Job Description:

The way we make things is changing.  

For generations, manufacturing has happened in factories on Earth. Now, innovators are beginning to explore what can be made in orbit, in microgravity, and how that could unlock new possibilities for products, materials and medicines.  

It is an exciting shift, but also a complex one. New technologies are emerging fast, and industries such as pharmaceuticals and medical technology need clearer ways to understand where microgravity might add value, who is involved, and how decisions get made.  

That is where design comes in.  

At the Satellite Applications Catapult, our User Centred Design team helps people turn technical expertise into useful, usable and meaningful outcomes. We work on complex challenges, bring structure to ambiguity, and keep people at the centre of innovation.  

We are looking for a design intern who is curious, thoughtful and excited by emerging futures. This role is for someone who enjoys asking big questions, making sense of complexity, and communicating ideas clearly and visually.  

You do not need to already see yourself as “a space designer”. In fact, this role may suit someone who has never considered the space sector before, but is interested in the role designers can play in shaping new industries, developing innovative systems and services, and communicating complex concepts. 

As a member of a User Centred Design team, you will work closely with a Senior Service Designer on a creative and strategic challenge: designing a clear, accessible visual story of the microgravity ecosystem that makes the network of stakeholders, handovers and decision points easier to understand.   

You will be directly addressing a real-world challenge with your work helping to create a foundation for future manufacturing solutions, enabled by space.  

Building on the work that has already been conducted at the space–health intersection, you will:   Discover:  

• Review existing research and engagement outputs and identify key actors and organisations, stages, decision points, and common challenges.  

• Identify further research sources relevant to the activity, growing your own knowledge of the sector and adding to the Catapult’s expertise.  

Develop:  

• Design and iterate a set of visual maps demonstrating the microgravity ecosystem and “decision gates” where evidence, assurance and commercial decisions happen  

• Develop a “where microgravity adds value” tool tailored to pharma/medtech (e.g., R&D enablement, manufacturing quality attributes, time/cost drivers), supported by a plain-English glossary.  

•  Test and refine your designs through a small number of short validation sessions with internal stakeholders and SMEs (where feasible).  

Deliver:  

• Package outputs into a suitable format that can be shared with relevant stakeholders.   

What we are looking for 

You do not need to tick every box to apply. 

We are looking for someone who is curious, thoughtful and excited by the opportunity to work on a meaningful design challenge. This role could suit someone who enjoys making sense of complexity, shaping information into clear stories, and creating visuals that help other people understand something unfamiliar. 

You might be studying service design, UX or user-centred design, product or industrial design, graphic or communication design, design research, human factors, systems thinking, or a related discipline. We would also welcome applications from students in adjacent fields who can demonstrate strong communication, research or visual thinking skills. 

Skills and experience that would be useful 

You may already have some experience in: 

• making sense of complex systems and showing how different parts connect  

• turning research, conversations or workshop outputs into clear themes, stories or structures  

• planning or supporting light-touch research activities  

• creating visual materials that make complex ideas easier to understand  

• using tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, PowerPoint or Google Slides to create polished, accessible outputs  

• working with collaborative tools such as Miro, or similar platforms 

What you will need 

You should be able to show: 

• strong written and visual communication skills  

• the ability to organise and present complex information clearly  

• confidence using presentation or design tools to create diagrams and communication materials  

• comfort using collaborative tools such as Miro, or similar platforms  

• curiosity about how new technologies fit into wider systems and industries  

• a willingness to learn, take feedback on board and develop your work as you go  

It would be a bonus if you also have 

• experience creating maps, journeys, blueprints or other ways of showing how systems work  

• some familiarity with healthcare, life sciences or regulated environments  

• an interest in how evidence, evaluation or decision-making shapes innovation  

• strong information design skills, including hierarchy, labelling and accessibility  

• some experience conducting interviews or supporting research conversations 

Ways of working that matter in this role 

We are also looking for someone who: 

• communicates clearly and thoughtfully  

• is comfortable working through ambiguity and shaping clarity from complexity  

• can listen well, ask good questions and engage respectfully with others  

• responds positively to feedback and enjoys improving work through iteration  

• thinks critically about evidence, assumptions and how to communicate ideas accurately  

• can document work clearly through writing, annotations or visual explanation 

Process details:

• 8 weeks minimum fixed term contract to be agreed with successful candidate

• 5 days holiday to be taken during the placement

How we work at Satellite Applications Catapult….

We strive to create a high trust, high performance and inclusive environment that enables team members to bring their whole selves to work – this helps to create the foundations of an innovation culture. Our shared values are critical to this:

• We care - for our people, our partners, and our planet

• We connect - and engage with people and ideas

• We learn - and grow, as people and as an industry

Underpinning this is our belief in great teams, our combined efforts will always deliver outcomes beyond that of anyone providing we are honest through debate, experiment and reflect, and create shared resolutions in support of our purpose. Live these values, work to our principles, take ownership to deliver, and we are certain you will thrive with us.

This job description set outs the skills and experience we think are needed to be able to perform in this job. However, if you believe you can deliver in this role then we want to hear from you.

Important notice for applicants: We use tools to detect plagiarism and the use of AI or chatbots for applicant answers. If plagiarism, AI use (such as ChatGPT) or similar software are found to have been used in your application you will not be considered for this or future roles within the Satellite Applications Catapult. If you need any additional support during the application process, please do reach out and connect. We also invite you to share feedback via Applied.

At Satellite Applications Catapult, we're committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce. We welcome candidates from all corners of the globe, but due to legal and logistical considerations, we want to be transparent about the potential visa-related challenges that could arise. Our ability to offer sponsorship will depend on the level of interest for our roles and salary level. Unfortunately we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

If you need any additional support during the application process, please do reach out and connect. We also invite you to share feedback via Applied.