Timo, Regional Service Manager: Vaisala Beijing, China

Timo graduated from the Helsinki University of Technology with space technology as his major—an area of specialty that narrowed his choice of potential employers to only a few companies. Timo sought one that would offer the opportunity to plan systems related to his chosen field; in Vaisala he found what was looking for.

Timo began his career at Vaisala in the fall of 1999 as a trainee in the dropsonde business unit. In 2002 the head of the unit offered him a position in product development, creating a next-generation dropsonde for high altitude application. Although the new dropsonde was not strictly a space application, this challenge contained many of the elements that Timo had wished for in a job. “After my experiences as a trainee, the decision to accept the offer was an easy one,” he says.

“My work as a product development engineer in the dropsonde team put me at the center of work on an entirely new concept. This dropsonde was to be launched from a high-altitude platform, bringing in-situ measurements to areas previously inaccessible. Much of the design and development had to do with methods used in space technology, such as thermal design. The sonde was designed to meet the extreme demands of high-altitude environments. The application was tested numerous times in laboratory and real life conditions and validated to meet Vaisala’s high requirements for performance quality.”

In 2004 Timo joined the radiosonde product development team. In this position he was involved in the development of radiosonde and dropsonde sensors. He also designed calibration systems for the sensors. In 2005 he was offered new challenges as project manager for product development.

“I have always been interested in foreign assignments. When developing the dropsonde our Helsinki office cooperated a great deal with the Vaisala office in Boulder, Colorado. I realized then that Vaisala’s international work environment is one of its great strengths. Around that time I began to think seriously about working abroad. When I learned about the opening in Beijing I did not hesitate for a moment,” Timo explains. He was made regional service manager in 2007 with the task of building and leading a team of field service engineers and developing service-business opportunities in Asia.

Timo and his family have been very happy with their decision to move to China. “Life here is extremely interesting. We have settled in nicely and savor this opportunity to explore Beijing and China. Outside work the greatest challenge has been the Chinese language. I firmly believe that I will speak Chinese one day, but reading and writing require more practice.”

According to Timo, work cultures are surprisingly similar in Finland and China. There are differences, naturally, but the main principles are the same: the Chinese value responsibility and commitment to clients above all else. “The best thing about working here is the opportunity to meet our local employees and, through working with them, to learn how to operate in China. And this, of course, is a great chance to learn about the Chinese culture on a more general level.”

Timo is very happy with his career at Vaisala. “What I like most is the opportunity to work in a high-tech company with a scientific foundation. The corporate culture is open and inclusive. The company encourages continuous learning, and employees are encouraged to apply what they have learned to their daily work.”