Internship: Build Mechanical Prototype for Feeding Automation Concept
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 31, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 22, 2026. Lely scores B on the Alion truth index.
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.
Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn a brand-new idea into a working machine? During this hands-on internship, you will help bring a new automated feeding concept to life. You will develop a proof of principle and investigate whether the concept is technically feasible in a real farm environment. The challenge is not only to design a solution, but also to build, test, and validate it yourself. This internship is based on a concept proposal developed within Lely's feeding domain and focuses on creating an initial prototype to assess technical viability.
Working closely with experienced engineers, you will experience what it is like to innovate at Lely. From the first sketches and calculations to farm testing and evaluation, you will play an active role in every step of the development process.
Your responsibilities include:
- Identifying and defining the critical technical elements required to validate the concept
- Designing a mechanical solution and translating concepts into a workable prototype
- Testing the prototype on a farm and gathering technical insights
- Analyzing test results and assessing technical feasibility
- Providing recommendations for further development and future implementation
The most exciting part? You will be one of the first people to discover whether this concept can become a valuable innovation for dairy farmers around the world!
Practical information
- This is an educational internship
- Start date: February 2027
- Duration: 6 months
- Availability: Minimum 24 hours per week
- Educational level: MBO or HBO
You enjoy working at the intersection of engineering, innovation, and agriculture. Whether you are in the workshop, or testing your design on a farm, you are eager to learn by doing. You are curious, practical, and motivated to turn ideas into solutions.
We are looking for someone who:
- Is currently pursuing an MBO or HBO degree in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design, or a related field
- Has affinity with agriculture and is interested in farm operations
- Has experience or interest in welding, grinding, drilling, and building prototypes
- Has knowledge of mechanics, machine construction, mechatronics, and/or programming
- Enjoys designing machines and developing technical concepts
- Works independently while also collaborating effectively with colleagues
- Has a structured, analytical, and solution-oriented mindset
- Communicates confidently in English, both spoken and written
At Lely, we offer you an educational and dynamic internship experience at one of the most innovative organizations in the Netherlands. You’ll become part of a driven team and have plenty of opportunities to further develop your talents.
- An international working environment
- An internship allowance of €650 per month based on a 40-hour work week
- A student apartment if your commute is too long
- Our modern Lely Campus gives you daily access to extensive sports facilities: an indoor gym, outdoor padel courts, a basketball and volleyball court, as well as table tennis and foosball. 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 in-house barista, made with milk straight from our farm, and a healthy, affordable company restaurant.
- A free shuttle bus takes you to and from the metro station in Maassluis, ensuring your workday starts and ends smoothly.
- We’re also proud that our dedication and vision have been recognized with the Rotterdam Entrepreneur Award 2025!