2026 Industrial Placement – Industrial Designer – Cambridge

PA Consulting; Royston; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm in the UK is seeking an Industrial Design Intern to join its innovative team. This full-time, 12-month placement offers hands-on experience in design and collaboration on a variety of projects. You will work in a hybrid model, engaging with teams across international locations and gaining unique insights into product design and development. The ideal candidate will be studying a relevant design degree and have a strong portfolio demonstrating creativity and technical skills.

Benefits

Health and lifestyle perks

25 days annual leave

Generous company pension scheme

Annual performance-based bonus

PA share ownership

Qualifications

• On track for a relevant industrial/product design degree.
• Exceptional design portfolio showing your creative process.
• Skilled in 3D CAD and rendering.
• Talented in freehand and/or digital sketching.
• Strong visual communication skills and fluency using Adobe Suite.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate on ideation, consumer insights, user experience mapping, and design development.
• Research emerging trends and technologies to inform the design process.
• Bring creative concepts to life through sketching and digital tools.

Skills

3D CAD

Design portfolio

Sketching (freehand/digital)

Visual communication

Adobe Suite

Microsoft Office

Education

Relevant industrial/product design degree

Tools

SolidWorks

Keyshot

Job description

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future.

As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity.

Our teams of interdisciplinary experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results.

We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. And we have deep expertise in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport.

Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands.

PA. Bringing Ingenuity to Life.

Job Description

Power Your Curiosity at PA

Are you ready to push the boundaries of design and innovation? As an Industrial Design Intern at PA, you’ll join a vibrant team at the forefront of building iconic products and transformative experiences. Collaborate across disciplines and contribute directly to a range of client and internal projects.

Why apply for our Industrial Design Placement?

• Be part of a global design & innovation team shaping everything from consumer electronics to medical devices, packaging, and breakthrough products.
• Gain hands‑on experience and contribute to real life client and internal projects from day one.
• Work alongside our expert designers, engineers, and technologists whilst benefiting from mentoring and practical learning.
• Grow as a designer through challenging briefs, ongoing feedback, and networking opportunities.
• work collaboratively across borders with colleagues from our international design community in Dublin, Boston, and San Francisco.
• Hybrid working – you’ll be in the office or on client site a minimum of 2 days per week.

What you can expect

• Collaborate on ideation, consumer insights, user experience mapping, and design development.
• Get involved in generative AI, CMF specification, 3D CAD, and design strategy.
• Bring creative concepts to life through sketching, digital tools, and rendering.
• Research emerging trends and technologies to inform the design process and inspire innovative solutions.
• An environment that deeply cares about its values - Values | PA Consulting

Assessment process

First Stage Assessments

• Application form
• Portfolio review

Final Stage Assessments

• Virtual meeting to discuss your portfolio and experience to date
• In person interview at our Global Innovation & Technology Centre

The Offer

• Full‑time, 12-month placement starting July 2026 (exact date confirmed at offer).
• Salary: £26,230per annum.
• Engage with a vibrant global creative community and expand your professional network, working with colleagues internationally from your base in Cambridge.

Qualifications

What we’re looking for

• On track for a relevant industrial/product design degree
• Exceptional design portfolio showing your creative process.
• Skilled in 3D CAD and rendering (preferably using Solidworks and Keyshot).
• Talented in freehand and/or digital sketching.
• A sharp eye for form, colour, material, and finish (CMF).
• Collaborative mindset with experience working in multi‑disciplinary teams, including those based in other global locations.
• Excellent organisation and self‑starting attitude.
• Strong visual communication skills and fluency using Adobe Suite and Microsoft Office.
• Passion and curiosity for new challenges.
• This role is open to undergraduates with an industrial placement within their course structure. If you intend to return to university after the internship to complete an MSc, you will also be eligible for this position.

We know the skill‑gap and ‘somewhat need to tick every box’ can get in the way of meeting brilliant candidates, so please don’t hesitate to apply – we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today by completing our online application

Please be aware that some of our UK roles at PA Consulting require a UK security clearance.

All PA people are required to undergo background checks and to achieve the Baseline Personnel Security Standard however, some UK roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting, where applicants must have at least 5 years of continuous residency in the UK.

We therefore ask that you only apply if you meet the residency requirements (i.e. you are a British citizen or have been resident in the UK for the past 5 years), as this is the prerequisite for a security clearance. If you're unsure about your eligibility, we encourage you to review the UK Government’s guidance on security vetting before applying.

Additional Information

Life At PA encompasses our peoples' experience at PA. It's about how we enrich peoples’ working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose led meaningful work.

Our purpose guides how we work with our clients and our teams, and support our communities, to deliver insight and impact, solving the world’s most complex challenges. We're focused on building a workplace that values human difference and diverse mindsets, and a culture of inclusion and equality that unlocks the potential in our people so everyone can be their best self.

Find out more about Life at PA here.

We are dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, social and financial well‑being of our people. If you join us, full time in a permanent role, check out some of our extensive benefits:

• Health and lifestyle perks accompanying private healthcare
• 25 days annual leave (plus a bonus half day on Christmas Eve) with the opportunity to buy 5 additional days
• Generous company pension scheme
• Opportunity to get involved with community and charity-based initiatives
• Annual performance-based bonus
• PA share ownership
• Tax efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn)

We’re committed to advancing equality.We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief, veteran status, or any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

Adjustments or accommodations

Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us on [e-mail]

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