Technology Foundation Engineering Intern

sunlife; Waterford; Hybrid; EUR 12,000 - 18,000; Part time

Job summary

Sun Life in Waterford, Ireland offers a Software Engineering internship in a hybrid role. You will gain hands‑on experience across the SDLC, contribute to client‑facing applications, and learn with guidance from experienced engineers.

You’ll explore QA, stability, maintenance and practical AI‑assisted development, with mentors helping you improve code quality and learning outcomes for your degree program.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• Academic projects or personal coding projects are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assist in design, development, support and testing of basic technology solutions under supervision.
• Learn SDLC stages and contribute to platform development under guidance.
• Practice writing clean, testable code under mentorship.
• Contribute to software verification plans and documentation.
• Assist in troubleshooting and debugging existing systems.
• Observe and participate in software deployment processes.
• Use approved AI tools to support research, draft code, and validation.

Skills

Java

SQL

AI tools

Prompting

Testing

Documentation

JIRA

Git

Education

Currently pursuing a degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

IntelliJ

AWS

Git

JIRA

Job description

You are as unique as your background, experience and point of view. Here, you'll be encouraged, empowered and challenged to be your best self. You'll work with dynamic colleagues - experts in their fields - who are eager to share their knowledge with you. Your leaders will inspire and help you reach your potential and soar to new heights. Every day, you'll have new and exciting opportunities to make life brighter for our Clients - who are at the heart of everything we do.

At Sun Life, we're driven by our Purpose: helping our Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. Our values shape how we work: caring, authentic, bold, inspiring, and impactful.

When you join Sun Life, you'll work with passionate colleagues and empowering leaders who support your growth and celebrate your contributions, so you can make a meaningful difference in our Clients' lives.

Discover how you can make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world.

Job Description

We are seeking a motivated and curious individual to join our Engineering team as an intern. In this hybrid role, you will have the opportunity to gain hands‑on experience in various aspects of our technology operations. To work as part of a diverse team to assist in delivering client-centred solutions for our market‑leading applications. You'll have the opportunity to learn about collaboration with cross‑functional groups and contribute to platform development under guidance.

As an intern, you'll be introduced to various aspects of the platform, including quality assurance, stability, and maintenance, all driven in support of our clients. You will also gain exposure to practical use of AI‑assisted development tools to support learning, productivity, and code quality under team guidance.

Eligibility

Internship opportunities are open exclusively to current third‑year degree students who are required to complete an internship or work placement as a mandatory part of their degree program /coursework. Applicants must be returning to their studies following the internship and be able to provide confirmation from their educational institution that the placement forms part of their course requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in the design, development, support, and testing of basic technology solutions under supervision
• Learn about and participate in various stages of the software development life cycle (SDLC)
• Help develop basic deliverables for technical solutions, with guidance from experienced team members
• Practice writing clean, testable code under mentorship
• Contribute to the development of basic software verification (testing) plans
• Learn to document technical solution functionality
• Assist in troubleshooting and debugging existing systems
• Observe and participate in software deployment processes
• Gain exposure to the importance of keeping software updated with the latest features
• Use approved AI tools to support technical research, draft code, and documentation, and then validate outputs through testing and team feedback
• Help evaluate AI‑generated suggestions for correctness, maintainability, and alignment with team coding standards
• Follow secure and responsible AI usage practices, including not sharing sensitive client or company data in external tools

Qualifications and Skills

• Currently pursuing a degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
• No professional experience required; academic projects or personal coding projects are a plus

Familiarity or willingness to learn the following would be beneficial

• Basic Java
• Introduction to SQL
• Exposure to development environments like IntelliJ
• Interest in cloud services (e.g., AWS)
• Familiarity with project management tools like JIRA
• Version control concepts (e.g., Git)
• Familiarity with AI‑assisted coding tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, or similar)
• Basic prompt‑writing skills for technical tasks
• Ability to verify AI‑assisted output using tests, documentation, and logical reasoning

We're looking for individuals with a keen interest in technology and software engineering principles. As an Agile team, we value curiosity and encourage questions - no question is a bad one. We also value responsible experimentation with new tools, including AI, and a learning mindset around using them effectively.

We appreciate individuals who show initiative and are eager to learn. This internship offers an excellent opportunity to gain hands‑on experience in a supportive environment.

Problem‑solving skills and the ability to communicate ideas clearly are important, as you'll be working on solutions that help improve people's lives. Good judgment in when to use AI assistance and when to seek human guidance is also important.

This internship is designed to provide a well‑rounded experience in the technology foundation of our organization. By the end of the placement, you will have gained valuable insights into the various aspects of