At a Glance
- Tasks: Support design teams on major rail and aviation projects, focusing on user experience and system thinking.
- Company: Join a leading infrastructure company committed to innovation and safety.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, paid holidays, mentoring, and exposure to major projects.
- Other info: Opportunities for graduate roles based on performance during placement.
- Why this job: Gain hands-on experience in real-world design while making a difference in essential services.
- Qualifications: Studying Product Design or related field; no prior rail or aviation experience needed.
The predicted salary is between 20000 - 25000 £ per year.
About The Role
12-Month Placement
Right across infrastructure, there is a requirement to not only maintain, but also renew and reimagine. Whatever stage you are at in your career, with us you'll have an opportunity to grow and develop. Delivering essential infrastructure services for life, while being safety first, and client and customer centric in a friendly, fun and respectful environment where you are encouraged to thrive.
Where will you be working?
Aviation - Our Aviation team works across a wide range of specialist civil, mechanical and electrical engineering works including major international airports, regional airports and RAF airfields.
What will you be doing?
Key Responsibilities
Large transport systems like railways and airports rely on more than technical engineering; they depend on good design thinking to make complex environments safe, usable, efficient and intuitive. This 12-month industrial placement is aimed at Product Design students who want to apply their skills in real, safety-critical, user-focused environments across the Rail and Aviation industries. You'll work on some of the UK's most complex infrastructure projects, supporting design teams and learning how design decisions shape passenger experience, operational efficiency and long-term asset performance.
You will work across our Rail and Aviation teams, supporting projects that include:
- Major airports and airfield infrastructure
- Rail stations, depots and operational environments
- Passenger-facing and operational systems
- Safety-critical, regulated environments
These industries involve tight constraints, multiple stakeholders and demanding users, making them ideal contexts for strong product and systems designers.
As an Assistant Design Manager (Product Design) on placement, your focus will be on design coordination, usability and system thinking, rather than detailed engineering calculations. You'll work alongside Design Managers, engineers, architects and construction teams to support the design process from concept through delivery. Your work may include:
- Supporting coordination of multidisciplinary design teams (engineering, architecture, M&E)
- Contributing to early-stage design concepts and option studies
- Participating in design reviews with a focus on user experience, accessibility, safety and clarity
- Helping translate complex technical designs into understandable visuals, diagrams and presentations
- Understanding how passenger, operator and maintainer needs influence design decisions
- Supporting design change control and tracking how requirements evolve over time
- Visiting live sites to see how design decisions perform in real environments
You'll be encouraged to bring a product design mindset, asking questions such as:
- Who uses this space or system, and how?
- Is the design intuitive, legible and robust?
- How do safety, standards and constraints shape good design?
- How does design perform over its full lifecycle?
Who this placement is for
This placement is ideal if you are:
- Studying Product Design, Industrial Design, Design Engineering or a closely related discipline
- Eligible for a 12-month industrial / sandwich placement
- Interested in applying human-centred design beyond consumer products
- Curious about how design works in regulated, real-world environments
- Comfortable working collaboratively across disciplines
Skills in sketching, CAD, visual communication, prototyping or service design are welcomed, but no rail or aviation experience is required.
What you'll gain from the placement
- Experience applying product design thinking to complex rail and aviation systems
- Understanding of how infrastructure is designed for safety, usability and maintainability
- Exposure to design constraints such as regulation, standards, cost and programme
- Insight into how designs move from concept to construction and operation
- Mentoring from experienced design managers and engineers
- Strong material for your final-year portfolio and graduate applications
- High-performing placement students may be considered for graduate roles or return placements upon completion of their degree.
What's in it for you?
- Competitive placement salary
- Paid holidays
- Structured mentoring and support throughout the year
- Learning and development opportunities
- Office, site and hybrid-based experience
- Exposure to major national infrastructure projects
About us
We want to be an employer of choice and a great place to work, attracting diverse and talented people, who join us and make a difference. We're one of the Top 100 UK companies actively supporting and recruiting army veterans. Our ENABLE inclusion networks bring together people who have a shared passion, to help create an environment where everyone belongs. Our values help to shape our culture and how we work with one another. We recruit with these values in mind, to ensure your aspirations, and ways of working, align with ours. We're responsible and go further for our people, clients, communities and the planet. We're open and seek new and better ways of exceeding expectations. We're together and as one team; the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. We're ambitious and embrace opportunity, to lead essential infrastructure services for life. Whether you're a trainee, apprentice or graduate, or progressing through your career, our people benefit from industry recognised programmes, training and development. It's an exceptional time to be a part of M Group.
Assistant Design Engineer in Hounslow employer: M Group
At M Group, we pride ourselves on being an employer of choice, offering a vibrant and inclusive work culture that fosters growth and development for all employees. As an Assistant Design Engineer in our Aviation team, you'll gain invaluable experience working on major infrastructure projects while receiving structured mentoring and support, ensuring your skills are honed in a collaborative environment. With competitive salaries, paid holidays, and opportunities to engage with diverse teams, M Group is committed to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive and make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Design Engineer in Hounslow
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to professionals in the Rail and Aviation sectors on LinkedIn. Join relevant groups, attend webinars, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its projects, especially in design coordination and usability. Think about how your skills can contribute to their goals. We want you to shine, so practice common interview questions and have your own ready to ask!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your portfolio! Make sure it highlights your best work in product design, especially any projects related to user experience or safety-critical environments. We love seeing how you think and create, so make it visually appealing and easy to navigate.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we’re always looking for passionate individuals who are eager to learn and grow with us. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Design Engineer in Hounslow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Assistant Design Engineer role. Highlight your relevant skills and experiences that align with the job description, especially in product design and user-focused environments.
Showcase Your Passion:Let us see your enthusiasm for design and engineering! Share any projects or experiences that demonstrate your interest in safety-critical systems, usability, and how you approach design challenges.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to explain your ideas and experiences, making it easy for us to understand your qualifications and fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity in our Rail and Aviation teams!
How to prepare for a job interview at M Group
✨Know Your Design Principles
Brush up on your understanding of design thinking, especially in safety-critical environments. Be ready to discuss how user experience and accessibility influence design decisions, as this will show your awareness of the role's focus.
✨Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit
Since you'll be working with multidisciplinary teams, highlight any past experiences where you successfully collaborated with others. Share specific examples that demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively and contribute to a team environment.
✨Prepare for Real-World Scenarios
Think about how design decisions impact real-life situations, especially in rail and aviation contexts. Be prepared to discuss how you would approach design challenges and what factors you would consider to ensure usability and safety.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the company’s projects and design processes. This not only shows your interest but also your eagerness to learn and understand how design works in regulated environments.
