Giant Leap Trainee, Small Language Models & Applied AI

Are you ready to take a Giant Leap? We’re looking for a Small Language Models & Applied AI Intern for our Giant Leap program – a project-based internship in our HQ in Vantaa. In this project "Small but Mighty: Understanding the potential of small language models for the enterprise", you will explore how small and efficient language models and other AI capabilities can be applied in practice at Vaisala. 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? 

We’re looking for a trainee to join Vaisala’s Applied Digital Innovation (ADI) team in Vantaa for hands-on work with small language models and AI. In this role, you’ll help prepare and explore datasets, run and adapt Python/TensorFlow/PyTorch/Hugging Face training and fine-tuning scripts, and evaluate different small language models and their potential applications. You’ll turn concrete ideas from around Vaisala into proof-of-concept solutions and document what works, what doesn’t, and why. The goal is to understand where small and efficient language models can bring real value to Vaisala’s digital transformation and everyday work. 

ADI is a small, curious and supportive team that enjoys turning ideas into concrete prototypes, learning from real usage, and sharing insights openly. We keep hierarchy low and communication straightforward – it’s very much a “let’s figure this out together” way of working, where asking questions early is appreciated. We collaborate widely across Vaisala and run initiatives around GenAI and predictive analytics, always aiming to balance experimentation with responsible, secure use of AI. You’ll work closely with your supervisor and a developer in this environment. The role is based at Vaisala’s office in Vantaa, with some flexibility for remote work by agreement. 

What kind of skillset are we looking for? 

• Currently engaged with Bachelor’s or Master’s studies in Machine Learning, Data Science, Language Technology, Computer Science, or a closely related field  

• Good programming skills in Python 

• Practical experience with at least one deep learning framework: TensorFlow or PyTorch

• Familiarity with the Hugging Face ecosystem for working with language models

• Basic understanding of NLP concepts: tokenization, text preprocessing, and common NLP tasks

• Experience using Git/GitHub for version control

• Ability to run and modify training or fine-tuning scripts, work with datasets, and interpret basic evaluation metrics. 

• Research orientation, critical thinking, collaboration and communication, and problem-solving adaptability. 

• Bonus: Hands-on experience in training or fine‑tuning a Small Language Model (SLM) or LLM (even from a course project, Kaggle, or personal side project)

Are you ready to take a Giant Leap? 

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

Schedule and steps of the recruitment process: 

• Application period: January 12 – February 1 

• Invitations to the interview events: during week 6  

• Interview events at Vaisala, Vantaa (F2F): week 7 

If you want to know more, feel free to reach out to the hiring manager Katy Greatrex  via email katy.greatrex@vaisala.com. Please note that applications sent via email cannot be processed due to privacy reasons.