Graduate Software Engineering Scholarship Programme UK - 2026

Thorlabs is proud to offer an Engineering Scholarship Programme through our UK Engineering Department, designed for undergraduate students in the UK currently in their second year (third year in Scotland) of a Software Engineering degree.

This programme begins with an immersive 9-week summer placement and leads to a graduate role in a fast-growing, multinational company. You’ll gain hands-on experience developing software that powers real-world products—used by scientists, engineers, and researchers across the globe.

Your learning will focus on building software for actual products, including:

• Designing and implementing robust, intuitive applications that interface directly with physical systems—using technologies like WPF and C#/C++ on Windows.
• Writing production-grade code that follows industry standards such as Object-Oriented Design (OOD) and Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM).
• Participating in code reviews, testing, and architectural design to ensure reliability and maintainability.
• Developing software that enhances the overall User Experience (UX) of our commercial products.
• Collaborating in multidisciplinary teams to deliver electromechanical systems controlled by custom-built software.

The Engineering Scholarship Programme offers the following specific benefits:

• A scholarship of £9,250 in each of the remaining years of your undergraduate studies
• A mentor from our engineering team will give one-on-one support during your placement
• A 9-week placement each remaining summer of your degree
• A guaranteed graduate-level job upon your graduation (subject to fulfilling certain requirements)

Successful applicants to the Engineering Scholarship Programme will require:

• AAB at A Level in STEM subject areas
• First year degree results of 2:1 or higher
• A passion for technology, excellent communication skills, ambition to lead and the drive to achieve goals
• You must be in your second year (third year in Scotland) of study in Software Engineering and be due to graduate in 2028.

Who are we?

Thorlabs is a global, industry leading optical technologies company. We are experts in the design and manufacture or a range of innovative photonics products. We use these products in manufacturing and research, from fibre optics to piezo motors. We are the gold standard with optics laboratories worldwide. There are now 22 facilities across the world in 9 countries. Here in Ely, we are responsible for the Motion Control and Optical Tables product line.

Where will you be working?

Our purpose-built facility is just 12 miles from Cambridge, within the beautiful mediaeval city of Ely. There are train and bus links to Ely from Kings Cross and Liverpool Street London, and our site is within distance of Ely train station and Ely Bus station.

Working Hours: Monday to Friday 8.00 am – 4.30 pm

Closing date: Friday 6th February 2026

Assessment days: Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th April 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

-Contributed Pension Scheme -Group Life Cover -Private Health Care -Group Income Protection & more.

Please apply through the Apply for this job button or send a copy of your CV along with a covering letter and your salary expectations to: Human Resources at Thorlabs Ltd, 204 Lancaster Way Business Park, Ely, Cambs, CB6 3NX or e-mail [email protected].

We are Disability Confident Committed

In line with the requirements of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, all applicants must have a valid permission to enter or remain in the UK with no condition that prevents them from working in the UK. Documented evidence of such permission will be required from candidates as part of the recruitment process.