Student Placement Software Developer in Bristol

This is a one-year fixed-term position, intended for candidates undertaking a placement year in industry as part of their university degree programme. We kindly ask that only applicants who meet this requirement apply.

Join Smartbox and make a meaningful impact during your student placement! Are you a passionate student eager to apply your skills and passion for technology in a real‑world setting? At Smartbox, we are offering an exciting placement opportunity where you can contribute to creating technology that gives a voice to those without speech. This is your chance to be part of work that genuinely changes people’s lives.

At Smartbox, we take pride in being a leading company in assistive communication technology. Our innovative products, combining specialised hardware, advanced software, and engaging content, are used by individuals with diverse needs worldwide. All around the world, our products, accomplishments and aspirations are a reflection of our teams’ values: passionate, caring, empowering, achieving together and enabling change.

We believe that everyone deserves a voice, and our inclusive culture reflects this belief. By joining Smartbox, you will become part of a team that values diversity, fosters collaboration, and supports a community of users who rely on our technology to communicate effectively.

In addition to the rewarding nature of our work, you will collaborate with talented professionals who share a common goal of pushing the boundaries of innovation while considering the environmental impact of our products and processes. We strive to develop sustainable solutions that minimise our carbon footprint and promote a greener world. By joining Smartbox, you will have the chance to shape a more inclusive society while actively contributing to our sustainability efforts.

Together, let's make a difference that extends beyond communication technology and leaves a positive mark on our planet.

How will you be making a difference?

• Contribute to the design, development, testing, and maintenance of software applications under guidance from experienced developers.
• Write clear, maintainable, and well-tested code in line with team standards.
• Investigate and resolve defects in existing systems with support from the team.
• Participate in code reviews, pairing, and technical discussions.
• Collaborate with product managers, designers, and engineers to understand requirements.
• Take part in team ceremonies such as stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives.
• Follow established engineering processes and best practices.
• Produce technical documentation where appropriate.
• As the placement progresses, the role will expand to include increased ownership of small features and changes, with continued support and review from experienced team members.

Essential qualifications/skills/experiences:

• Prior experience with AAC is not required; curiosity and motivation to learn about the domain are valued.
• Studying towards, or recently completed, a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Eligible to undertake a placement of up to 12 months, as part of a Bachelor’s or integrated Master’s degree programme.
• Experience with one or more modern object-oriented programming languages.
• Understanding of core software development principles and programming fundamentals.
• A confident programmer, with demonstrable experience – e.g. academic work, personal projects, or internships.
• An interest in assistive technology, accessibility, or using software to create a positive real-world impact.
• Willingness to learn, ask questions, and take feedback from experienced developers.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.

Useful qualifications/skills/experiences:

• Exposure to version control tools such as Git.
• Familiarity with web development, APIs, or distributed systems.
• Experience of collaborative software development through group projects or open-source communities.
• Awareness of accessibility, inclusive design, or Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), gained through study or personal interest.

Support and development:

Smartbox has a strong culture of mentorship and collaboration. Placement students are fully integrated into their teams and supported throughout the placement by experienced software developers and team leads. Support will include:

• Structured onboarding and technical setup.
• Day-to-day guidance from experienced engineers.
• Regular check-ins, feedback, and development conversations.
• Code reviews and pairing with senior developers.
• Exposure to modern engineering practices and real production systems.

The focus of the placement is delivering improvements to our products and systems whilst learning, developing, and building confidence as a professional software developer.

Future opportunities:

Smartbox views student placements as a key part of its early-career recruitment pipeline. This placement is intentionally designed to develop the skills, behaviours, and experience expected of a Junior Software Developer at Smartbox. Subject to performance and business requirements, high-performing placement students may be encouraged to apply for graduate software developer roles or be considered through a streamlined recruitment process.

Additional information:

We work in a hybrid way, so you’ll have the flexibility to split your time between home and our Malvern or Bristol offices. You’ll need to be in the Bristol office at least two days a week to stay connected with the team and collaborate in person. You will gain in-depth knowledge of our products and see first-hand the impact they have on empowering people every day. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with teams across the business and contribute to shared goals.

Why join us?

Here at Smartbox, we are positive and inclusive about making adjustments, providing flexible working, and encouraging all staff to engage in a diverse range of year-round learning and personal development opportunities. In addition, you will work alongside highly motivated colleagues in an environment of strong teamwork whilst also having fun. This is a hugely rewarding role and a career to be proud of, where every day you will go home knowing you made a positive difference in the lives of disabled people.

Rewards and benefits:

At Smartbox, our employees always do their best, which is why we give so much in return. In addition to your competitive salary, private medical insurance, and whopping 25 days of holiday plus public holidays, we’ll shower you with perks, including:

• Dress: We want you to feel comfortable in the office, smart casual is perfect.
• Food: You can find free healthy office snacks in our kitchens.
• Hybrid working: Two days a week in the office, for the rest of the week, feel free to skip the commute and hit your deadlines from home. Laptop and home working IT kit provided.
• Flexible work schedule: balance is key to innovation, and we want to make sure you are at the top of your game with a schedule that will work for you (prior agreement from your line manager is required).
• Give back to the community: Each year, every member of staff will get the opportunity to spend one paid day volunteering for a good cause of their choice.
• Wellness: Stretch away the stress every morning with our online trainers, available via our cooperative perk website or hit the gym. We provide gym discounts too!
• Wellbeing: You gain unlimited access to a benefit and Wellbeing app, Yulife, providing store discounts and wellbeing services.
• Mental health: You will have access to the 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme for a wide range of support, advice and resources about Family, Health, Life, Money and Work.
• Peace of mind: Every employee benefits from a company pension, group life assurance, and income protection.
• Fun: Complimentary theatre and cinema tickets to Malvern Theatres. We organise many free social events, including team outings and get-togethers.

Our commitments:

At Smartbox, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment where every individual's unique background and perspective are valued and respected. We are proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status by the UK Government’s Department of Work and Pensions. We are also the Founding Partner of Purple Tuesday. You can find out more on thinksmartbox.com.

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment practices are barrier-free and as inclusive as possible. This includes making adjustments during the job application process and throughout your future career with us. Please email [email protected] to discuss any such adjustments that we can make.

At Smartbox, it’s not about fitting into our culture – it’s about adding to it. Our diverse team brings together unique talents and inspires each other to create amazing products that reflect the diversity of our users and customers.

We’d love to hear from you. Our ever-evolving team powers the business across the world and brings the next generation of AAC solutions to life. Together we experiment, innovate and create across the full product lifecycle. And, in a collaborative and close-knit culture, we support each other to search for better. We support our community and contribute to a sustainable future for our business and the planet.

Join us as a Student Placement Software Developer and take our technology and your career into new territories. Share your operational expertise and passion for making an impact within your cover letter and CV. We look forward to receiving your application.

Agencies: Please respect that at this current time, we wish to try and recruit directly from the market rather than engage support from an agency.