Thesis Internship - Frontend Engineer (RUN Systems)

In a nutshell

Picnic Runners use Zebra handheld devices to run the Runner App during their shifts. Keeping them safe on the road is a priority, and we’re exploring whether these devices’ cameras could help detect driver distraction in real time and alert the Runner. Recordings could also help us understand what happened if an accident occurs.

As a thesis intern with our RUN Systems team, you’ll investigate what’s technically feasible and build a prototype to test it. The project spans the Runner App, on-device machine learning and the backend pipeline for storing and syncing data. You’ll combine your Master’s thesis with hands-on experiments and share evidence to help the team decide what to explore next.

This is a full-time thesis internship.

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Tricks of the Trade

- Solving real-life puzzles: Explore whether the Zebra devices our Runners already use can help detect driver distraction and support accident analysis.

- Enabling: Test the devices’ camera capabilities and technical limits, from inference speed, memory and battery use to secure storage and variable network coverage.

- Building: Prototype the flow from camera capture and on-device detection to live alerts, shift-specific recording storage and reliable backend sync.

- Communicating: Work with RUN Systems and colleagues across the Runner App, logistics and backend teams to share findings and shape practical next steps.

- Owning your project: Take initiative, challenge assumptions and learn through hands-on testing. Your experiments will help us understand what’s possible and where to go next.

Your superpowers

- You’re enrolled in a Master’s program in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology, Computer Engineering or a related technical field.

- You have some hands-on experience with React.

- You’re interested in machine learning or computer vision. Experience with Python, model development or on-device inference is a plus.

- You’re keen to work across app development and backend data flows. Experience with React Native, Java, APIs or data pipelines is helpful.

- You enjoy investigating open-ended technical questions, testing your assumptions and explaining what you learn.

- Experience with mobile device constraints, camera APIs, robotics or logistics is a plus.

- You are available 5 days a week to work from our office in Amsterdam, starting as soon as possible.

- You are fluent in both verbal and written English and available for at least 6 months .

Picnic Perks

✍🏼 Every expert was once a beginner!
You will gain real-world experience as part of a top-notch tech team. You’ll get plenty of opportunities to challenge yourself and grow, including the Lunch & Learn sessions, and Tech Academy workshops.

🌍 Make a difference
You’ll work in an awesome startup environment with the freedom to drive your own projects and create a visible impact. Our fully electric vehicles and sustainable business model mean you’ll also be contributing to making the world a better place!

🤝 Teamwork makes the dream work
With more than 80 nationalities across 3 countries, you’ll be part of a diverse company with plenty of cool stuff to get involved with, from board game evenings to after-work drinks to our company ski trip and more!

🥗Fresh Lunch, coffee, and snacks

Our offices are equipped with fully-fledged coffee bars and a kitchen and chefs. They prepare delicious fresh and warm lunches every day so you can keep your energy up.

💪 Stay healthy
Mental health is important. As well as having the option to speak with Picnic colleagues who act as confidential advisors, our collaboration with OpenUp gives you easy access to professional psychologists, along with workshops and materials.
There are plenty of sports communities and events to get involved with, from tennis to yoga to climbing!

💰 Attractive package
We offer €800 per month gross salary for a full-time internship.