Company Description

Initiativ is an investment firm currently in the process of obtaining ACPR approval, operating a multilateral trading facility dedicated to carbon allowances (EUA and UKA). The company combines regulatory requirements, on-chain innovation, and a product-driven approach to facilitate trading for industrial companies and professional market participants.

Role Description

As the exchange platform takes shape, Initiativ is looking for a Full-Stack Developer Intern (hybrid/on-site) to join the Tech team and contribute to building the trading infrastructure from the ground up. You will work alongside the lead developer on the core trading systems, helping create a robust, secure, and high-performance exchange.

Main Responsibilities

1. Backend Development

- Contribute to the development of the Rust monolith powering the exchange

- Design and optimize database schemas and queries (PostgreSQL)

- Write clean, maintainable, and well-tested code

2. Infrastructure & Performance

- Help build and maintain low-latency distributed systems

- Participate in performance optimization and benchmarking

- Contribute to the reliability and scalability of the platform

3. Technical Operations

- Assist with deployment, monitoring, and maintenance tasks

- Help document technical processes and architecture decisions

- Support debugging and troubleshooting efforts

4. Learning & Exploration

- Deepen your Rust skills in a real-world, high-stakes environment

- Explore blockchain integrations and on-chain components

- Gradually take ownership of specific modules or services

Required Skills

- Solid foundation in web development and understanding of frontend ecosystems (Next.js, React)

- Experience or strong interest in backend development

- Familiarity with relational databases (PostgreSQL or similar)

- Understanding of REST APIs and distributed systems concepts

- Curiosity about blockchain technology and decentralized systems

- Interest in financial markets and trading platforms

- Rigorous approach to code quality and documentation

- Professional proficiency in English. French is a plus.

Profile

- Student in an engineering school, computer science program, or university (gap year or final-year internship)

- Interest in early-stage environments that are structured and demanding

- Eagerness to learn Rust is essential — no prior experience required, but motivation is key

- Familiarity with the crypto ecosystem is a plus but not expected

- Autonomous, curious, and comfortable in an entrepreneurial context

Why join Initiativ?

- Build the core backend of a trading platform at the intersection of carbon markets, finance, and blockchain technology

- Work directly with the founders and cross-functional teams (Product, Risk, Sales)

- Gain hands-on experience with Rust, low-latency systems, and regulated fintech infrastructure

- Develop a rare and versatile skill set in high-performance backend development and emerging technologies

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a very driven team, witness a new market platform take shape from the ground up, and develop a uniquely technical skill set while working directly with founders.