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

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.
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

Employment type
Part-time

Work arrangement
Hybrid