From baseball field to precision engineering

At fifteen, Jan van den Hurk stood as pitcher on a baseball field in Germany, wearing the orange jersey for the Dutch junior team. Down 10-3 in the sixth inning of the European Championship final, his team faced what seemed like an impossible comeback. But they fought back hard and ultimately claimed gold. “I will never forget that moment,” Jan says. “We were losing badly but never gave up. That taught me a lot about perseverance, teamwork, and staying calm when under pressure.” That mindset is exactly what drew Jan to Nobleo Technology, where collaboration, trust, and a shared drive to solve complex challenges form the foundation of every project.

Finding the right pitch

Armed with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Dynamics and Control, Jan knew exactly what he was looking for: a workplace where theory met hands-on engineering, and where enthusiasm and collaboration mattered as much as technical skills. When he read about Nobleo in a leaflet from TU Eindhoven, something immediately clicked. “The company profile described this young, energetic team of engineers who genuinely love what they do. That passion stood out.”

The feeling only grew stronger during his interviews. “From the moment I walked into their office I noticed the informal and warm atmosphere. They didn’t just want to know if I was a good engineer; initially the focus was rather on who I am as a person and whether I’d fit the team. That says a lot about how much they value the people who work here.”

Balancing the pendulum

When Jan started at Nobleo, there wasn’t a commercial project he could dig into right away. Instead, he took on an internal project called the Inverted Pendulum, a classic control challenge about keeping a stick balanced on a moving base. “It was the perfect way to apply theory to practice,” he says. “I built simulations, ran tests, and got to see if what I designed actually worked. The fact that Nobleo gave me time and space to grow before putting me on a commercial project made a big impression on me.”  It wasn’t about delivering to a client, but about developing in-house expertise and, as Jan puts it, “sharpening my own skills before stepping into real-world projects.”

From theory to practice

Since then, Jan has worked on two large client-based projects, each with their own challenges. One involved robust systems operating in harsh outdoor conditions, while the other focused on high-precision machinery in a perfectly controlled environment. “What I love most,” he says, “is the balance between theory and practice; designing, simulating, and then seeing your ideas come to life in the testing phase. That’s what gives me energy.”

Jan credits much of his growth to an early piece of advice from his team lead: to learn the right side of the V-model before starting to design. “In engineering terms, the left side of the V-model is about requirements and design, whereas the right side is about integration and testing. About making sure that what you’ve built actually works,” he explains. “At university, you mainly focus on the design side. But in the real world, you discover how many things can go wrong between theory and implementation. That insight has broadened my perspective on design.”

A culture that encourages growth

One of the things that makes Nobleo stand out according to Jan is their commitment to personal development. Regular sessions with his team lead have helped him grow not only as an engineer but also as a professional.  “Those conversations have taught me how to ask for feedback, how to communicate more effectively, and how to handle complex projects. That has made a big difference.”

The technical environment at Nobleo also helps him grow.

“Everyone is very driven and knowledgeable,” he observes. “And always eager to help. When you hit a wall there is always someone around who can put you on the right path. Not because they have to, but because they enjoy sharing their knowledge.”

 

The international Nobleo environment adds another layer of inspiration. Having played baseball with teammates from all over the world, Jan appreciates the value of different perspectives. “It is fascinating to work with people from so many backgrounds. Understanding each other’s viewpoints helps you collaborate more effectively.”

Coming full circle

Looking back, Jan sees a clear line from the baseball field to the engineering floor. “That same team spirit and determination I learned in sports, I’ve found again at Nobleo,” he says. “Here, people work hard, support each other, and share knowledge because they want to see everyone succeed. For those who wants to be challenged, learn constantly, and be part of a team of experts, this is the place to be. Here, you are not just developing systems; you’re continuously developing yourself.”