Join our Product & Technology department as a Backend Engineering Intern - PHP and Python and gain practical experience in a real production environment. In this role, you will support ongoing software development and data initiatives while contributing to the continuous improvement of our digital platforms and backend systems. This internship offers hands-on exposure to scalable architectures and serves as a potential pathway to a full-time role after graduation.

As part of our commitment to fostering a collaborative team environment, this role requires working fully on-site.

Tasks & Responsibilities

• Implement and test small backend features or API endpoints under supervision;

• Contribute to integration tasks between backend components and other internal systems;

• Identify and fix bugs, and support small refactoring tasks to improve code quality;

• Work with production-grade backend patterns and architectural guidelines;

• Collaborate with frontend and other technical teams to ensure smooth system integration;

• Support testing, debugging, and process optimization activities.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in a Computer Science, Software Engineering, or similar academic program (3rd year or higher);

• Fluent in English (C1).

Technical Skills

• Basic backend development experience in PHP and Python (university or personal projects acceptable);

• Understanding of APIs, HTTP fundamentals, and server-side logic;

• Familiarity with relational databases and basic SQL;

• Ability to write clean, modular, and maintainable code;

• Basic knowledge of DevOps concepts;

• Comfortable using Git and version control workflows;

• Ability to follow architectural guidelines under supervision;

• Solid debugging and analytical problem-solving skills;

Personal Skills

• Detail-oriented and structured way of working;

• Eager to learn and ask questions;

• Strong team collaboration and communication skills;

• Open to feedback and continuous self-improvement;

• Proactive mindset and professional attitude.

What we offer

• The opportunity to contribute to the academic/scientific community;

• Flexible working hours;

• Team bond strengthening through team-building events;

• Professional growth opportunities with our global training system;

• Working in a collaborative and socially responsible team;

• Company retreat facility;

• Full-coverage insurance for accidents/daily sickness;

• Prime location near Basel train station and city center;

• And more...

If you are interested in this position, we look forward to receiving:

• A motivational letter (EN) that briefly describes your motivations for joining MDPI

• A resume (EN) including personal information, past & current education,

• Copy of ID and Diplomas

• If available: reference letters and certificates.

About MDPI

A pioneer in scholarly open access publishing, MDPI has supported academic communities since 1996 . Our mission is to foster open scientific exchange in all forms, across all disciplines. We operate more than 400 diverse, peer-reviewed , open access journals supported by over 66,000 academic editors . We serve scholars from around the world to ensure the latest research is openly and broadly available.

MDPI is headquartered in Switzerland with additional offices in Europe, Asia and North America . We are committed to ensuring that high quality research is made available as quickly as possible. We also support sustainability projects, with sustainability as a key theme in many journals and through the MDPI Sustainability Foundation.

Initiatives

At MDPI, we develop and maintain various platforms in order to better serve the scientific community. Please find here-below a list of our main platforms: