Junior Software Engineer Intern in London

We are Sports Interactive, the gaming studio behind Football Manager. Founded in 1994, Sports Interactive became a wholly owned subsidiary of SEGA Europe in 2006. Based at the Here East technology hub in Stratford, East London, the SI team continues to expand as we bring our titles to an ever-growing audience across an increasing variety of platforms.

To support our growth, we welcome the opportunity to connect with passionate people with the drive to match our ambitions and initiative to realise your individual potential.

Working Model: Hybrid (2/3 days per week)

Location: Here East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, E15 2GW

Position Overview: Get ready to kick-off your games development career at Sports Interactive. We are on the lookout for a talented and enthusiastic Software Engineer Intern to join our development team and work on the code behind the next release of Football Manager. As a Software Engineer Intern at Sports Interactive, you will work closely with our award-winning development team where you will gain knowledge and experience of games development practices and software engineering to create experiences played by millions. This role will commence in June 2026. This duration of the internship is available as a full-year sandwich placement or for a period of at least six months. Applications with no covering letter will not be accepted. It will be highly advantageous to provide examples of your own demos with source code and links to portfolio work.

Key Responsibilities:

• Iterate on existing features and mechanics.
• Work with Senior developers and gain in-depth knowledge of software and games development best practices.
• Help analyse/profile existing projects and improve upon them.

Knowledge, Skills And Experience:

• Currently pursuing a bachelors or masters level degree in computer sciences or games development at UK university.
• Strong C++ programming and debugging skills.
• Good maths and problem-solving skills.
• An understanding of game engine architecture.
• Experience with using version control software.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent team working skills.

Desirable:

• Passion for and knowledge of world football.
• Passion for computer games highly advantageous.
• Knowledge of Sports Interactive products and tools (FM Editor) highly advantageous.

Benefits Of Working At Sports Interactive:

• Subsidised mental health, therapy and coaching sessions are available.
• Contributory Pension Scheme (up to 7% of annual salary).
• Free onsite evening bar in the Sports Interactive London HQ.
• A well-stocked breakfast bar with cereals, fruits, teas, and coffees.
• Regular events in collaboration with our partnered football clubs.
• Access to our on-site physical and massage therapist services.
• Multiple clubs and societies to join e.g., book club and art workshops.
• Free access to games released under the SEGA Europe umbrella.
• A range of Gym Membership options through our Benefits partners.
• Access to Private Healthcare and Dental Plans.
• Travel Insurance for yourself and your family.
• A personalized football shirt upon passing probation.

What is it like to work here?

We approach everything with passion, whether that is making our mark on the gaming and football industries or doing our bit for the world around us. We want to share that outlook with everyone who shows up to work here each day. For us, talent wins games, but teamwork wins titles. Collaboration is the key to constantly topping our best. We believe everyone matters, no matter which part of the business you are in, so we encourage and support our people in driving your own growth and realising your full potential. But, more than anything else, we are a team. A team with a down-to-earth dynamic, that has a lot of fun doing what we do. And whether that’s technical tweaks or fine-tuning our creative process, everything is geared at producing the best game possible for our players. To do that, we need to be tenacious and move quickly, and not be afraid of switching things up. It is these principles that have enabled us to produce a game that has defined year after year, and that will continue to push us for many more to come.

Our flexible working culture gives you the opportunity to optimise your workload, with in-office, hybrid, and remote working options dependent on role. So, if you want a work/life balance, we are behind you. Because while we live to create extraordinary games, we know that is not all you have got going on. You can trust that we always keep things in perspective, fostering an environment where work can be more than just a job. We’re also a London Living Wage employer, boast one of the lowest staff turnover rates in the industry and are proud to have won the 'Best Places to Work' award in large company category in 2023.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from any relevant candidate irrespective of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion, or belief. SI is proudly a Disability Confident Committed employer, and we are dedicated to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. Our studio has disabled access and facilities but please ensure you advise us if you require any other reasonable adjustments to be made to support you during the recruitment process.

Our Values:

• Keep collaborating: Teamwork wins titles - Here, ideas belong to everyone, whatever department you’re part of. Collaboration lets us score more as a team than we could individually.
• Be flexible: We think fast and adapt faster. The football and entertainment worlds never stand still, so we keep progressing and switching things up to stay ahead.
• Stay Tenacious: We don’t overlook the details. Everything we do is about producing the best game possible, in other words, never settle.
• Show Ambition: Let your drive lead the way - Your individual outlook can give everyone the edge. Make the studio’s purpose personal and let your drive lead the way.
• Bring the Passion: Have fun doing your thing - Don’t be fooled, what we do is not a game. Making our players’ passion come to life is our passion.
• Consider the Bigger Picture: Keep things in perspective - We want our impact to be a positive one. From built-in work/life balance to initiatives covering the most important topics of today, we have what matters in focus.