Graduation: From model to machine, making control software more transparent for engineers

Vanderlande Industries B.V.; Veghel; On-site; EUR 5,600 - 6,100; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Internship allowance

Commuting allowance

On-site health center

Employee communities

Company restaurant

Job summary

Vanderlande Industries B.V. seeks a motivated graduation assignment to advance model-based design for control software used in global material handling systems.

The project focuses on making generated code readable and deployable on-site for engineers, leveraging MATLAB/Simulink and Simatic Target within existing OT modules. You will work in the MBD team within the Technology department, collaborating with software and controls engineers, and potentially validating findings on real equipment.

Qualifications

• Practical experience with MATLAB/Simulink is required.
• Familiarity or strong interest in embedded controls, PLCs, or industrial automation.
• Mandatory enrolment to a Dutch Education System & resident of The Netherlands.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and map the advantages and limitations of the current Model Based Design workflow.
• Set up and configure Simatic Target for Simulink within an existing testing environment.
• Apply and test the proposed technology on an existing MBD OT module.
• Design and execute comparative experiments to evaluate usability, debugging, and commissioning efficiency.
• Document your research findings and present clear recommendations to the MBD team and key stakeholders.

Skills

MATLAB/Simulink

Embedded controls

PLC knowledge

Education

Dutch Education System enrolment

Tools

Simatic Target for Simulink

Job description

Job Title

Graduation: From model to machine, making control software more transparent for engineers

Assignment Details

Assignment type: Graduation

Start date: February 2026

Assignment duration: 6 months

Location: Veghel

Description of assignment

At Vanderlande, we serve customers worldwide by building highly flexible material handling systems out of configurable building blocks. To power these systems, our Model Based Design (MBD) workflow uses tools like MATLAB/Simulink to develop and test controllers in virtual environments before generating code for various PLC platforms (such as Siemens PLC, Allen-Bradley PLC, and C++). While automated code generation enables versatile deployment, it often makes the generated code unreadable for controls engineers on customer sites, leaving them heavily reliant on basic interface statistics during troubleshooting.

In this hands‑on project, you will explore new ways to make control software transparent and accessible for site engineers. Focusing on solutions like Simatic Target for Simulink, you will investigate how engineers can deploy generated code while maintaining visual access to the original model. You will analyze current MBD workflows, test new tools on existing OT modules, and evaluate how this way of working improves debugging efficiency and commissioning on site.

Department description

You will join the Model Based Design (MBD) team within the Technology department, where we develop reusable Operational Technology (OT) modules applied across Vanderlande's global solution portfolio. Our team bridges systems engineering, simulation, software development, and industrial automation. Working alongside experienced control and software engineers, you will perform practical experiments combining virtual plants, MATLAB/Simulink models, and Siemens PLC hardware. Depending on project progress, you may even validate your findings on real material handling equipment.

Tasks / Responsibilities

• Analyze and map the advantages and limitations of the current Model Based Design workflow
• Set up and configure Simatic Target for Simulink within an existing testing environment
• Apply and test the proposed technology on an existing MBD OT module
• Design and execute comparative experiments to evaluate usability, debugging, and commissioning efficiency
• Document your research findings and present clear recommendations to the MBD team and key stakeholders

Your profile

• Practical experience with MATLAB/Simulink is required
• Familiarity or strong interest in embedded controls, PLCs, or industrial automation
• Motivated to learn new skills in software modeling, system analysis, and real‑time control validation
• Strong analytical mindset and ability to work independently on engineering challenges
• Mandatory enrolment to a Dutch Education System & resident of The Netherlands

What we offer

• A monthly internship allowance (based on a 40‑hour work week): €500 per month for a bachelor student
• Full commuting allowance, including public transport, depending on whether you have access to free public transport or not
• On‑site health center with gym
• Active employee communities and initiatives
• Excellent company restaurant and barista coffee bar

About us

Every day, millions of people rely on Vanderlande without even knowing it. From baggage checked in at the airport to parcels on their way to someone’s doorstep, our automation solutions help keep the world moving. Vanderlande designs, delivers, and supports automation technology, operational software, and lifecycle services for leading airports and parcel operations worldwide. Across more than 100 countries, our customers rely on us to keep their operations moving reliably, efficiently, and sustainably. Behind every solution are the people who make it happen.

At Vanderlande, how we work matters just as much as what we deliver. Our values, Every Day Better, We Care, and Team Play, guide how we collaborate, support each other, and create value for our customers. Here, you can work with colleagues across disciplines and cultures, contribute to work that makes a difference, and build your future in an organisation that invites you to grow. Explore what is possible at Vanderlande and discover how you can make an impact. Aspire. Grow. Achieve. Together.