Internship: Distributed Data & Legacy Systems Engineering

A sustainable, profitable, and enjoyable future for dairy farmers by combining robotization, engineering, and farming expertise. This is what we believe in.

This journey began over 75 years ago with the dream of two brothers in Maassluis. Since then, we have become an innovative global leader in automated systems for dairy farmers worldwide. With 2,300 specialized professionals, we continuously work on new agricultural revolutions. We still do this from our Campus in Maassluis, the building with the highest achievable sustainability standards in the Netherlands, while also operating around the world. Our goal is to ensure that dairy farming remains attractive for future generations.

Are you interested in distributed systems, data engineering, and complex technical challenges? During this internship, you will focus on researching and validating a legacy data storage and synchronization system within a real-world robotics environment. You will investigate how data is currently shared between multiple robots and a central server in situations where connectivity is not always reliable.

Rather than building an entirely new system, this internship focuses on analyzing existing technologies, protocols, and architectural patterns that can improve the robustness, consistency, and reliability of the current solution.

Your responsibilities include:

• Analyzing and documenting existing EEPROM-style data formats and synchronization mechanisms
• Researching existing applications, libraries, and protocols for distributed data synchronization
• Evaluating how existing solutions fit within the current system architecture and constraints
• Comparing alternative technical approaches and validating them through prototypes or simulations
• Assessing trade-offs such as complexity, reliability, backward compatibility, and migration effort
• Providing technical recommendations supported by validation results and documentation

What does your workplace look like?

You will become part of an experienced engineering team with expertise in robotics, embedded systems, and software architecture. The working environment encourages collaboration, experimentation, and technical discussions. You will receive guidance from experienced colleagues while also having the freedom to independently explore and validate ideas.

You will work in both office and testing environments with access to real systems and robots. In addition, there is flexibility regarding hybrid and on-site working arrangements.

We are looking for an analytical and technically skilled intern who enjoys working on complex systems within an innovative robotics environment. You are curious, critical, and motivated to investigate and improve existing technologies.

To be considered for this internship, you meet the following requirements:

• You are enrolled in an HBO or WO program in Computer Science, Data Engineering, or a related field
• You have an affinity with distributed databases and software development
• You have knowledge of Linux, SQLite, and PostgreSQL
• You have strong analytical skills and enjoy solving technical challenges
• You are able to work independently and take initiative within projects
• You are fluent in both Dutch and English, spoken and written

An educational and exciting experience at an international company driven by innovation. If you have questions, you can always turn to one of your colleagues who are just as passionate about their field. In addition, we offer you:

• A €650 gross internship allowance per month (based on 40 hours)
• An international working environment
• Our modern Lely Campus provides daily access to extensive sports facilities, including an indoor gym, outdoor padel courts, an outdoor basketball and volleyball court, table tennis, and table football. You can join Hyrox workouts or sign up for personal training and challenge your colleagues during an active break.
• Enjoy fresh coffee and tea from our own barista, with milk straight from our farm, as well as a healthy and affordable company restaurant
• A free Lely shuttle bus that takes you to and from the metro in Maassluis, ensuring a smooth start and end to your workday
• Successes should be celebrated, from anniversaries to Christmas parties. At Lely, we know how to celebrate

Do you recognize yourself in the points above? Then apply directly via the vacancy on our website.