Internship Opportunity: Software Security and Software Supply Chain Protection

Applications are now open for an exciting internship position in software systems and security at the IMDEA Software Institute, located in Madrid, Spain.

Under the supervision of Dr. Georgios Portokalidis, Georgios Portokalidis, the intern will contribute to advancing software security and the resilience of software supply chains. Research areas may include:

• Offensive security and vulnerability research – Discovering novel exploitation techniques and identifying previously unknown security flaws in software systems.
• Vulnerability mitigation – Understanding and mitigating security vulnerabilities.
• Software hardening through instrumentation – Enhancing security via runtime protections.
• Application analysis and reverse engineering – Developing techniques for understanding and securing software.
• Co-designing software and hardware for security – Exploring integrated approaches to security at multiple levels.
• Transitioning from C/C++ to Rust – Investigating secure programming methodologies, potentially leveraging machine learning or AI-assisted tools.

This internship provides an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge security research while working in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

Who should apply?

We are seeking candidates who hold a BSc and have completed, or are close to completing, a Master’s degree in Computer Science or a related discipline, demonstrating a deep commitment to research, a fervent interest in software engineering and computer security, proficiency in coding, and some prior experience and enthusiasm in the advertised research area.

Applicants must possess strong programming and tool-building skills, with experience developing software in C/C++, a solid understanding of software exploitation, good grasp of operating systems fundamentals, Linux familiarity, and a basic grasp of computer architectures like x86-64 and Aarch64. Experience with compiler toolchains, like Clang/LLVM, and Rust is preferable. Proficiency in English, both spoken and written, is essential.

If you are passionate about software security and interested in contributing to state-of-the-art research, we encourage you to apply!

Working at IMDEA Software

Ranked among Europe’s top research institutes in Computer Security, the IMDEA Software Institute offers a dynamic and inspiring research environment nestled within the Montegancedo Science and Technology Park. Set against the backdrop of Madrid’s vibrant cityscape, the institute provides an internationally competitive stipend, access to excellent public healthcare, unemployment benefits, retirement benefits, and support for research-related travel. English is the primary working language, and knowledge of Spanish is not required.

Dates

The position has a duration of 6 months. The desired starting date is 15th of September 2025 (flexible).

Deadline for applications is April 29th, 2025. Review of applications will begin immediately, and continue until the position(s) are filled.

How to apply?

Applicants interested in the position should submit their application at https://careers.software.imdea.org/ selecting option Intern and using reference code 2025-03-intern-swsec.

The recruitment process will comply with the IMDEA Software Institute’s OTM-R Policy.

For any questions about this positions, please contact directly Georgios Portokalidis ().