Master@IBM: Hardware Verification (f/m/x)

Program Overview

Do you want to pursue a Master’s degree while gaining valuable hands‑on experience at one of the world’s leading technology companies? Then study&work is the perfect opportunity for you! As a participant in this program, you will combine a Master’s degree with exciting projects and cutting‑edge technologies in a dynamic work environment. Throughout your studies, you will be actively involved in our company, apply your knowledge in real‑world scenarios, and build strong professional connections for your future career.

Your Role And Responsibilities

Hardware Verification

We’re seeking a skilled and motivated student to join our Hardware Verification team. In this role, you’ll play a key part in verifying IBM’s high‑performance processors, which drive our industry‑leading computing platforms. IBM zSeries systems—commonly known as mainframes—are the backbone of enterprise transaction processing, relied upon by major banks, insurers, and airlines for their unmatched availability. At the core of these systems is the IBM Telum processor, one of the world’s fastest many‑core processors, developed by the IBM Böblingen hardware team in collaboration with global labs.

• Topic 1: How can we make hardware developer's coding experience more productive?

  Hardware development is creative engineering work. Recently we've transitioned our developers to a modern, containerized environment using VS Code, significantly boosting productivity and sparking momentum for further innovation. Can you help us improving our development environment further? You’ll work closely with hardware teams to understand their workflows and design and implement novel productivity tools: for example, VS Code language servers for semantic auto‑completion of source code, debugger plugins, AI‑powered coding assistants, sophisticated file viewers, or static analysis tools. If you have a background in software engineering or user experience (UX) and are excited to improve the day‑to‑day experience of hundreds of developers, we’d love to have you on board!

• Topic 2: Can Agentic AI help us with project management?

  Join us in shaping the future of project management with AI. The development of IBM Z processors involves over 800 engineers and over 40 project managers—an immense coordination effort that demands smart, adaptive tools. We’re exploring how agentic AI can transform our workflows by acting as digital co‑pilots: analyzing project data, identifying risks, optimizing resources, and supporting real‑time decision‑making. You will collaborate with project managers, engineers, and AI experts to design and prototype intelligent tools that enhance planning, monitoring, and communication. Your work will make project data more accessible and actionable, helping teams stay aligned and proactive. If you’re passionate about AI, curious about project management, and eager to solve real‑world problems, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and help us redefine how complex hardware projects are managed.

• Topic 3: Can we run our simulation jobs in the cloud?

  To ensure we’re producing the best possible hardware, we run tens of thousands of simulation jobs 24/7 in our on‑premises compute farm. A complex piece of software called HDWB (hardware developer workbench) keeps track of the jobs that get to worker nodes, collects all results, and presents them to the user. In this work, you will collaborate with key stakeholders and users in this area. You’ll analyse our existing environment and investigate how it could be turned into micro services. You’ll explore solutions to run thousands of batch jobs in the cloud, think about reliability, result collection, and user interactions. If you're passionate about the cloud and about the limits of scaling, this topic is for you.

What You Can Expect from study&work

• ✅ Financial independence from day one – with an attractive salary
• 15h for IBM 20h for IBM
• 1st year € 1,045 € 1,393 gross/month
• 2nd year € 1,363 € 1,818 gross/month
• 3rd year € 1,510 € 2,013 gross/month
• ✅ An employment contract with a 15 or 20‑hour workweek for IBM.
• ✅ Master studies at a recommended German university (of your choice) like TUM, University Stuttgart, University Tübingen, KIT.
• ✅ Full coverage of semester fees plus travel expenses to your university.
• ✅ State‑of‑the‑art equipment, such as a MacBook, iPhone & more.
• ✅ Personalized development through hands‑on training, job shadowing, and career coaching.
• ✅ Master’s thesis in collaboration with your department, ensuring a seamless link between theory and practice.
• ✅ A strong prospect of full‑time employment after graduation and promising career opportunities at IBM.

To apply for the Master's program at IBM, please submit your CV, your high school diploma, your transcript of records, and a letter of motivation. Kindly ensure that all documents are merged into one single PDF file before uploading.

Preferred Education

Bachelor's Degree

Required Technical And Professional Expertise

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
• Enrolled in a program in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
• Solid programming skills (C++ preferred), plus experience with scripting languages like Python
• Familiarity with development tools and technologies (e.g., Git)
• Strong team player with a passion for working in international teams
• Excellent communication skills in German & English