Product Development Intern
Ascent
Job Description
About Ascent
Ascent is redesigning personal care by replacing disposable packaging with refillable systems built around better ingredients. We started with fragrance and are now trusted by 10,000+ customers across 7+ countries.
Backed by Dutch public innovation funding, we’re developing the next generation of refillable personal care products. Our next step: expanding into new categories through smarter packaging and better formulations.
The Role
You’ll primarily focus on packaging innovation: researching materials, developing refill systems, testing prototypes, and helping us build better alternatives to traditional packaging.
You’ll also support ingredient and formulation research for new products such as our upcoming refillable deodorant, including researching how ingredients and packaging materials interact to ensure compatibility, performance, and long-term product stability.
What you’ll work on:
- Research sustainable packaging materials and refill systems
- Help develop plastic‑free packaging solutions for new products
- Test packaging prototypes for usability, durability, and scalability
- Research ingredients and support formulation development
- Help improve production processes and identify, test, and help set up the right machines for scaling production
- Coordinate with suppliers, manufacturers, and production partners
Who You Are
- Currently pursuing or recently completed a master's degree in a relevant field (e.g. Industrial Design, Engineering or related field) at a leading technical university
- A builder’s mindset, with technical affinity and problem‑solving ability
- Interested in consumer products, sustainability and circular design
- Comfortable working independently in a startup environment
What We Offer
- A dynamic internship in a fast-growing, impact‑driven startup
- Real responsibility and the chance to make impact
- Hybrid working from our Rotterdam office (Westplein 12, 3016 BM Rotterdam)
- €500‑600 per month (based on 24–32 hours per week)
- Free Ascent products (obviously)