I graduated from the University of Oulu in 2004 with a degree in mechanical engineering. In my studies, I was particularly interested in CAD and modeling techniques. Many other things were of interest at the time, and I even studied German, Spanish, and Italian languages at the time. The techniques of manufacturing plastic products were also of interest at one point, and perhaps I even dreamed of specializing in plastic technology. Since then, many years have passed and new things have come along the way. I have certainly acquired a wide range of professional skills because I have not been a so-called single-minded man. Many things still interest and arouse enthusiasm even today and it is said that the inherent quality of an engineer is to be interested in the world around him.

If I look at my work history then I have really been involved in many things and can always be grateful for it. I did my thesis for PKC Group in 2004 and the subject of the thesis was process mapping. The topic was actually found after a few summers at PKC when I asked them for a thesis. Such was then found on the cable manufacturing side and since I had no particular preference for the subject I decided to take the subject. In principle, the topic suited me quite well because I consider myself to be a system developer personality and there is probably an inherent tendency to do that. Fortunately, it also suited Professor Jouko Karhusen, who was the supervisor of the work. After graduation, I was still working at PKC until 2005, but then I moved to Elektrobit in the autumn of 2005. Between 2005 and 2010, I worked at Elektrobit as a mechanical designer. Elektrobit's years were very interesting and I got to be developing a wide range of products.

I had time to study in Utrecht, the Netherlands, almost 2008-2009. I was very interested in renewable energy technologies at the time and had an interesting master’s program in Utrecht. However, we returned to Finland in 2009 for family reasons. All in all, studying in the Netherlands gave me a strong belief in my own ability to perform and survive.

In 2010, I got a job at Wärtsilä and the industry was very interesting. I got involved in the product development of new engines right from the start and the years at Wärtsilä rolled quickly. I was even able to be involved in the development of the completely new engine series W31 in 2010-2015. During that time I did mechanical design and in 2013-2015 strength calculation. During 2015-2018, I was the design manager on the W20 engine design team and this time was very instructive and developmental.

In 2018, we decided to return to Oulu for our home region for family reasons, and that’s when I came to work for Proventia. At Proventia, I was able to participate in the product development team of the new test centers, and the responsibility also came very quickly. In the corona year 2020, I was met by chance, while looking for a job as a teacher for my wife, a position as a teacher of mechanical engineering at the University of Oulu. Then when I got a job offer I decided to go see what that grass is like here on the academic side and now I teach at the university both machine drawing, machine design and computer aided design.

At the same time, the opportunity has opened up to perform the tasks of a consultant as a side job, thus maintaining my own skills and, on the other hand, sharing information from the university to the private side. So here I am on the way to something new and unknown!

- Jussi Salakka 18.06.2021