Student Design Engineer - Underwater Systems

Student Design Engineer – Underwater Systems

Location: Melksham, Wiltshire

SBU: Avon Protection

As a Placement Student Design Engineer, you’ll join our Underwater Systems team for a one year placement at our Melksham design and manufacturing hub. This is your chance to work hands on with real products, real challenges and real impact.

You’ll be part of a dynamic Product Development team, contributing to live projects and helping evolve the systems that keep people safe beneath the surface. Expect to collaborate across our Melksham and Poole sites, work within real project budgets and timelines, and gain exposure to the full development cycle — from concept sketch to market launch.

You’ll also get rare behind the scenes access to our manufacturing processes, giving you a complete view of how high performance products come to life.

You’ll work closely with project managers, quality teams, sales, marketing and production — plus external suppliers, test labs and specialist consultants.

Throughout the year, you’ll be paired with a dedicated mentor who will guide your development, help you set meaningful goals and support you as you navigate a professional engineering environment.

• Support Design Engineers in developing new concepts and enhancing existing products.
• Take ownership of individual project tasks and deliver them on time.
• Build engineering expertise through materials research, problem solving, benchmarking and CAD work.
• Be the primary contact for the Manufacturing team in designing tools, jigs and fixtures in improving assembly safety and efficiency.
• Contribute across the entire product lifecycle — concept, prototyping, validation, certification and launch.
• Learn to create design specifications and test criteria aligned with our quality systems.
• Deepen your understanding of underwater technology and its real world applications.
• Communicate effectively with cross functional teams, customers and suppliers.
• Develop the skills needed to produce high quality, manufacturable designs.

• Undergraduate in Product Design / Engineering or similar
• A Levels or equivalent in relevant subjects

• Eye for detail
• Professional working manner
• 3D CAD experience
• Working knowledge of PC based word processor and spread sheets

• Hands on model making/prototyping
• Strong ideation/sketching and visual communication
• Prototype testing / validation
• Solid Works 3D CAD experience
• Understanding of DFM

Please email your cover letter, CV and portfolio/work examples (attachments no larger than 10

Mb) to the UK HR team at  before midnight on the closing date.

Sunday 15th Feb 2026