Founded in 1948, Lely is committed to a sustainable, profitable, and enjoyable future in agriculture. Driven by the challenges faced by farmers and the needs of cows, we develop high-quality robots and data systems that improve animal welfare, flexibility, and productivity on dairy farms. Our mission is to support sustainable food production.

For more than 30 years, we have been a global leader in the sale and service of automated systems for successive generations of dairy farmers. Every day, we inspire our colleagues to offer customers innovative solutions and to be a reliable partner for long-term advice and support. With our state-of-the-art Lely Campus in Maassluis and a global network of dedicated Lely Centers offering customized sales and service, Lely is active in more than fifty countries.

At Lely, we develop robots and advanced machines that contribute to more sustainable and efficient dairy farming worldwide. As a Mechanical Engineer, you play an important role in designing and developing innovative solutions that are used every day on farms around the world.

You will work in multidisciplinary product development teams on both new products and the further development of existing solutions. You translate user needs and technical requirements into smart, robust, and manufacturable designs. From the initial concept to validation in practice, you are involved throughout the entire development process.

What makes this role particularly interesting is the combination of engineering and hands-on practice. One day, you might be working on a new design in CAD, while the next you are testing a prototype in our workshop or visiting a farm to see how your solution performs in daily practice. This allows you to see the impact of your work first-hand while continuously improving products that need to perform reliably under challenging conditions.

Your key responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical components, subsystems, and complete machines for our robotic solutions.
• Collaborate with colleagues from disciplines such as software, electronics, systems engineering, and testing to develop integrated solutions.
• Guide prototypes from design through validation and support the testing of new concepts.
• Coordinate with suppliers on technical solutions, manufacturability, and optimizations.
• Analyze and resolve technical challenges during development, testing, or in the field.
• Contribute to a smooth transition from design to series production, with a strong focus on quality, reliability, and cost efficiency.

You are a curious and pragmatic engineer who enjoys developing innovative products. You like connecting theory with practice and enjoy collaborating with colleagues from different disciplines to solve complex technical challenges.

In addition, you recognize yourself in most of the following:

• A completed bachelor's or master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Industrial Design Engineering, or a comparable technical field.
• At least 3 to 5 years of experience designing and developing technical products.
• Experience with CAD software, preferably Creo or comparable 3D design tools.
• An affinity with prototype development, testing, and improving technical systems.
• Good communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and suppliers.
• A practical and analytical mindset, combined with a strong interest in innovation and product development.
• Experience with co-development, series production, hygienic design, or process installations such as hydraulic systems, piping, or vacuum technology is an advantage, but not a requirement.

Working at Lely means contributing to sustainable progress within one of the most innovative organizations in the Netherlands. You help make the agricultural sector more futureproof, and we ensure you have the space, resources, and support to do so.

• An international work environment that values collaboration, initiative, and diverse perspectives.
• A culture that encourages learning, experimentation, and ownership of ideas.
• Excellent employment conditions, including up to 8 weeks of vacation per year and a strong pension scheme.
• A Medior salary range of €5,000 - €7,150 per month, with clear opportunities for growth within the scale.
• Full ownership of your own development, with access to a wide range of courses through the Lely Academy.
• Daily access to outstanding sports facilities at the Lely Campus: an indoor gym, outdoor padel courts, basketball and volleyball courts, table tennis, and table football. You can join Hyrox workouts or sign up for personal training and challenge your colleagues during an active break.
• Fresh coffee and tea from our own barista (with milk from our own farm) and a healthy, affordable company restaurant.
• A healthy work-life balance thanks to our hybrid working policy: you work at least three days a week on Campus, with flexible hours and plenty of opportunity to spend additional time onsite (between 06:00 and 20:00).
• A free shuttle bus that takes you to and from the metro station in Maassluis, ensuring your workday starts and ends smoothly.
• And of course: we love to celebrate! Whether it’s an anniversary or the annual Christmas party. At Lely, we know how to do it. 

We are also proud that our vision and efforts have been recognized with the Rotterdam Entrepreneurs Award 2025.
 

Recruitment & selection agency, consultancy, and/or staffing agency?

We appreciate the interest, but we recruit all our candidates directly. We understand that as intermediaries, you want to present candidates for our great positions and contribute to our ambitions, but this is not how we have set up our recruitment process. This means that all unsolicited profiles offered on Lely vacancies will be treated as direct applications.