R&D Engineer

We are looking for a

R&D Engineer

to take part in Metsä Spring's 3D fibre product project in Äänekoski. Metsä Group's innovation company Metsä Spring and Valmet have built a demo plant in Äänekoski to develop a new wood-based 3D fibre product for the global packaging market. The plant produces finished 3D fibre products directly from wet wood pulp without intermediate steps. As such, the new environmentally friendly 3D fibre products would be ready to be delivered to customers. Examples of 3D fibre products include various trays and disposable containers. The demo plant was recently started up and thus, the development project has now entered a new phase.

Your role in the future Metsä

As an R&D Engineer you will focus on the development of novel three-dimensional fibre products. You will be responsible for testing raw materials and recipes, executing product development trials, and reporting and analysing the achieved results. Your work will be experimental and it will include lot of testing on a very practical level.

Your goal, together with the rest of the 3D fibre product team, as well as with experts from elsewhere within Metsä Group and our networks, is to develop new types of wood-based 3D fibre products that can replace packages based on fossil raw materials. Our project is dynamic and highly goal-oriented; in our work, we mix scientific methods with quick & dirty experimentation. The ideal mindset of the R&D Engineer includes curiosity and readiness to overcome efficiently typical R&D challenges. Technology and process development with our main partner Valmet has progressed as expected and we are now focusing more on product development. In your role, you will be part of the 3D fibre product team consisting of approx. 10 professionals. In addition, you will be part of our innovative Metsä Spring family.

The job will begin as soon as possible and the position is located at Metsä Spring's and Valmet’s demo plant in Äänekoski, Finland. We hope you are ready to travel occasionally.

Show your skills!

To succeed in this role requires a good basic understanding of chemistry as well as an understanding of factory processes. Knowledge of barrier and wood fibre products is also considered an advantage. Previous experience in laboratory work as well as knowledge of raw materials (e.g. fibres, binders, fillers, etc.) will help you succeed in this job. You may already have participated in the implementation and planning of test runs, as well as in reporting or you feel that you have the ability to implement them in high quality and in a timely manner. Experience in product development is an asset.

You have an analytical, systematic and independent approach. The work requires flexibility as well as good pressure resistance at times. When developing new things, you are often not able to rely on prior work of others. You need to be able to deal with uncertainty and have enough faith in what you are doing. Usually reaching success required quite a few failed attempts first. We hope you have good communication and collaboration skills, as you will work with a variety of stakeholders. You can communicate and report fluently in English. You have a university degree or equivalent skills that are relevant for the job. A suitable educational background may be, for example, in the field of chemistry, materials science or the bioeconomy. In general, we are very interested in talented people with multidisciplinary competences.

Why Metsä Spring?

We have an ambitious goal to build a significant new fibre product business based on the top-class know-how of Metsä Group and carefully chosen partner companies. In this role you are able to test and develop numerical new solutions that support one of our goals to replace fossil plastics in various packaging applications.

This is an unique opportunity to get to the heart of industrial research and development of a completely new product family and contribute to solving the world's plastic problem.

If you believe in sustainability, and want to contribute to responsible profitability, you are coming to the right place. Everyone of us contributes to the success of Metsä!

Want to hear more? Call us!

Development Manager Emilia Vänskä (tel. +358 400 245 321) is happy to tell you more about your future role and our expectations for a new teammate. Emilia is best available on 3.6.2022 at 14.00-16.00, 7.6.2022 at 14.00-16.00 and 16.6.2022 at 14.00-16.00.

How does the process continue?

Submit your application using the link "Apply". Do it as soon as possible, as we will start processing the applications already during the application period. Include your CV (and also tell us your salary request). The search is open until 12.6.2022. We wish you luck!