Paul Verhoeckx has always been passionate about Robotics. Unfortunately, at the time he had to choose his study subject, there was no such thing as a Robotics program. He therefore decided to pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), specializing in dynamics and control. Meanwhile, he pursued his passion by seeking out every opportunity to steer his education towards robotics through internships, thesis projects, and specialised courses.”
His dedication led him to an autonomous robotics project at Van Den Akker Engineering, where he investigated, designed, and compared control strategies for autonomous guided vehicles as part of his graduate thesis. After graduation he was asked to stay on and help set up a team dedicated to further develop this self-drive technology. “It was a fantastic opportunity to be offered a role as technical lead so early on in my career,” Paul says. “This role allowed me to enhance my technical skills and develop valuable team-building skills, but it also highlighted the importance and lack of experienced mentors to learn from. That is why I ultimately decided to move on.”
Looking to further broaden his technical expertise, Paul joined robotics startup Ruvu, which was founded by two fellow TU/e students. Here he spent 2.5 years developing robotics software for a wide variety of clients, gradually taking on a more customer-facing role. “I was part of a great team of colleagues I could learn from, each with their own expertise. Allowing me to broaden my skill set and take on new challenges.”
“This level of openness and collaboration is something I would find difficult to experience at a larger company,
where it can feel like you’re just a small cog in a vast machine”
To amplify their expertise, Ruvu saw an exciting opportunity to join forces with a company that could foster their further development. “Nobleo immediately stood out,” Paul says. “Not only because they offered the right mix of technical expertise and project diversity, but also because they put people at the heart of everything they do.” That became immediately apparent when Paul expressed early on that he had plans to take a sabbatical and go travel the world. “They encouraged me to follow through on my dream and welcomed me back afterwards, supporting me in picking up where I left off.”
This flexibility and genuine interest in someone’s personal interests and goals is what defines Nobleo according to Paul: “Your input is always heard and valued, which means you can make a real impact within the team. This level of openness and collaboration is something I would find difficult to experience at a larger company, where it can feel like you’re just a small cog in a vast machine. Here, I never feel like just a number. I can approach anyone with ideas or concerns, and there’s always a willingness to listen and take action. This kind of environment makes for a much more fulfilling and motivating workplace, and it’s one of the reasons why I love working here.”
One of the things Paul really enjoys about working at Nobleo is the variety of innovative robotics projects he gets to work on across a wide range of applications in agriculture, oil and gas, and logistics, to countless other sectors. “Each environment presents its unique challenges, and as a result, the robots we work with look different, have different sensors, and present different problems. What’s fascinating is how well we understand the overlap between these various sectors, and how we can leverage knowledge from one sector to help solve challenges in another. The dynamic nature of this work keeps me learning continuously, as no two projects are ever the same. It’s a truly engaging experience that pushes me to think outside the box every day.”
Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Paul had to develop navigation software for an autonomous warehouse robot of Snapfulfil, an English company specialised in software for fulfilment centres. A challenging task when all communication and testing had to be done remotely. “The distance made it complex. We had to adapt to working with a team we hadn’t met in person, guiding them to test changes remotely. But we made it work and finally, after one year, we were able to visit the client and integrate and test the software onsite. It feels great when everything comes together in the end.”
For those considering a position at Nobleo, Paul’s advice is simple: “If you’re someone who loves to learn and isn’t afraid of trying new things, Nobleo is the place for you. The environment encourages questions and welcomes fresh ideas, no matter how new you are to the team. It isn’t only about what you know when you join, it’s about what you can learn while you’re here.