AI and Data Engineering lead

Job Title

Job Description

About Vanderlande

Vanderlande is a global leader in logistics automation, supporting leading airports, retailers and e-commerce organizations worldwide. Our Technology Business Unit develops the equipment, software, architecture and integration capabilities that enable reliable, scalable and cost-effective logistics solutions.

Working at Vanderlande offers a unique opportunity to make a global impact. You will work in an international and innovative environment, collaborating with engineering teams, technology leaders and business domains to shape the future of logistics automation.

Position Overview

The primary mission of the AI & Data Engineering department is to accelerate Vanderlande's transition towards an AI-native engineering organization, reducing time-to-market by transforming the end-to-end engineering value stream through AI, data and intelligent automation.

The role focuses on transforming the end-to-end engineering way of working, from customer requirements and system design through configuration, development, testing and deployment. By embedding AI, intelligent automation and data-driven decision-making into engineering processes, the role will help shorten development cycles, increase engineering productivity, improve quality and accelerate time to market.

The AI & Data department will develop reusable AI-enabled engineering capabilities, data products, reference architectures, tools and working methods that can be adopted across Vanderlande’s engineering disciplines and domains.

This role is specifically accountable for using AI and data to transform Technology and the end-to-end engineering lifecycle. The AEC remains the enterprise front door, while the AI & Data Department creates and scales the specialist engineering capabilities needed within Technology.

Key Responsibilities

AI & Data Strategy for Technology

• Develop and execute the AI and data strategy for the Technology Business Unit.

• Translate Technology priorities into a focused portfolio of AI and data initiatives.

• Align the roadmap with domain product strategies, platform-based development and the Engineering-to-Order to Configure-to-Order transformation.

• Own the Technology AI and data portfolio, roadmap and prioritization process.

• Identify opportunities where AI and data can reduce engineering lead times, remove rework and improve development quality.

• Ensure investments deliver measurable improvements in engineering throughput and time to market.

AI in Engineering – E2E Transformation

• Redesign engineering workflows around AI-enabled capabilities rather than adding individual tools to existing processes.

• Reduce handoffs, waiting time, repeated data entry and fragmented engineering information.

• Establish reusable AI-enabled engineering patterns across equipment, software, systems, architecture and integration disciplines.

• Connect requirements, engineering decisions, models, code, tests and lifecycle data to create faster feedback loops.

• Lead the development and scaling of the Engineering Configurator and other priority engineering AI solutions.

• Create engineering data products and knowledge structures that make technical information accessible, reusable and suitable for AI.

• Integrate AI capabilities with relevant engineering environments, including BOM, CAD, PLM, ALM and software development platforms.

Fusion Teams and Ways of Working

Fusion teams are particularly important for AI solutions because engineering, data, architecture, risk and users need to remain involved throughout the solution lifecycle.

• Establish multidisciplinary teams that combine engineering, AI, data, architecture, software, product and change expertise.

• Build communities of practice across engineering disciplines and domains.

• Partner with universities, research institutions, technology providers and selected customers to accelerate capability development.

Capability Building and Adoption

• Build specialist AI knowledge in deep technical functions

• Build AI capability across Vanderlande’s engineering and technical population.

• Introduce AI engineering tools alongside the standards, training and workflow changes required for effective use.

• Measure adoption through changed ways of working and engineering outcomes, not only tool usage or training completion.

Governance and Responsible AI

• Ensure AI-enabled engineering solutions comply with enterprise AI standards and governance.

• Embed security, intellectual property protection, data sovereignty, traceability and responsible AI practices.

• Establish appropriate evaluation and validation methods for AI-generated engineering outputs.

• Partner with ICT, Data, Security, Legal, Quality and the AEC to move solutions safely from experimentation to operational use.

What Will Success Look Like?

During the first year, you will:

• establish the Technology AI and data strategy and roadmap;

• identify and quantify the main constraints in the end-to-end engineering value stream;

• accelerate the Engineering Configurator toward integration with relevant engineering systems;

• launch priority AI-enabled engineering initiatives with measurable cycle-time, throughput or quality improvements;

• establish multidisciplinary fusion teams;

• introduce reusable AI architecture and engineering data patterns;

• scale AI-assisted working practices across selected engineering teams;

• implement a performance dashboard covering time to market, engineering throughput, adoption, reuse and quality.

Over time, AI and data will become embedded in Vanderlande’s standard engineering lifecycle, contributing to shorter development cycles, improved engineering quality and faster delivery of customer solutions.

What Do We Ask From You?

You are an entrepreneurial and execution-oriented technology leader who understands that AI transformation requires a redesign of engineering work, not simply the introduction of new tools.

You combine strategic vision with a strong understanding of engineering, AI, data and organizational change. You can operate effectively with engineers, architects, product leaders and senior executives in a global, matrixed environment.

Professional Experience

• 12+ years experience in engineering / technology development, with at least 7+ years in leading AI initiatives / developments

• Proven experience transforming complex engineering or product-development environments.

• Demonstrated success applying AI, data and automation to improve development throughput, quality or time to market.

• Strong understanding of generative AI, machine learning, intelligent agents, retrieval-augmented generation, knowledge systems and AI-enabled software engineering.

• Experience with data architecture, data products, engineering knowledge management.

• Familiarity with engineering environments such as BOM, CAD, PLM, ALM, simulation, software development and test automation.

• Experience establishing multidisciplinary teams and product-based delivery models.

• Strong ability to translate technical opportunities into measurable operational and business outcomes.

• Experience working in industrial automation, logistics, systems engineering or another software-intensive engineering environment.

• Proven ability to build new capabilities, develop specialist talent and lead organizational change.

What we offer​

In this challenging and responsible position, you will have the chance to make a significant contribution to industry-leading projects and be connected to our dedicated people and customers. We offer a position in an informal, international and professional working environment with a lot of scope for personal development. By joining our profitable and growing company you will be able to reach your goals and focus on your future.​

This position offers a competitive salary range of € 7631 to € 10,357 gross per month (excluding 8% holiday allowance). Through exceeding performance expectations, you even have the possibility to grow outside this scale.

On top of your fixed salary you’ll receive the following secondary benefits:​

·        40 vacation days (20 statutory days and a flexible budget worth 20 days).​

·        Flexible working hours.​

·        A hybrid workplace (40% working from home and 60% in the office).​

·        A Health & Wellbeing budget worth €300,- per calendar year.

·        Commuting allowance, including full reimbursement of travel by public transport.​

·        Working from home allowance.​

·        Collective pension scheme and discount on additional health insurance.​

·        On-site company health centres with a gym, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.​

·        Vanderlande Academy and training facilities to boost your skills.​

·        Lease car/compensation thereof

.​ Short tern incentive earnings above annual salary.

·        A variety in Vanderlande Network communities and initiatives.​

·        And a great company restaurant and coffee bar with barista.

Your Application

Are you interested in this position? Then apply now directly on our workday vacancy link with your resume and a short summary about your interest in this role.

1. For this role, preference is locally residing talent in the Netherlands, due to location of the role first.

2.      Application acceptance timeline: In the event of receiving enough suitable applicants, this vacancy can get closed earlier than the mentioned job posting end date.

3.      Due to process compliance, we cannot process emailed applications. Kindly use the correct vacancy link to apply for this vacancy.

Diversity & Inclusion

Vanderlande is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regards to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.

Background screening

For this position it is possible that a background screening will be conducted. This screening can include checks such as verification of identity, qualifications or other relevant records, which may include criminal background or sanctions list checks, in accordance with our internal policies and applicable laws. Any job offer may be extended under the condition that the screening does not give reason to reconsider the hiring decision. Candidates will always be informed about the process and their rights before any screening is initiated.