Master Thesis - Engineering to Develop a Digital Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) Platform

Location: Solna, Stockholm County, se Department: Student Assignment and Thesis Work Employment Type: {'id': 'part-time', 'label': 'Part-time'}

Company Description

AFRY is a European leader in engineering, design, and advisory services, with a global reach. We accelerate the transition towards a sustainable society. With 19,000 experts in infrastructure, industry, energy, and digitalisation, we create sustainable solutions for generations to come.

Many of our employees started their journey at AFRY through their thesis work. It’s a great opportunity to build valuable relationships and explore future career paths.

AFRY Defence supports customers within the defence and security domain by providing expertise in systems engineering, digitalization, software development, logistics, and capability development. As defence systems become increasingly software-intensive and data-driven, there is a growing need for modern tools that support Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) throughout the system lifecycle.

This thesis offers an opportunity to combine systems engineering methodologies with practical software development to create a modern ILS solution with real-world applicability within the defence sector.

Job Description

Location: Solna, Sweden

Company: AFRY Defence

Level: Master's Thesis (30 ECTS)

Scope: 20 weeks, 1-2 students                                                                                                                    Timeline: Spring 2027

Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) is a key discipline within defense and aerospace systems, ensuring that products and capabilities can be operated, maintained, and supported throughout their life cycle. Many organizations still rely on fragmented tools, spreadsheets, databases, and manual processes to manage logistics data, maintenance information, requirements, and support analysis.

There is significant potential to improve efficiency, traceability, and decision-making through a digital platform that integrates logistics information into a single system.

At the same time, Systems Engineering (SE) provides structured methods for capturing stakeholder needs, defining requirements, managing traceability, and ensuring that developed solutions satisfy operational objectives.

This thesis aims to investigate how Systems Engineering principles can be applied to define, design, and develop a modern software-based ILS platform.

Qualifications

Research Questions

Examples of research questions include

How can Systems Engineering methods be applied to the development of digital ILS solutions?

How can stakeholder needs and ILS processes be transformed into system requirements?

What software architecture best supports scalability, maintainability, and traceability within an ILS tool?

How can logistics data, maintenance information, and support analyses be effectively managed through modern software technologies?

What benefits and challenges arise when combining Systems Engineering practices with agile software development?

Scope of Work

The thesis may include the following activities

Systems Engineering Activities

Stakeholder identification and analysis

Operational concept and use case development

Requirement elicitation and requirement management

Requirements traceability

Functional decomposition

Logical and physical architecture design

Verification and validation planning

Development of a System Requirements Specification (SyRS)

Software Development Activities

Design and implementation of a software platform consisting of:

Backend

Python-based backend services

REST API development

Business logic implementation

Data processing and analytics

Database

SQL database design and implementation

Data models for logistics and maintenance data

Traceability and configuration management structures

Frontend

Modern web interface

Dashboard visualization

User interaction workflows

Reporting functionality

Potential technologies

Python

FastAPI or Flask

SQL Server/PostgreSQL

React, Angular, or similar frontend frameworks

Docker

Azure or cloud-based deployment technologies

Expected Deliverables

The thesis is expected to deliver

Systems Engineering process and methodology description

Stakeholder and requirements analysis

System architecture documentation

Software requirements specification

Prototype implementation

Backend services and database solution

Frontend user interface

Demonstrated traceability from stakeholder needs to implementation

Evaluation and recommendations for future ILS digitalization initiatives

Desired Student Profile

We are looking for students pursuing a Master's degree in areas such as:

Systems Engineering

Computer Science

Software Engineering

Industrial Engineering

Information Systems

Mechanical Engineering with software focus

Applied Mathematics and Engineering Physics

Preferred qualifications

Knowledge of Systems Engineering principles

Experience with Python development

Basic understanding of SQL databases

Interest in software architecture and digitalization

Analytical mindset and structured working approach

Interest in defence, aerospace, or complex technical systems

Experience with one or more of the following is considered meritorious:

MBSE (Model-Based Systems Engineering)

SysML

Requirements engineering

DevOps

Cloud solutions

Data analytics

Logistics and maintenance engineering

Additional Information

What AFRY Offers

At AFRY Defense, you will work closely with experienced systems engineers, software architects, and defense specialists. The thesis provides an opportunity to gain practical experience in the intersection between systems engineering, software development, and defense logistics while contributing to future digital capabilities within the sector.

Students will receive guidance from experts in

Defence Logistics

Digital Transformation

Solution Architecture

How to Apply

Application: Sub