Product Design Placement Student

If you’re looking for a progressive and rewarding career and you thrive in a fast-paced, fun and team-orientated environment, then look no further!

Overview of Vax:

Our heritage-rich, expert-led business has always had the same goal: to prioritize innovation and to design easy-to-use products that seamlessly integrate into our customers' lives, offering reliable, quick solutions to cleaning homes, whatever the mess.

Vax has forged its reputation as a brand that focuses on the needs of its customers. Our culture of innovation is at the heart of everything we do and we work hard to constantly think of new ways to improve our products, ensuring that we deliver premium quality products for our customers.

Product Design Student - Placement 2026/27. Start Date September 2026

Join Vax’s Product Design team, which is made up of a range of engineers from graduate level up to Lead Design Engineers. The close-knit team work on a number of different projects taking products from concept through to pre-production. Product Design placement students are involved in projects from day 1 including concept design and sketching, breadboard prototype creations, CAD modelling and visualisation.

The Engineering team sits at the heart of a wider New Product Development department, meaning the successful candidate will also gain valuable insight into all the other disciplines involved in bringing a new product to market, such as R&D, Mechanical engineering, and product quality.

What will a day in a Product Design Placement look like?

• Developing concepts, sketching prototype creation through building scale models (foam, cardboard)
• Product Testing and development within our Vax onsite workshops.
• Developing products in CAD (Creo / Pro-Engineer). This is preferred but we will train you!
• Working with live projects with real responsibility from day one
• Liaise with global multi-disciplinary project teams (based in US, China and Vietnam).
• 2D drawing

Why Should I Work at Vax?

• Mentorship and personal development opportunities to support you throughout your placement.
• Working with previous placement students who have joined us on a permanent basis.
• Working in a fast-paced environment where you will work on real consumer projects that you will see on the shelves.
• A sociable working environment. Previous team socials have included bowling, escape rooms and board game cafes. Other activities have also included badminton, local hikes and bake off.………..!

Who Should apply?

• You should be looking for a year placement for your 3rd or 4th  year of a relevant science/engineering/product degree, ideally Mechanical Engineering or Product Design Engineering
• On track for a 2:1 or above
• Good A-level or equivalent qualifications, including maths and a physical science subject
• Some work experience and/or extra-curricular activity in a relevant engineering or science-based sector would be desired

What Skills and Experience are valuable to Vax?

• An appreciation of the floorcare market. It would be great to have an understanding of visual trends within the home appliance market and a comprehension of how these may evolve over time.
• Evidence of a passion for design and understanding how it can add value to product.
• A problem-solving attitude and mindset. Our engineers have the ability to problem solve in a practical way.
• Display an appreciation of wider consumer and commercial requirements; for example, anthropometrics/ergonomics.

• Confidently use MS Office and other relevant software tools
• A team player, able to react efficiently to NPD requirements quickly and flexibly

If this sounds like a great job and place to work please click the link below and apply ! Please provide your CV, Cover letter and Portfolio (If you don't have a full one please provide relevant examples of your work.  We look forward to hearing from you.

#LI-DM1

#VAX

#Hybrid

Vax is made up of people who have a shared understanding of our mission and vision. Our values define who we are and what we stand for;

Trust – We’re experts and everything we do is based on brilliant knowledge.

Honesty – Our commitment to doing the right means we are always open and transparent.

Resilience – For decades, we have embraced change and been agile in what we do. We aren’t easily discouraged.

Innovation – We’re curious and explore opportunities, innovating to benefit our customers and business.

Valued – We are better when each of us feels included and respected for who we are and what we contribute.

Energy – We are positive thinkers, excited about what we do.