Graduation: Java Performance Optimization in Microservices

Job Title

Graduation: Java Performance Optimization in Microservices

Job Description

Assignment type : Graduation

Start date : February 2027

Assignment duration : 6 months

Location : Veghel

Education level : Bachelor / Master

Desired study : Computer science, Software engineering or related field

Language : Dutch / English

Description of assignment

Ready to tackle a high-impact software challenge? Our warehouse automation platform relies on dozens of Java and Spring Boot microservices on Kubernetes, where many services consume 600 MB to 900 MB per pod. High memory usage increases infrastructure costs, reduces cluster density, and limits scalability across development, testing, and production.

In this graduation project, you will investigate, measure, and optimize memory consumption across Spring Boot, Hibernate, JVM structures, thread pools, and caches without sacrificing performance or reliability. You will explore smart reduction strategies, answer how to minimize the platform's footprint, and deliver proof-of-concept optimizations with proven cost and resource savings

Department description

This assignment takes place within Warehouse Execution Systems (WES), the software development organization responsible for a key part of the Warehouse Platform. Our multidisciplinary teams develop and maintain different software modules in close collaboration. You will join an experienced and supportive environment where colleagues actively share their knowledge and help junior team members grow.

WES offers a dynamic yet structured workplace where teams solve real-world challenges and continuously create and improve solutions. As an intern or graduating student, you will work closely with a dedicated supervisor while collaborating with experienced software professionals who will support your learning and development throughout the assignment.

Tasks/responsibilities

Analyze memory consumption of Java microservices running on Kubernetes

Profile Spring Boot services to locate high memory usage

Explore optimizations like JVM tuning, cache reduction, and GraalVM

Build proof-of-concept implementations to test improvements

Measure performance and savings before and after optimizations

Present results, practical recommendations, and expected cost benefits

Your profile

Background in Computer Science or Software Engineering

Good knowledge of Java and microservice concepts

Interest in performance tuning, profiling, and optimization

Basic experience with Linux, Spring Boot, or containers

An analytical mindset and strong communication skills

*Mandatory enrolment to a Dutch Education System & resident of The Netherlands

What we offer

A monthly internship allowance (based on a 40-hour work week):

Bachelor: €500 per month

Master: €550 per month

Full commuting allowance, including public transport, depending on whether you have access to free public transport or not

On-site health center with gym

Active employee communities and initiatives

Excellent company restaurant and barista coffee bar

Contact

Do you recognize yourself in this challenging profile? Are you looking for an internship in our organization? Please fill out the application form and upload your resume and cover letter. For more information, contact us by e-mail: internship@vanderlande.com.