knowledge of network security (VPNs, TLS, databases) is a plus
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with an ability to interpret benchmarking results
- Interest in post-quantum cryptography and secure software development
- Flexible and able to work well in a team
- Strong written and spoken English
- Access to binaries of PQCryptoLib, PQCryptoLib-Embedded, PQSDK
- Access to the benchmarking tool provided by the interns
- Access to public resources containing PQC software implementations
- Access to Gitlab to store developments
What the job involves
- We are looking for a motivated Software Engineering Intern to help integrate and benchmark our post-quantum cryptographic libraries—PQCryptoLib, PQSDK, and PQCryptoLib-Embedded—with high-level software solutions
- This internship provides a hands-on opportunity to explore integration scenarios with VPN providers, databases, and other open-source and proprietary software, demonstrating how our cryptographic solutions can enhance security and performance
- The goal is to create compelling use cases that showcase our technology to prospects and customers, while also identifying areas for improvement through benchmarking and analysis of existing open-source solutions
- Develop integration scenarios using PQCryptoLib, PQSDK, and PQCryptoLib-Embedded with high-level applications (e.g., VPNs, databases, security frameworks)
- Work with both open-source and proprietary software to explore real-world use cases
- Conduct benchmarking and performance analysis, computing relevant figures to compare and optimize cryptographic performance
- Identify gaps and areas of improvement in our libraries based on practical integration experiences
- Contribute to technical documentation and demonstrations for internal teams and customers
- Collaborate with R&D engineers to derisk future developments by validating real-world feasibility
- Integration Demonstrations – Successfully integrate PQCryptoLib, PQSDK, or PQCryptoLib-Embedded into at least two high-level software applications and develop proof-of-concept (PoC) use cases
- Benchmarking & Analysis – Conduct performance benchmarks, compare with open-source alternatives, and identify areas for optimization
- Documentation & Knowledge Sharing – Produce integration guides, a summary report with key findings, and present results to the team
- Strategic Impact – Support future developments and customer engagement by validating real-world use cases
- Hands-on experience in post-quantum cryptographic software integration
- Exposure to real-world security applications and industry use cases
- Opportunity to work with cutting-edge cryptographic technology
- Mentorship and collaboration with senior engineers and security experts
- Exposure with different profiles with different background as marketing, sales, engineering, management
Our take
Demand for quantum-ready solutions has been on the rise as companies seek to defend against the quantum security threat. PQShield is the only algorithm-agnostic cybersecurity company that demonstrates and delivers quantum-safe cryptography on chips, in applications, and in the cloud.
Setting the global standards for post-quantum cryptography, the company’s researchers and advisory board led the US National Institute of Standards and Technology’s post-quantum standardisation project. This demonstrates the levels of experience and expertise that have built the organization, which allows it to operate at the front of the industry.
Supported by strong funding, PQShield has continued R&D, furthered partnerships and widened its customer base. The latest influx of capital will allow the company to deliver real-world, post-quantum hardware and software upgrades to help businesses keep up with the standards of today and tomorrow.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Company
Funding (last 2 of 5 rounds)
Jun 2024
$37m
SERIES B
Jan 2023
$0.5m
GRANT
Total funding: $65m
Company benefits
- Remote first (work wherever is best)
- A WFH allowance for our remote-working colleagues
- High-end IT equipment (multiple platforms)
- Generous pension contribution
- Private health cover for you and your immediate family
- 50% reimbursed from your gym membership
- Many more perks, depending on where you’re based
Company HQ
Summertown, Oxford, UK
Leadership
Dr. Ali El Kaafarani
(Founder & CEO)Former Postdoctoral Researcher and current Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. Former Research engineer at HP. Received their Ph.D in Cryptography from the University of Bath.
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