Early-Career Software Engineering Accelerator Program

Location: On-site with the team in Berlin, Germany Program length: Up to 12 months (full-time, paid) Start: April 2026 Cohort size: Limited (14 total across all tracks - Data Analyst, Software Engineer, ML Engineering, Data Scientist) Target profiles: Final-year students, recent graduates, early-career engineers (0–2 years) Build AI-powered products that impact millions of small businesses - at the start of your career. At SumUp, we build fintech solutions that empower over 4 million merchants across 37 markets to run and grow their businesses. Every day, this generates rich payments and business data - and SumUp Edge our strategic AI-initiative turns that data into practical insights and intelligent tools that create real merchant value. The SumUp Accelerator Program is a two part, up to 12-month, full-time, paid program for early-career engineers who want to learn fast by working on real production systems. This is not a traditional internship. From day one, you'll join a product squad, contribute to shared codebases, and ship production code used by merchants every day. What you'll work on As part of a Software Engineering track, you'll gradually grow into one of several focus areas: Backend & Fullstack engineering (APIs, services, dashboards) AI-enabled backend systems Data Engineer Mobile development (Android / iOS - training provided during the Program) Your Impact and What You'll Do As part of an Edge squad, you'll work alongside experienced engineers, data scientists, and product managers to: Build end-to-end product features for SumUp Edge - from backend APIs, data pipelines, to user-facing services. Integrate with core SumUp systems, databases, and internal tooling Write clean, testable, well-documented code following team standards Participate fully in team rituals: planning, technical discussions, code reviews, and knowledge-sharing sessions. Learn and apply engineering best practices across software development, AI systems, and UI/UX design. Take ownership, iterate quickly on ideas and prototypes, and learn by shipping real features. Your work will directly shape how millions of small businesses operate. Mentorship, Growth & Career Path The Accelerator is designed for fast learning and real impact, preparing you with the skills and experience needed to succeed in a long-term role at SumUp. Primary mentor for every participant Weekly check-ins focused on delivery, feedback, and growth Hands-on learning through real production challenges, not simulations Work as a full contributing engineer with support to grow confidently You might be a great fit if you Are a recent graduate (Bachelor's or Master's), final year student, or early-career professional (0–2 years' experience) in Computer Science / Software Engineering or related fields. Understand data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented programming. Have hands-on experience with at least one modern language (Python,Java, JavaScript, or Go preferred) and experience. Are familiar with Git and collaborative workflows (branches, pull requests) Understanding of client-server architecture and HTTP fundamentals. Awareness of RDBMS concepts, able to write simple SQL queries, and understands how data is structured and accessed. Write clean, functional code and actively seek feedback for improvement. Are curious about AI, data, and how technology creates real merchant value Learn fast, welcome feedback, and enjoy working in collaborative cross-functional teams. We apply a consistent technical bar focused on fundamentals - not pedigree - and welcome candidates from a wide range of backgrounds. Why you should join SumUp 🌎 Impact with Purpose: See your impact and ship products used by millions of small businesses worldwide while building SumUp's next-gen AI tools. This isn't a sandbox - it's a chance to get hands-on with the tech shaping the future of finance from our Berlin office. 🌟 Career Path: This program is aimed at fast-tracking graduates into full-time roles with a significant salary increase. 🌈 Come as you are: Be part of a workplace that celebrates diversity and fosters an inclusion-first culture. Here, unique perspectives are respected and used to build products that truly work for everyone. 🌮 Fueled for Success: Kick off your week with a free SumUp Breakfast every Monday and enjoy subsidized lunches Tuesday through Thursday.⚽️ Stay Active Your Way: Whether you're into football, bouldering, or beach volleyball, we have a team for you. Plus, an in-office gym and subsidized Urban Sports Club memberships. 🎉 Social by Design: Between our gaming areas, rooftop drinks, and regular social events, you'll find a community that works and plays together. 💖 You'll have access to many other benefits, such as discount platforms and transport ticket/mobility options. * Duration: 3 months (initial) + 9 months (extension). Continued participation in the 12-month program is subject to a performance review at the end of the fir