Giant Leap Trainee, Digital Prototype Testing

Are you ready to take a Giant Leap? We’re looking for a Simulation Engineering Intern for our Giant Leap program – a project-based internship in our Vantaa, Finland office location. The project "Digital prototype testing with simulation tools" is to build simulation model for a real Vaisala product in SolidWorks, then correlate the predictions with real world lab measurements. As a Giant Leaper, you will get your own project to lead for three months, starting in June.

Vaisala is a global leader in measurement instruments and intelligence helping industries, nations, people, and the planet to thrive. From predicting hurricanes to optimizing renewable energy production, our technology is used where it matters the most – from data centers, windfarms and laboratories to airports, the Arctic and even the surface of Mars. For a second-year running, Vaisala got recognized in TIME Magazine's World's Best Companies in Sustainable Growth 2026 study. Our team of close to 2,500 experts and 62 nationalities around the world is committed to taking every measure for the planet. Driven by our shared purpose, curiosity, and pioneering spirit, we stay ahead and make a difference. At Vaisala, you don't have to fit in to belong.

Giant Leap is a unique opportunity for you to be the project manager of your own project, with the support of your teammates and project supervisor. Every year, these projects are carefully selected by our leadership teams, meaning that you get to work on real-life questions that are important for us as a company.

We invest in your growth with training sessions throughout the summer. Along with lessons from your own field and work life in general, you have a chance to learn, for instance, presentation skills, project management and problem solving. Connections built with fellow Giant Leapers, Vaisala’s brilliant experts and our leadership form an invaluable network for your career. Many of our former Giant Leapers have also gone on to build impressive careers at Vaisala after the program.

What will your summer look like?

In practice, your task is to build and validate a thermal simulation model in SolidWorks Simulation from existing Vaisala product. This includes model preparation, IR measurements, model optimization based on result comparison and possibly creating instructions to perform similar simulation cases. The beef of the project is to establish a repeatable “digital testing” workflow by correlating simulation results with physical measurements to reduce reliance on costly prototype loops.

This is essential to Vaisala because it accelerates hardware development, lowers prototyping costs, enables innovation, and improves early-stage design confidence, innovation and quality by shifting validation earlier in the process. The expected results include a validated simulation model with quantified correlation to lab measurements, plus a concise report and possible recommendations for integrating digital testing into early R&D workflows.

You’ll work with the R&D team in Vantaa; the project supervisor is Tuomas Nieminen. The team is practical hands-on and test and design oriented, with access to all required gadgets and software. During the summer you will learn how to correlate simulations with real measurements, analyze and communicate results. You’ll also sharpen technical reporting and see how simulation is a key element in modern hardware development.

Primary location is Vaisala HQ in Vantaa, Finland. Position is mostly on site, you will need to be in laboratories to perform measurements; analysis and documentation can be done in a hybrid mode when appropriate.

What kind of skillset are we looking for?

You should be a BSc or MSc student with understanding of thermodynamics/heat transfer, physics, and some exposure and interest to simulation/CAE.

It is a benefit to have familiarity with electronics packaging and heat paths (PCB, components, heat sinks, enclosures), plus typical inputs like power dissipation, ambient conditions.

All kinds of previous technical projects from any area will help you to show that you are motivated towards technology.

You will do well with a curious and analytical mindset, and if you enjoy digging into “why” a result happens and validating it, not just running simulations. We are looking for a person with practical and collaborative approach, and you need to be comfortable asking designers for missing info (power, materials, interfaces) and iterating quickly with the team.

Are you ready to take a Giant Leap?

Please apply by February 1, 2026, and include your resume.
We’d also love to hear what inspired you to apply for this role and to Vaisala in a brief cover letter.

Please note that applications sent via email cannot be processed due to privacy reasons. We are not able to provide support in relocation or work permit-related matters for this temporary position.

Interested in learning more about Vaisala and our Giant Leap program? Join us at Career Night on 20 January 2026, 16:30–19:00 at our Vantaa HQ to meet experts and explore real projects you could work on this summer. Read more and register to the event: www.vaisala.com/careernight