Data, Technology and Engineering Industrial Placement Student (12 months)

Vertex Pharmaceuticals; Greater London; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertex Pharmaceuticals LLC offers a 12-month industrial placement with the International Data, Technology and Engineering team. You will explore how technology, data and AI can improve workflows and help bring medicines to patients, with coaching and increasing ownership over time.

You will gain exposure to AI adoption, product management, agile delivery and cross-functional collaboration across markets, while developing practical skills in business analysis and requirements translation.

Qualifications

• Curiosity about AI, digital technology, data and product management, with an appetite to learn quickly.
• Ability to listen, ask thoughtful questions and turn complex or ambiguous information into a clear structure.
• Strong written and verbal communication, with confidence working with colleagues from different disciplines and backgrounds.
• Good organisation and attention to detail, with the ability to manage actions, priorities and deadlines.
• A collaborative, inclusive and proactive approach, combined with the judgement to ask for support when needed.
• Comfort using common productivity and collaboration tools, and willingness to learn new platforms and ways of working.
• Commitment to responsible, ethical and secure use of technology and information.

Responsibilities

• Drive AI adoption—support awareness, training, experimentation and practical use of approved AI tools.
• Support product teams—maintain backlogs, prioritisation discussions, track actions and outcomes, support product launches.
• Translate business needs into clear user stories, features, and inputs for product owners.
• Contribute to product team ceremonies and ways of working, including backlog refinement and planning.
• Support technology activity for business growth and product launches, coordinating requirements and readiness activities.
• Conduct business analysis through stakeholder conversations, process mapping, and structured problem definition.

Job description

Job Description

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that aims to discover, develop and commercialize innovative new medicines so people with serious diseases can lead better lives. Founded in 1989 in Cambridge, MA, Vertex today has research and development sites and commercial offices around the world in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.

The opportunity

Join the International Data, Technology and Engineering team for a placement focused on how technology, data and AI can improve the way people work and help bring medicines to patients. You will contribute across three connected areas: supporting responsible AI adoption and experimentation, working as part of product teams, and translating business needs into clear technology requirements.

This is a developmental role with meaningful responsibility. You will begin with structured support and coaching, take ownership of defined activities and deliverables, and, as your capability and confidence grow, have the opportunity to work with greater independence.

What you will do

• Drive AI adoptionSupport awareness, training, experimentation and practical use of approved AI tools. Help lead an Early Talent Hackathon that turns ideas into tangible prototypes or recommendations.
• Support product teamsWork as a member of one or more product teams. Help maintain and refine backlogs, prepare prioritisation discussions, track actions and outcomes, and support delivery around product launches.
• Translate business needsEngage with business partners to understand problems and opportunities. Help turn needs into user stories, features, requirements and clear inputs for commercial technology product owners.

Key responsibilities

• Help scale adoption of approved AI capabilities by creating practical guidance, supporting learning sessions, gathering feedback and identifying repeatable use cases.
• Help plan and deliver an Early Talent Hackathon, including participant engagement, challenge definition, event coordination, team support and communication of outcomes.
• Contribute to product team ceremonies and ways of working, including backlog refinement, planning, prioritisation, reviews and action tracking.
• Support product managers and product owners with product documentation, roadmap inputs, stakeholder updates, risks, dependencies and outcome tracking.
• Support technology activity associated with business growth and product launches, helping coordinate requirements, readiness activities and cross-functional follow-up.
• Conduct business analysis through stakeholder conversations, process mapping, research and structured problem definition.
• Translate business needs into clear user stories, acceptance criteria, features or other requirements, working with business and technology colleagues to validate understanding.
• Prepare concise analysis, presentations and recommendations for varied audiences, including senior stakeholders.
• Build effective relationships across International DTE, business teams, global technology groups and other early-talent communities.
• Work in line with company policies and applicable requirements for privacy, security, quality and responsible use of technology.

What you will gain

• Practical experience of AI adoption and value realisation in a highly regulated, science-led organisation.
• First-hand exposure to product management, agile ways of working and modern technology delivery.
• Experience supporting International business priorities and product launches across multiple markets and functions.
• Coaching from experienced DTE colleagues, with increasing ownership as you demonstrate readiness.
• Opportunities to strengthen communication, analysis, facilitation, stakeholder management and leadership skills.

Who we are looking for

You will be undertaking a university degree and able to complete a 12-month industrial placement as part of your studies. We welcome applicants from a broad range of disciplines. You do not need to be a software developer, but you should have a strong interest in technology, data, AI and how they can be applied to real business problems.

Essential capabilities

• Curiosity about AI, digital technology, data and product management, with an appetite to learn quickly.
• Ability to listen, ask thoughtful questions and turn complex or ambiguous information into a clear structure.
• Strong written and verbal communication, with confidence working with colleagues from different disciplines and backgrounds.
• Good organisation and attention to detail, with the ability to manage actions, priorities and deadlines.
• A collaborative, inclusive and proactive approach, combined with the judgement to ask for support when needed.
• Comfort using common productivity and collaboration tools, and willingness to learn new platforms and ways of working.
• Commitment to responsible, ethical and secure use of technology and information.

Required experience

• Experience from university, employment, volunt