UX/UI Design Intern

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Design Intern

Company: Trimble Inc.

Location: Christchurch, New Zealand

Job Type: Full-Time Internship

Category: User Experience & Interface Design

Date Posted: 2026-05-11T00:00:00

Experience Level: 0-2 Years (Internship)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and iterate on high-fidelity visual assets, including icons, illustrations, and technical diagrams for complex machine control interfaces.

• Collaborate with senior UX designers to refine visual design processes, enhance user experience flows, and contribute to the development of a robust design system.

• Utilize industry-standard design and version control tools to manage assets, ensure design integrity, and facilitate seamless team integration.

• Gain practical, hands-on experience in a unique joint venture environment, applying design principles to real-world heavy machinery and automation technology.

• Contribute to the visual language of cutting-edge positioning systems and automation solutions within the construction and mining sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically geared towards an internship, indicating a focus on foundational skill development, learning, and practical application under mentorship. The emphasis on heavy machinery and automation technology within a joint venture context suggests a unique opportunity to work on impactful, tangible products with significant real-world application.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and iterate on high-quality icons, digital illustrations, and graphical assets for industry-leading machine control interfaces, ensuring clarity and usability.

• Collaborate closely with the UX team to streamline visual design processes, identify and eliminate technical debt within the design system, and improve overall workflow efficiency.

• Update and maintain complex technical diagrams, ensuring they accurately reflect the latest hardware innovations, sensor integrations, and system functionalities.

• Utilize professional design tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, and Adobe Illustrator to create, refine, and manage design assets, adhering to established design system guidelines.

• Manage design assets through version control systems like Git and GitHub, ensuring version integrity and facilitating seamless integration for the broader development team.

• Contribute to user-centered design principles by participating in design reviews and providing feedback on user interface elements and workflows.

• Assist in the creation and maintenance of design documentation, including style guides and asset libraries, to ensure consistency and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative design execution (icons, illustrations) and technical design maintenance (diagrams, system integrity). The explicit mention of "streamline visual design processes" and "eliminate technical debt" suggests a focus on operational efficiency within the design function itself, common in robust GTM and product development environments.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, an internship in UX/UI Design typically requires current enrollment in or recent completion of a Bachelor's or Master's degree program in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Digital Media, or a related field.

Experience: Entry-level; no prior professional experience required, but a strong portfolio demonstrating foundational design skills is crucial.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in core graphic design software concepts and practical application of tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, and Adobe Illustrator.

• Strong fundamental communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to articulate design decisions clearly.

• A collaborative mindset, with the ability to work effectively within a team environment and incorporate feedback.

• Basic understanding of design processes, including the stages of design ideation, iteration, and implementation.

Preferred Skills:

• Demonstrated experience or strong interest in user-centered design principles and practices.

• Familiarity with version control workflows, specifically using Git and GitHub for asset management and team collaboration.

• A genuine interest in heavy machinery, construction technology, or industrial automation.

• Experience with 3D content creation tools or animation platforms like Lottie for dynamic user interface elements.

• Understanding of design system principles and their importance in maintaining brand consistency and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Bonus Points" directly translate to preferred skills, indicating areas where candidates can differentiate themselves. The emphasis on Git/GitHub suggests a highly integrated design-to-development workflow, common in tech-forward organizations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated collection of design projects that showcase a strong understanding of visual design principles, including color theory, typography, and layout.

• Demonstrations of icon design and illustration work, highlighting creativity, clarity, and adherence to visual style guides.

• Examples of technical diagram creation or updates, illustrating the ability to translate complex information into understandable visual formats.

• Case studies or project breakdowns that detail the design process, including problem identification, ideation, iteration, and final solution.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase projects where you've contributed to or followed a defined design process, from initial concept to final asset delivery.

• Highlight any experience or understanding of how design assets are managed and versioned within a team, ideally referencing Git/GitHub workflows.

• Demonstrate an understanding of design system components and how they contribute to consistency and efficiency in product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an internship, the portfolio should focus on demonstrating potential and foundational understanding rather than extensive professional experience. The accent on process and system usage, even at a basic level, is key for an operations-aligned role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this is a 12-week paid internship, the salary will be competitive for an intern role in Christchurch, New Zealand. Based on industry averages for similar paid internships in New Zealand, a range of NZD $20 - $28 per hour is a reasonable expectation, totaling approximately NZD $1,600 - $2,240 per week for a 40-hour work week.

Benefits:

• 12-week paid internship, providing valuable compensated work experience.

• Assigned Buddy/Mentor for guidance and support throughout the internship.

• Opportunity for a Test Site Visit to experience Trimble's construction technology firsthand.

• Two-week break over the Christmas/New Year's period, offering a substantial holiday respite.

• Integration into a professional team environment, fostering learning and development.

• Social chat and events organized with other interns, promoting networking and camaraderie.

• Receive Trimble branded merchandise as a token of participation and company affiliation.

• Free membership to the Trimble Social Club, offering access to company-sponsored events and activities.

• On-site amenities include free parking, securely covered bike sheds, an onsite gym, and showers, promoting employee well-being and convenience.

Working Hours: The role is structured as Full-Time, typically around 40 hours per week. Specific daily hours may be flexible within standard business operations, allowing for effective collaboration with the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on typical paid internship rates in New Zealand for technical roles, adjusted for a 40-hour work week over 12 weeks. Benefits are extensive and highlight a strong intern program designed for engagement and development.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Trimble Inc. operates at the intersection of Information Technology, Construction, Agriculture, and Geospatial industries. They provide hardware, software, and services that transform how professionals work in these sectors, focusing on efficiency, precision, and data integration. This context means the design work directly impacts critical, high-stakes operations.

Company Size: Trimble Inc. is a large, global corporation. With over 13,000 employees worldwide, it offers the resources and structure of a major technology company, combined with the focused environment of specific project teams. This size implies established processes and a broad network of expertise.

Founded: Trimble was founded in 1978, giving it a long history of innovation and deep experience in its core markets. This longevity suggests stability, a proven track record, and a mature understanding of industry needs.

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI Design team is part of a larger product development or engineering group focused on machine control interfaces, likely within a specific division or joint venture.

• The team structure is collaborative, with interns working alongside experienced UX designers, UI designers, and potentially product managers and engineers.

Methodology:

• Design processes likely follow industry best practices, incorporating user research, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and iterative refinement.

• Data analysis may be used to inform design decisions, such as analyzing user interaction data or performance metrics from existing interfaces.

• Workflow optimization is a key aspect, aiming to create intuitive and efficient user experiences for complex machinery operators.

• Automation and efficiency practices are inherent in the technology Trimble develops, and the design team plays a crucial role in making these automated systems accessible and manageable.

Company Website: https://www.trimble.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on heavy machinery and construction technology provides a unique operational context for UX/UI design, demanding a blend of aesthetic appeal, functional clarity, and robust performance under demanding conditions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level internship position, specifically designed for individuals early in their career path. It provides a foundational understanding of UX/UI design principles within a large, established technology company, focusing on practical application and skill development rather than immediate strategic input.

Reporting Structure: The intern will report to a UX Manager or Lead Designer, who will provide direct supervision, mentorship, and guidance. They will collaborate closely with a designated Buddy/Mentor.

Operations Impact: While an intern's direct impact might be on specific design assets or process improvements, their work contributes to the overall user experience of Trimble's products. A well-designed interface can lead to increased operator efficiency, reduced errors, improved safety, and greater adoption of Trimble's technology, ultimately impacting project timelines, costs, and customer satisfaction in the construction and mining industries.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Deepen expertise in UX/UI design tools (Figma, Adobe XD, Illustrator), version control (Git/GitHub), and user-centered design methodologies.

• Industry Exposure: Gain invaluable experience in the heavy machinery and construction technology sectors, understanding unique user needs and operational challenges.

• Professional Networking: Build relationships with experienced designers, engineers, and other interns, creating a foundation for future career opportunities.

• Potential for Future Employment: Strong performance in the internship can lead to consideration for future full-time roles within Trimble or its associated ventures.

• Mentorship: Benefit from structured guidance from a dedicated mentor, aiding in career exploration and skill refinement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The internship is positioned as a significant learning and development opportunity, emphasizing growth within Trimble's operational framework and the broader tech industry.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based on-site at Trimble's New Zealand headquarters in Christchurch. This is a modern office environment designed to support a large workforce, with a focus on collaboration and employee well-being.

Office Location(s): Christchurch, New Zealand. The office is noted as being conveniently located on the Little River Link Cycleway, suggesting good accessibility for cyclists.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is described as being home to over 400 Trimble employees, indicating a dynamic and professional office setting.

• It offers a collaborative environment with opportunities to interact with a diverse range of professionals across different departments.

• The company provides excellent amenities, including free parking, securely covered bike sheds, an onsite gym, and showers, promoting a healthy work-life balance.

• Access to design tools and technology within the company's IT infrastructure is expected.

Work Schedule: The internship is full-time, typically 40 hours per week. While standard business hours will likely apply for team collaboration and meetings, there might be some flexibility in daily start and end times, conducive to effective project work and personal well-being.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on on-site work and the extensive list of office amenities suggests a company culture that values in-person collaboration, employee health, and a positive daily work experience.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application & Screening: Submit your online application, which will be reviewed for alignment with the internship requirements.

• Portfolio Review: Candidates will likely be asked to submit a portfolio showcasing relevant design work. The review will focus on design quality, process understanding, and tool proficiency.

• Interview(s): Expect one or more interview rounds. This may include discussions with the hiring manager, potential mentor, and other team members. Questions will assess technical skills, problem-solving abilities, collaboration style, and cultural fit.

• Potential Design Exercise: While not explicitly stated, some internships may include a small design challenge or a discussion of a hypothetical design problem to evaluate practical application of skills.

• Final Selection: Offers will be extended to successful candidates.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate the required skills (iconography, illustration, technical diagrams, UI design).

• Showcase Process: For each project, clearly outline your role, the problem statement, your design process (ideation, iteration, tools used), and the final outcome. Use visuals to illustrate your journey.

• Highlight Relevant Skills: Ensure your portfolio explicitly addresses iconography, illustration, and any experience with technical diagrams or complex interfaces. If you have experience with Figma, Adobe XD, or Illustrator, make sure to showcase projects where these were used.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Even if through personal projects, show you can effectively use the specified design tools.

• Tailor to Trimble: If possible, subtly align your portfolio's aesthetic or project focus with the industrial or technical nature of Trimble's work. A project involving complex data visualization or technical illustration would be highly relevant.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Research Trimble, their products (especially in construction and mining), and their target users. Think about the unique challenges of designing for heavy machinery operators.

• Practice Design Thinking: Be ready to discuss how you would approach a design problem, breaking it down into user needs, constraints, and potential solutions.

• Tool Familiarity: Ensure you are comfortable navigating and demonstrating basic features of Figma, Adobe XD, or Illustrator.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process emphasizes a strong portfolio as a primary screening tool, which is standard for design roles. The advice focuses on showcasing relevant skills and process understanding, crucial for an internship where potential is key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: A collaborative, cloud-based interface design tool used for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity UI design. Essential for team collaboration and design system management.

• Adobe XD: Another popular UI/UX design and prototyping tool, often used for creating user flows, interactive prototypes, and visual designs.

• Adobe Illustrator: A vector graphics editor used for creating icons, illustrations, logos, and complex technical diagrams. Crucial for asset creation and scalability.

Analytics & Reporting: While not directly a design tool, understanding how design impacts user behavior is beneficial. Exposure to analytics platforms or reporting dashboards that track user engagement with interfaces would be advantageous, though not explicitly required for this internship.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to the design intern role, but understanding how design integrates with broader product development and GTM strategies within CRM and automation workflows is a plus for overall business acumen.

Version Control:

• Git: A distributed version control system used to track changes in source code and other files during software development.

• GitHub: A web-based platform that provides Git repository hosting, version control, and collaboration features. Essential for managing design assets and collaborating with the development team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma, Adobe XD, Illustrator, Git, and GitHub indicates a modern, collaborative design workflow integrated with development processes. Proficiency in these tools is a direct requirement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Belong: Trimble emphasizes an inclusive environment where every individual is seen, heard, and valued. For an intern, this means feeling welcomed and integrated into the team, with opportunities to contribute and learn.

• Grow: This value signifies a commitment to personal and professional development. Interns are expected to actively seek learning opportunities, develop new skills, and build their career foundation within the company.

• Innovate: Trimble encourages creative thinking and the generation of new ideas. Interns are positioned to contribute fresh perspectives and innovative design solutions that can shape future products.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The design team works closely with engineering and product management, requiring strong communication and a willingness to understand diverse perspectives.

• Process-Oriented: There's an implied focus on structured processes for design, version control, and feedback, ensuring efficiency and quality.

• Feedback Exchange: A culture of constructive feedback is likely present, where team members share insights to improve designs and processes collaboratively.

• Knowledge Sharing: The presence of mentors, buddies, and intern cohorts suggests a company that values sharing knowledge and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Trimble's core values (Belong, Grow, Innovate) are directly applicable to the intern experience, guiding expectations for how interns should engage with the team and their work.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Complex Concepts: Designing intuitive interfaces for heavy machinery that perform complex tasks requires distilling intricate functionality into accessible visual elements.

• Balancing Aesthetics and Functionality: Ensuring designs are visually appealing while prioritizing usability, accuracy, and performance in demanding industrial environments.

• Adhering to Design Systems: Maintaining consistency and integrity within established design systems, especially when working with a large global company.

• Version Control Learning Curve: For those new to Git/GitHub, mastering version control for design assets can present an initial challenge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in industrial UX/UI design, a niche but critical area.

• Tool Mastery: Gain hands-on experience with industry-leading design and version control tools in a professional setting.

• Industry Insight: Develop a unique understanding of the construction and mining technology sectors from a user experience perspective.

• Professional Mentorship: Benefit from structured guidance from experienced professionals, accelerating skill acquisition and career awareness.

• Networking: Build a professional network within a global technology leader and among a cohort of fellow interns.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed as opportunities for growth, directly linked to the unique nature of Trimble's products and the skills required for this role.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a design project from your portfolio where you had to create icons or illustrations. What was your process, and what challenges did you face?" (Assesses icon/illustration skills, process, and problem-solving.)

• "How would you approach updating a complex technical diagram to ensure it remains clear and accurate for an operator?" (Tests understanding of technical illustration and user clarity.)

• "Imagine you discover a discrepancy between a design asset in Figma and the version in GitHub. How would you resolve this?" (Evaluates understanding of version control and collaborative workflows.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Trimble and specifically about designing for heavy machinery?" (Assesses research and genuine interest in the company/industry.)

• "How do you embody the Trimble values of Belong, Grow, and Innovate in your work and learning?" (Tests alignment with company culture.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: For each project, frame it as a narrative: the problem, your approach, the solution, and the outcome.

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate how you arrived at your designs, not just what you designed. Use screenshots of wireframes, iterations, and final assets.

• Highlight Tool Usage: Verbally mention and, if possible, visually show how you used Figma, Adobe XD, Illustrator, and Git/GitHub.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): Even for academic projects, discuss the intended impact or any feedback received that suggests success.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, challenges, and alternative solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is tailored to the specific responsibilities and tools mentioned in the job description, focusing on practical application and understanding of Trimble's operational context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Design Internship:

• Submit your online application through the ‘Apply Now’ button on the Trimble Careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your design portfolio to prominently feature projects demonstrating icon design, illustration, technical diagram creation (if applicable), and UI design using Figma, Adobe XD, or Illustrator. Ensure your process is clearly articulated for each piece.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight relevant coursework, design skills, tool proficiencies (Figma, Adobe XD, Illustrator, Git/GitHub), and any experience aligning with user-centered design or industrial applications. Emphasize transferable skills like communication and collaboration.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and rationale for project decisions. Be ready to discuss your understanding of Trimble's products and the construction/mining industries. Prepare to explain how you embody Trimble's core values.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Trimble Inc., its mission, its products (especially in construction and mining), and its company culture. Understand how UX/UI design contributes to their operational success.

⚠️ 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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