Designer Co-Op Fall 2026

Introduction A career in IBM Software means you’ll be part of a team that transforms our customer’s challenges into solutions.

Seeking new possibilities and always staying curious, we are a team dedicated to creating the world’s leading AI-powered, cloud-native software solutions for our customers. Our renowned legacy creates endless global opportunities for our IBMers, so the door is always open for those who want to grow their career.

We are seeking a skilled back-end developer to join our IBM Software team. As part of our team, you will be responsible for developing and maintaining high-quality software products, working with a variety of technologies and programming languages.

IBM’s product and technology landscape includes Research, Software, and Infrastructure. Entering this domain positions you at the heart of IBM, where growth and innovation thrive.

Your Role And Responsibilities We are looking for Product Design Coops to join our teams. As a design Coop, you will gain hands‑on experience creating intuitive, accessible, and visually cohesive enterprise software experiences. You’ll collaborate with designers, researchers, developers, and product managers throughout the full design lifecycle—turning ideas into prototypes, validating concepts, and shaping real product experiences used by customers worldwide.

What You’ll Do

• Create wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes using tools like Figma.
• Contribute to UI components, icons, and layouts aligned with the Carbon Design System.
• Help document reusable design components and interaction patterns.
• Collaborate with UX researchers to gather insights and validate designs.
• Apply accessibility standards and design system guidelines to all work.
• Join design critiques, ideation sessions, and Design Thinking workshops.
• Present design concepts and rationale to cross‑functional stakeholders.

This is a 16‑week Co‑Op position designed for actively enrolled undergraduate students who are interested in gaining hands‑on, practical experience in their field while contributing to real IBM projects. To be eligible, candidates must be currently enrolled at an accredited university and able to pause their coursework for the duration of the Co‑Op, as students may not be enrolled in classes while participating. This role requires full‑time availability (40 hours per week) during the Fall 2026 semester. Eligible candidates should also be available to join IBM in a full‑time role between December 2026 and August 2027 upon successful completion of their degree.

Preferred Education Bachelor's Degree

Required Technical And Professional Expertise

• Must be actively enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree program at the time of application and returning to complete the degree after the co-op.
• Available to start full-time between December 2026 and August 2027. Available to work full-time (40 hours/week) at an IBM location for 16 weeks.
• Co-op requires a full-time commitment; students should not be enrolled in concurrent coursework during the co-op term.
• A portfolio demonstrating design thinking, UI/UX fundamentals, and visual design skills.
• Experience with design tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Illustrator, or Photoshop.
• Understanding of user‑centered design, accessibility, and responsive design.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and problem‑solving skills.
• Enthusiasm for learning and openness to feedback.

Preferred Technical And Professional Experience

• Familiarity with collaborative tools such as FigJam, Miro, or Mural.
• Exposure to HTML/CSS or front‑end development.
• Experience with motion design tools (After Effects, Lottie).
• Interest in design systems or metrics such as engagement and retention.