Damen
We offer you an Ocean of Possibilities. Join our family.
About us
Damen Shipyards Group aims to become the world’s most sustainable and digitally connected shipyard. The Damen AI Services Team (DAS) contributes to this vision by building AI services for Damen that shape the future of shipbuilding. We develop reusable AI capabilities and scalable solutions that can be applied across the organization. You will join DAS, based in Gorinchem. The team works on applied AI topics such as AI agent integration, enterprise automation, responsible AI, and data driven product development.
The role
Within Damen, the use of AI agents is expanding rapidly. We already have a first agent integrated with SAP, and more agents are expected to follow, for example for systems such as IBM Maximo, Workday, and engineering tools.
Each of these agents will support a specific business function. To realize their full potential, they will need to work together. Before multiple agents are deployed in production, we want to understand how an orchestration layer should function, how different agents can collaborate, exchange context, and operate within clear organizational boundaries.
Your mission is to explore and prototype orchestration principles that enable effective collaboration between enterprise and custom AI agents at Damen, ensuring that a future multi agent environment is functional and responsibly designed. The project focuses on three research themes:
Orchestration and Task Planning
Context and Memory Management
Responsible Information Handling
Key accountabilities
As an intern, you will:
Perform a focused literature and technology review on multi agent orchestration patterns for enterprises
Translate findings into a practical architecture proposal for Damen
Prototype an orchestration layer that coordinates multiple agents on realistic workflows
Design and test context passing and memory strategies, including source tracing and consistency checks
Define and demonstrate guardrails for access control, separation of duties, and responsible information handling
Document results and present progress to the team regularly
Deliver a working proof of concept plus recommendations for production readiness
Skills & experience
At least several skills/experiences from the following list are required to be considered:
MSc student in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field
Strong Python skills and ability to build prototypes cleanly and systematically
Interest in LLM systems, agent frameworks, and software architecture in an enterprise setting
Basic understanding of security, privacy, and role based access concepts is a plus
Communicates fluently in English
What we offer
Academic level mentoring throughout the internship
Internship compensation and travel allowance in line with company policy
Hands on experience with enterprise AI adoption in a high impact environment
A project with direct relevance to multiple business functions and future digital products
Potential for internal rollout, and possibly a publication or conference contribution depending on results
Other
Are you ready to sail into your new adventure at Damen? Don’t hesitate, send us your motivation letter and resume here.
Due to housing issues we cannot accept international students that do not have accommodation in the Netherlands yet.
Recruiter:
Email:
liselotte.van.veenendaal@damen.comPlease apply through the Apply Button. Due to GDPR reasons we cannot accept applications by email.
Are you ready to sail into a new adventure?
Damen was established by two brothers back in 1927. Today, with more than 12,000 employees, operating over 35 shipbuilding and repair yards, the Damen Shipyards Group has earned a leading position in the shipbuilding world. We are an international company that is, at heart, still a family business with family values and a deep respect for our maritime heritage. It is our aim to combine our proven standardisation with the innovations of digitalisation to become the world’s most sustainable shipbuilder
Newbuild
Damen has delivered more than 6,500 vessels in 100 countries and delivers some 175 vessels annually to customers worldwide. Damen’s focus on standardisation, modular construction and keeping vessels on stock leads to short delivery times, low total cost of ownership and reliable performance. We offer a wide range of products including tugs, naval and patrol vessels, high speed craft, ferries, dredging, offshore vessels and superyachts.
Shiprepair & conversion
Damen Shiprepair & Conversion (DSC) has a worldwide network of 18 repair and conversion yards with drydocks ranging up to 420 x 80 metres. DSC yards have extensive experience – completing more than 1,300 projects every year, from normal drydockings for scheduled maintenance to damage repair, right up to extensive refit and conversion projects.
Services
Being active in the maritime industry demands continuous vessel reliability. For nearly all vessel types Damen offers a broad range of services, including maintenance, spare parts delivery, training and the transfer of shipbuilding know-how.
Components
Damen is also specialised in the design and production of various marine components including propeller nozzles, rudders, special towing winches, anchors, anchor chains and steel works.
Always looking for talent
At Damen we are always looking for professionals, starters and students with a passion for ships. We offer challenging jobs, internships, premium placements or graduation projects both locally and globally, in various job areas.
Investing in talent
As professionals we offer you the ideal environment to continuously develop yourself both technically and personally by coaching you on the job and through various programmes found in the Damen Academy.
We also offer students diverse unique opportunities to get to know the Damen Shipyards Group. Boost your personal development, even before beginning your professional career, through various events and activities.
“Damen has always been a company with a clear focus on innovation. From ground-breaking concepts such as standardised shipbuilding to advanced products such as the SEA Axe Hull, innovation has provided the means for Damen to grow into an established global group of companies.”
We are active across the entire maritime sector and offer jobs in different areas allowing you to grow, develop and define your own career. Whether you are looking for a job in Sales, Design & Proposal, Engineering, Research & Development, Yard Support or Project Management, we will do our best to find the right fit in our Newbuild, Shiprepair & Conversion, Services or Components activities.
Steer your own career
From the first day you join our company, you will have the freedom and responsibility to steer your own course. Damen stands for challenging jobs, personal and professional development and for numerous career opportunities. And, above all, it’s fun to work at Damen!
Are you up for the challenge? Are you a team player who likes to work independently and thinks critically and are you ready to take the lead? Then feel welcome at Damen and spend your future best years with us!
‘’We want to become the most sustainable shipbuilders in the world. Our ambitions lie in circularity and zero-emission sailing!’’
Facts about
Number of employees: 9.000+
Sector: Yacht building, Marine Energy, Maritime, Offshore, Shipbuilding & repair
Preferred educational level: Vmbo, Mbo, Hbo, Wo bachelor, Wo master
Career level: Student, Starter (< 3 years), Young professional (3-5 years), Professional (5-10 years), Senior professional (>10 years)
Preferred education: Marine technology, mechanical engineering, offshore engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, aerospace engineering, industrial engineering, marine officer, ICT, information technology
Open vacancies: Check career.damen.com