Graduation assignment - Reducing Dynamic Positioning (DP) footprint by utilizing prior knowledge
Job Description

Job description

Your role in the story
Are you a final-year student with a passion for offshore engineering and looking for a graduation assignment that makes real impact? Join us and become part of a team that works on complex and large-scale offshore projects within one of our engineering disciplines. Kick-start your career with a graduation project in the heart of Marine Engineering.  As a graduation student, you’ll dive into a challenging assignment that contributes directly to our operations, innovation efforts, or future developments. You'll be guided by experienced engineers and exposed to the practical world of offshore engineering, from concept development to project execution.

 

What’s the challenge
For critical offshore operations, such as monopile installation with a Motion Compensated Gripper Frame (MCGF), the vessel’s DP footprint (horizontal position variation while on DP) is a key limiting factor, because excursions must remain within allowable operational margins. Reducing these excursions directly leads to an extended offshore operational window.  

 

Your mission & goals

  • Which contributors dominate DP footprint in relevant operations (e.g., heading vs surge/sway, environmental vs operational triggers)?
  • What inputs to DP can be improved to reduce operational footprint.

 

What you’ll gain
•    Exposure to real offshore engineering problems where DP behavior matters for safety and operational performance. 
•    DP performance concepts, filtering/estimation framing, and simulation context (Heerema Simulation Center)

 

Is this you?

  • Field of study: BSc or MSc (WO/HBO) in Mechanical, Maritime, Aerospace, Electrical/Controls, Data/Systems, or Civil Engineering
  • Interest in: offshore operations, vessel motion & control, sustainability/efficiency, marine data analysis
  • Technical skills: Python and/or MATLAB for data analysis; affinity with statistics, signal processing, or controls.
  • Language: English required, Dutch is a plus
  • Independent, analytical, and curious mindset

 

Practical Information
Start date: September 2026, flexible upon agreement
Duration: 6–9 months
Location: Leiden office / on-site + optional offshore exposure if relevant

 

What we offer

  • A challenging and meaningful assignment aligned with your study goals;
  • Guidance from senior engineers and project leads;
  • An innovative work environment with access to cutting-edge tools and infrastructure;
  • A monthly internship allowance;
  • Opportunities for future career steps within our company (internship as a stepping stone).

 

Ready to work with impact? Apply now and take the first step toward your offshore engineering career!

We are looking forward to hearing from you. We are interested in your CV, but we mainly want to find out more about your ambitions, your personality, and what is your motivation to succeed. So be sure to include a brief cover letter explaining why you are the perfect fit for this internship!  

Hit the button, apply, and make the impossible possible with Heerema. We’d love to meet you!

A unique maritime adventure

A unique maritime adventure At Heerema Marine Contractors, we deliver the world’s most challenging offshore projects in the energy sector. From designing and engineering to transporting, installing, and removing offshore structures, we make the impossible possible — safely and sustainably.

Our success is built on the expertise and dedication of our diverse team, working together across offshore, onshore, and office-based roles. We value teamwork, innovation, and a can-do mindset, and we are proud of our culture where colleagues support and inspire each other to achieve excellence.

Join Heerema and become part of a world-class team shaping the future of the offshore industry.

Information at a Glance

Highlights

At Heerema Marine Contractors, we offer offshore jobs, engineering careers, and office opportunities worldwide. Join our team and make the impossible possible.

Base Salary:  525.00 EUR
Job Location:  HMC Leiden
Business area:  Engineering
Standard Weekly Hours:  40.00
Job Level:  Student job
Req Id:  766