1. What is your role at Ilmatar, what kinds of tasks does your working day include?
I joined Ilmatar in January 2020 and work in the Oulu office as a TCM Engineer – which stands for Technical & Commercial Management. Most of my daily work focuses on the technical side: monitoring and reporting on wind farm operations, planning and coordinating maintenance, and working closely with our Trading team.
My responsibilities also include contract management, preparing analyses, developing our processes and systems, and managing documentation. I often review legal texts because wind farm equipment is highly diverse and spans many technical disciplines. In addition, I regularly carry out site inspections and, when needed, hands-on tasks. I also work with Ilmatar’s Lidar wind measurement devices, which are used during both construction and operational phases of wind farms.
In the early stages of my career at Ilmatar, I mainly delivered TCM services for assets owned by external investors and acted as a technical contact for them and other stakeholders. As Ilmatar’s own fleet grew, my responsibilities shifted accordingly. Today, I am responsible for the Louhukangas and Möksy wind farms in Alajärvi, while still collaborating closely with the team across different assets.
2. How do you like working at Ilmatar? What is the best part of being one of us?
Several rewarding years have passed quickly, filled with suitable challenges and surrounded by skilled professionals – and I’m looking forward to many more. Working with wind farm equipment is always interesting because it’s so diverse and multidisciplinary, which means you’re constantly learning something new.
I’ve had the chance to apply my expertise, develop professionally, and stay motivated for the future. Great colleagues and an excellent working atmosphere are, of course, a major factor. A special thanks goes to Seppo Hakola for his mentoring in my early days – and I try to pass on that knowledge whenever possible. Overall, things at Ilmatar have always been handled smoothly and professionally.
3. Briefly describe your career before Ilmatar
Early in my career, I worked as an electrician on building installations and in equipment manufacturing for the electrical industry. I also spent some time at the Kevitsa mine in Sodankylä during its early days.
I entered the wind power sector in 2012 as a wind turbine technician at Pori Energia Oy. The role involved versatile maintenance work on Siemens turbines and older Bonus machines. I also encountered Nordtank and NEG Micon turbines, which gave me perspective on how much the industry has evolved. Occasionally, I worked on Winwind’s 1 MW and 3 MW turbine.
In 2014, I moved to Vestas as a service technician. The tasks were broadly similar, but the tools and support offered by a large turbine manufacturer provided many opportunities for professional growth. I also gained more experience with high-voltage equipment, which was a great addition for someone with an electrical background. During my time at Vestas, I began to feel that my skills could fit a new kind of challenge – and soon after, Ilmatar opened a recruitment process for a TCM Engineer position in Oulu.
4. Briefly describe your educational background
After comprehensive school, I attended vocational school and completed a vocational upper secondary qualification in the electrical field, graduating as an electrician. My interest in the field started years earlier with a construction kit related to electrical and magnetic phenomena.
Working with electrical machines and power electronics at Vestas increased my interest in strengthening my theoretical foundation. I applied to Oulu University of Applied Sciences and was accepted to study electrical power engineering. I completed my degree alongside full-time work and graduated as an electrical engineer (Bachelor of Engineering). Through my studies, I obtained the S2 electrical qualification, and my goal is still to achieve the highest level, S1. In addition to electrical engineering, I’ve also pursued thermodynamics, earning the E3 qualification in the refrigeration field.
5. What is the most important lesson you have learned during your career?
To approach new challenges boldly and with an open mind. A lot of competence and skills would have remained undeveloped if I had simply settled for the status quo and not taken advantage of the opportunities that came my way.
