Intern UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Intern UX Designer Company: Danaher Corporation Location: Woking, United Kingdom Job Type: Internship / Placement Year Category: Product Design / User Experience Operations Date Posted: 2026-01-20 Experience Level: Entry Level / Intern Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This internship offers hands-on experience in user-centered design within an agile software development environment, focusing on critical UX operations.
• The role involves direct collaboration with agile product and engineering teams to design, develop, and ship user experiences to production.
• Key responsibilities include conducting user research and usability testing to gather insights that inform actionable design recommendations.
• The intern will create and iterate on wireframes, prototypes, and UI specifications for cloud-native, web-based SaaS applications.
• This position provides exposure to the Danaher Business System and its application in a life sciences and biotechnology context.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Intern UX Designer," the focus on "user-centered design within an agile software development environment," "user research," "wireframing," "prototyping," and "usability testing" positions this as a role within the broader Product Operations or GTM Operations spectrum, particularly concerning user adoption and product-market fit. The mention of "cloud-native, web-based SaaS applications" and "agile product and engineering teams" indicates a need for understanding operational workflows in software development.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with agile product and engineering teams to translate user needs and business requirements into intuitive and effective user interface designs.
• Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, surveys, and contextual inquiries, to understand user behaviors, pain points, and needs.
• Plan and execute usability testing sessions, analyze results, and synthesize findings into clear, actionable design recommendations to improve product usability and user satisfaction.
• Develop and iterate on wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and detailed UI specifications to effectively communicate design concepts and solutions to stakeholders.
• Contribute to the creation and maintenance of design systems, ensuring consistency, scalability, and adherence to accessibility and inclusive design principles.
• Assist in the documentation of design processes, user research findings, and design specifications for knowledge sharing and team alignment.
• Participate actively in agile ceremonies (e.g., sprint planning, daily stand-ups, retrospectives) to ensure design work is integrated seamlessly into the development lifecycle.
• Support the product team in defining user personas and user journey maps to foster a deeper understanding of target users across the product lifecycle.
• Stay updated on the latest UX trends, best practices, and emerging technologies relevant to SaaS applications in the life sciences and biotechnology sectors.
• Assist in gathering requirements for new features and enhancements by working with product managers and other stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are framed to emphasize the operational aspects of UX design within a product development lifecycle. This includes research synthesis, documentation, and integration into agile workflows, which are critical for efficient product delivery.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Currently enrolled in a university honours or master’s degree course with a "placement year in industry" (or similar). Experience: Demonstrated interest and/or proven ability in UX research, wireframing, prototyping, or usability testing. Previous internship experience in a related field is a plus.

Required Skills:

• Currently enrolled in a relevant university degree program (e.g., User Experience Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Digital Design, Computer Science with a UX focus).
• Strong academic understanding of user-centered design principles and methodologies.
• Foundational knowledge of user research techniques and usability testing methods.
• Proficiency in creating wireframes and low-fidelity prototypes to explore design concepts.
• Ability to synthesize information from research and testing into actionable design insights.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate design ideas clearly.
• Eagerness to learn and adapt within an agile software development environment.
• Eligibility to commence an industrial placement in August 2026 for approximately one year.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with UX design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD.
• Working knowledge of accessibility and inclusive design principles (e.g., WCAG).
• Familiarity with design systems and their application in creating consistent user interfaces.
• Experience collaborating in agile teams with product managers and engineering stakeholders.
• Understanding of cloud-native and web-based SaaS application architectures.
• Interest in the life sciences, diagnostics, or biotechnology industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills are tailored to an intern level, focusing on foundational knowledge and academic background. Preferred skills highlight areas that would make a candidate stand out and contribute more quickly, particularly those related to industry-standard tools and methodologies crucial in operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase at least two distinct projects demonstrating your understanding and application of UX design principles.
• For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the design process followed (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), and the final outcome.
• Include examples of wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes to illustrate your design thinking.
• If usability testing was conducted, provide insights into the methodology and key findings.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how design decisions address user needs and business objectives.

Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to user research, including how you gather and synthesize user feedback.
• Explain your process for ideation and how you iterate on designs based on feedback.
• Describe your familiarity with documenting design specifications for engineering handoff.
• Articulate your understanding of how UX design integrates into an agile development workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an internship, the portfolio expectations are geared towards demonstrating potential and understanding of the design process rather than extensive production experience. The emphasis is on the candidate's ability to articulate their thought process, methodology, and learning agility within an operational context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As an intern position with a placement year, compensation will be competitive and commensurate with industry standards for industrial placements in the UK. Specific salary details will be provided during the interview process. Estimated Intern Salary (United Kingdom): £20,000 - £28,000 annually (pro-rated for the duration of the placement).

Benefits:

• Participation in Danaher's comprehensive and competitive benefit programs.
• Access to a Health Care Program.
• Generous Paid Time Off.
• Opportunity to gain valuable industry experience within a leading life sciences and technology company.
• Exposure to the Danaher Business System and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Professional development and mentorship opportunities.
• Potential for networking within the life sciences and biotechnology sectors.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, typical business hours. Flexibility may be discussed based on project needs and team schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: A salary range is estimated based on typical industrial placement salaries in the UK, particularly for technology and design roles within larger corporations. The benefits are pulled directly from the provided text and framed to highlight value for an intern.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Life Sciences, Diagnostics, Biotechnology, Software Solutions (SaaS). IDBS, a Danaher operating company, provides innovative software solutions that empower scientists and researchers. Company Size: Danaher Corporation is a large, global conglomerate. IDBS, as an operating company within Danaher, likely employs several hundred to a few thousand individuals. Founded: IDBS has a history of providing scientific software solutions, with Danaher Corporation founded in 1969. This implies a stable, established environment with a focus on long-term strategy and growth.

Team Structure:

• The intern will report to Product Department leadership.
• The role is within the Product Department, implying close collaboration with product managers, UX/UI designers, and potentially business analysts.
• The UX Designer will work closely with agile product and engineering teams, indicating a cross-functional team structure common in software development.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on User-Centered Design principles.
• Operation within an Agile software development environment.
• Application of the Danaher Business System (DBS) for continuous improvement, efficiency, and problem-solving.
• Data-driven decision-making, informed by user research and usability testing.
• Focus on delivering tangible impact and innovation in the life sciences sector.

Company Website: http://www.danaher.com/ IDBS Website: (Likely accessible via Danaher's main site or a specific IDBS portal)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is presented as innovative, impact-driven, and rooted in the Danaher Business System, which emphasizes continuous improvement and operational excellence. For a UX intern, this means understanding how design contributes to product efficiency and user adoption within scientific contexts.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Intern / Entry-Level UX Designer. This role is designed for individuals in the early stages of their UX design careers, specifically those undertaking a mandatory placement year as part of their degree. Reporting Structure: The intern will report to Product Department leadership and work within agile product and engineering teams. This provides exposure to both management oversight and practical team-level execution. Operations Impact: The UX intern's work directly influences the usability and effectiveness of SaaS applications used by scientists and researchers in critical drug discovery and development processes. Successful UX design can lead to faster research cycles, improved data integrity, and ultimately, accelerated scientific breakthroughs.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Intensive learning in UX research, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and agile methodologies. Opportunity to gain proficiency in industry-standard design tools.
• Industry Exposure: Deep dive into the life sciences, diagnostics, and biotechnology sectors, understanding the unique user needs and operational challenges within these fields.
• Professional Network: Build connections with experienced product managers, engineers, and UX professionals within IDBS and Danaher Corporation.
• Career Pathing: Successful completion of the internship may lead to recommendations for future roles or graduate positions, potentially within UX, Product Management, or other operational areas. The experience provides a strong foundation for a career in product development and design operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section highlights how the internship serves as a crucial stepping stone, offering practical skills, industry knowledge, and networking opportunities that are vital for launching a career in operations-focused design roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is on-site in Woking, Surrey, indicating a professional office environment. Office Location(s): Woking, United Kingdom. This location offers access to a developed business hub with potential for collaboration and networking.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The intern will work closely with agile product and engineering teams, fostering a collaborative and iterative design process. Regular interaction with product managers and other designers is expected.
• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard UX design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) and other relevant software for product development.
• Operations Integration: The workspace supports an integrated approach where UX design is a core component of the software development lifecycle, not an isolated function.

Work Schedule: Standard business hours, approximately 40 hours per week, with potential for some flexibility based on project demands and team needs. This allows for consistent engagement with ongoing projects and team activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site nature of the role emphasizes the importance of in-person collaboration for design-thinking processes and integration into established operational workflows within the product development team.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of application, CV, and portfolio to assess academic background, relevant skills, and interest.
• Technical/Skills Interview: Discussion focused on UX design principles, methodologies, and practical application. Candidates will be asked about their approach to user research, wireframing, and prototyping.
• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present one or two key projects from their portfolio, explaining their design process, challenges, and outcomes.
• Behavioral Interview: Questions assessing teamwork, problem-solving skills, adaptability, and cultural fit within the Danaher/IDBS environment.
• Final Interview: Potentially with Product Department leadership to discuss the role in greater detail and assess overall suitability.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio projects as narratives, clearly outlining the problem, your process, and the impact of your design solutions.
• Show Your Process: Don't just show final screens; include sketches, wireframes, user flows, and research insights to demonstrate your thinking.
• Highlight Collaboration: If possible, mention how you collaborated with others (peers, stakeholders) and how that influenced your design.
• Quantify Impact: If you have any metrics or feedback from usability testing that show improvement, include them.
• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize projects that align with SaaS applications, agile development, and ideally, scientific or enterprise software.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss hypothetical design challenges related to complex software applications.
• Practice articulating your design decisions and rationale clearly and concisely.
• Familiarize yourself with the Danaher Business System and express interest in how UX design contributes to operational efficiency and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview and portfolio review process is structured to evaluate not just technical UX skills but also the candidate's understanding of operational processes, collaboration, and problem-solving within a corporate, agile environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD (familiarity with at least one is highly desirable).
• User Research & Testing: Tools for conducting surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Google Forms), user interviews, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback).
• Collaboration & Documentation: Jira, Confluence (for agile workflow integration and documentation).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Basic understanding of how analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel) can inform UX decisions, though direct use may not be required for an intern.
• Ability to interpret user feedback and usability testing reports.

CRM & Automation:

• (Less directly relevant for a UX intern, but awareness of how user data is managed in CRM systems can be beneficial for understanding user context).

📝 Enhancement Note: This section details the expected technology stack for a UX Designer, focusing on the tools essential for the core responsibilities of research, design, prototyping, and collaboration within an agile product development team.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Continuous Improvement: A core tenet of the Danaher Business System, encouraging constant refinement of processes and products.
• Impact-Driven: Focus on delivering tangible results and solutions that make a real difference in scientific discovery and healthcare.
• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork across functions (Product, Engineering, UX) to achieve shared goals.
• Innovation: Encouraging new ideas and approaches to solve complex challenges in the life sciences.
• Integrity: Upholding high ethical standards in all aspects of work.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile and Iterative: Working in sprints, with regular feedback loops and cross-functional team involvement.
• Data-Informed: Decisions are backed by user research, usability testing data, and performance metrics.
• Cross-Functional Integration: UX designers are embedded within product and engineering teams, working hand-in-hand with stakeholders to ensure seamless product development.
• Open Communication: Encouraging open dialogue and constructive feedback to foster a learning environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture and values are deeply influenced by the Danaher Business System, promoting a structured, results-oriented, and collaborative approach to operations and product development.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Requirements: Navigating the complexities of designing for diverse user groups while meeting product roadmaps and business objectives.
• Rapid Iteration in Agile: Adapting quickly to feedback and design changes within fast-paced sprint cycles.
• Understanding Complex Scientific Domains: Grasping the nuances of life sciences, diagnostics, and biotechnology to design effective solutions for specialized users.
• Transitioning from Academia to Industry: Adapting academic knowledge to real-world product development constraints and operational realities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Formal Training: Access to internal training resources and potentially external workshops on UX best practices and tools.
• Mentorship: Guidance from experienced UX designers and product leaders within IDBS.
• Project Exposure: Working on real-world product features that will be shipped to customers, providing invaluable practical experience.
• Industry Insights: Gaining a deep understanding of the operational challenges and user needs in the fast-evolving life sciences and biotech sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying potential challenges helps candidates prepare and frame their experiences. Highlighting growth opportunities emphasizes the developmental value of the internship, crucial for attracting ambitious interns.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting user feedback or stakeholder requests in a design project." (Preparation: Use the STAR method, focusing on your process for gathering requirements, mediating, and making decisions.)
• "How would you approach researching user needs for a new feature in a scientific data management application?" (Preparation: Outline your user research methodology, including potential methods like interviews, surveys, and persona development, tailored to a technical user base.)
• "Walk me through a project from your portfolio. What was the problem, your process, and the outcome?" (Preparation: Select a project that best showcases your skills in research, wireframing, prototyping, and testing. Be ready to explain your rationale for design choices.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working at IDBS/Danaher, particularly within the life sciences sector?" (Preparation: Research IDBS's mission, Danaher's impact in life sciences, and connect it to your career aspirations.)
• "How do you see UX design contributing to the efficiency and success of software development teams?" (Preparation: Discuss the role of UX in reducing development rework, improving user adoption, and enhancing product value, aligning with operational excellence.)
• "How do you handle constructive criticism on your designs?" (Preparation: Emphasize an open, learning-oriented mindset and your process for incorporating feedback.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate your design thinking, from initial problem definition to final solution.
• Highlight Collaboration: If applicable, mention how you worked with others and incorporated their input.
• Showcase Iteration: Demonstrate how you refined designs based on feedback or testing.
• Quantify Impact (if possible): Share any metrics or qualitative feedback that illustrate the effectiveness of your designs.
• Be Concise and Engaging: Present your work clearly and enthusiastically, allowing time for questions.

📝 Enhancement Note: These interview questions and preparation tips are designed to help candidates demonstrate not only their UX skills but also their understanding of operational workflows, problem-solving capabilities, and alignment with Danaher's culture of continuous improvement and impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-focused UX internship position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the Danaher Jobs portal.
• Portfolio Preparation: Curate a portfolio that clearly showcases your UX design process, including wireframes, prototypes, and any user research or usability testing insights. Focus on projects that demonstrate problem-solving and iterative design.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight relevant academic projects, coursework, and any prior UX/design experience. Emphasize skills such as user research, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration.
• Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss your design process, your understanding of user-centered design principles, and your ability to work within an agile development environment. Practice articulating your thought process for hypothetical design challenges.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with IDBS, Danaher Corporation, and the Danaher Business System. Understand how UX design contributes to innovation and operational efficiency in the life sciences and biotechnology sectors.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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