Lead Engineer Embedded Software

If you are a people manager and embedded software engineer rolled into one and if it gives you energy to raise your team to the next level, read on!

Our mission is to help farmers work more efficiently, enjoyably, and sustainably. By developing software for advanced robotics, you directly contribute to animal welfare, food quality, and the future of sustainable agriculture. By joining us, you help create innovations that have a meaningful impact on farms around the world, improving safety, efficiency, and well-being for both farmers and animals. The exciting thing about this role is that you can directly influence the right choices for the new generation.

As a Lead Engineer Embedded Software at Lely, you will head a diverse team of at least ten embedded software engineers working on the ongoing development and maintenance of our Robotic cleaning and Barn solution. Like any true people manager, you will coach your team in terms of their professional and social skills, liaising closely with every team member to monitor their career path. We are looking for a person who values different perspectives and encourages team members to share ideas, ask questions, and grow together. In addition, you will be responsible for developing and monitoring the technical roadmap, making sure that the needs of customers are effectively converted into technical specifications.

What will be your major tasks?

• Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary embedded software team through all phases of product development.
• Coach and mentor team members, fostering both technical growth and personal development.
• Translate customer needs into robust, scalable software solutions using a test-driven development (TDD) approach.
• Oversee the design, implementation, testing, and maintenance of embedded software.
• Ensure high-quality code through design/code reviews and comprehensive testing strategies.
• Continuously improve Agile processes and team performance.
• Define and maintain the technical roadmap in alignment with product and business goals.

We are looking for a person with a proven ability to create and maintain a team environment where feedback is openly shared, curiosity is encouraged, continuous learning is valued, and team members feel safe to ask questions, raise concerns, and contribute constructively. If you recognize yourself in most of the following points we encourage you to apply:

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in a leadership or managerial role.
• Strong programming skills in C, C++, and Python.
• Experience with embedded Linux systems.
• Solid understanding of object-oriented design and test-driven development.
• Familiarity with communication protocols such as CAN and Ethernet.
• Experience working in multidisciplinary Agile Scrum teams.
• An empathetic and trustworthy professional who leads their team by acting as a role model.

What do we offer you?

Working at Lely means contributing to sustainable progress within one of the most innovative organizations in the Netherlands. You help make the agricultural sector future-proof. We make sure you have the space, resources, and support you need to grow and do your best work.

• An international environment where collaboration, initiative, and diverse perspectives are valued
• A culture that encourages learning, experimentation, and ownership of ideas.
• Excellent working conditions, including up to 8 weeks of vacation per year and a good pension scheme.
• A salary within the scale of €6400 - €9000 gross per month, in which we like to see opportunities for growth from your starting salary towards the future.
• Control over your own development, with access to a wide range of courses through the Lely Academy.
• Daily access to excellent sports facilities on the Lely Campus: an indoor gym, outdoor padel courts, basketball and volleyball courts, table tennis, and table soccer. 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 farm) and a healthy, affordable company restaurant.

Work-life balance

• A healthy work-life balance thanks to our hybrid work policy: you work at least three days a week on Campus, with flexible working hours and plenty of room to spend extra time on site (between 06:00 and 20:00).
• A free shuttle bus will take you to and from the metro in Maassluis, so your workday starts and ends smoothly.
• Moreover, we love to celebrate. Whether it's an anniversary or our Christmas party, at Lely, we know how to celebrate!

We are also proud that our efforts and vision have been rewarded by winning the Rotterdam Entrepreneur Award 2025!

At Lely, we believe in achieving a sustainable, profitable and agreeable future for dairy farmers by combining robotisation, engineering and farming expertise.

It all started with a dream cherished by two brothers in Maassluis 75 years ago, and ever since, we have worked to become innovative market leaders in automated systems for dairy farmers across the globe. With a team of 2,500 professional specialists, we work constantly to bring about revolutionary solutions for the agro industry. We are based at our Maassluis Campus, a building which features the highest sustainability performance possible, not just in the Netherlands, but on a global scale. Our overall objective: making dairy farming interesting, also for the coming generations.