Director, Automation & Controls in R&D and Engineering in Marine Power Supply

Wärtsilä is an innovative technology company known for being a forerunner in the Marine and Energy markets. Every day, we – Wärtsilians - put our hearts and minds into turning Wärtsilä's purpose of enabling sustainable societies through innovation in technology and services into reality. Our ultimate aim is to provide increased value to both our customers and society. New, game-changing ideas and continuous improvement have been part of our DNA since 1834. Together, we can create new business opportunities and more sustainable future that we can all be proud of. 

We want to transition the world towards a decarbonised and sustainable future. By pushing the boundaries of engineering and technology, we can make it work. We are always on the lookout for future-oriented talent – want to join the ride?

Lead the software heart of our engines.

Engines R&D is a shared strategic investment between the Marine and Energy businesses. This role is about turning that shared investment into a shared advantage, specifically in the automation and control part of the engine. Our engines sit at the heart of both our Marine and Energy businesses. They are sophisticated combinations of steel, thermodynamics, electronics and, increasingly, software. The real opportunity is in finding the sweet spot where software and metal together create more value: cleaner combustion, higher efficiency, lower lifecycle costs, better diagnostics, and smarter integration into customer systems. They power vessels and power plants across the world.

Historically, the “metal” has been in the spotlight. Now, the emerging complexity and opportunity are increasingly in the software that controls, optimizes and keeps those engines compliant and efficient over decades. Tightening decarbonization regulation, new fuels and remote operation mean our automation and control systems are becoming the key differentiator for performance, emissions and lifecycle value. At the same time, our current platform is expected to support customers for the whole lifecycle of their assets, often up to 30 years.

We are looking for a Director, Engine Automation & Control Systems who will lead this journey: from today’s systems to a next generation automation and controls platform, and from one off software delivery to a true lifecycle product and service. You will be a member of the R&D and Engineering Management Team (MT) in Engines R&DE and report to the Head of R&D and Engineering. In this role you will lead the Engine Automation and Control Systems organization consisting of around 110 and work that is done in close connection with hired-ins and subcontractors. The main location of the employees are in Finland, Vaasa, Turku and Helsinki. You will be the voice of software in Engines R&D and a bridge into our lifecycle business.

Why this role exists:

• Our current automation and control software platform is undergoing a major modernization, moving to a new technology stack and architecture.
• Our engines are installed on remote, long lived assets (vessels and power plants). Software cannot be treated as a one time transaction; it must be designed for continuous improvement, updates and lifecycle services.
• Engines R&D leadership is historically extremely solid in the mechanical domain. We need a strong software colleague in a leadership role who can shape strategy, guide investment, and help the organization understand and leverage software value.

This is both a transformation and growth role: you will stabilize today, while building the platform and organization we need for the coming decades.

What you will be accountable for:

Product & technology leadership

• Own the Automation & Control Systems technology strategy for four stroke engine products, from concept to fleet wide lifecycle
• Define and drive the transition to a modern, modular automation and controls platform, including architecture, technology stack and hardware strategy
• Ensure connectivity to our smart technology platforms and digital services, enabling remote monitoring, diagnostics and upgrades
• Balance innovation with reliability, safety and classification and regulatory compliance

New build and lifecycle combination for customer value

• Ensure our automation and control systems are conceived as lifecycle products: designed for long term maintainability, updatability and hardware evolution on remote assets. At the same time, ensure our automation and control systems support compliance with customer and regulatory requirements in today’s new build sales.
• Work closely with both New Build and Lifecycle businesses to define offerings (upgrades, feature packs, performance and emissions optimization) and ensure R&D supports them
• Embed software lifecycle costs and revenue opportunities into our product and business cases

Organizational & ways of working leadership

• Lead and develop the Automation & Controls organization (embedded software, control systems, tools and platforms) for engine and power supply products
• Grow long lived, cross functional teams with end to end ownership, using modern agile ways of working at scale across multiple teams
• Clarify roles, responsibilities and interfaces with mechanical R&D and other software/digital R&D teams in the company
• Create an environment of trust, learning and continuous improvement, where engineers can do their best work

Portfolio & cross functional collaboration

• Define “must win” areas and roadmaps for Automation & Controls together with product platform owners, Research & Technology and lifecycle stakeholders
• Be a key member of the company governance (Product Lifecycle Management as well as Digital & Technology), driving towards one synergetic technology backbone, end to end, across Marine and Energy with other software and digital R&D organizations
• Represent automation and controls in engine sales and key customer discussions when needed

Execution & governance

• Manage and follow up on development and migration initiatives: scope, schedule, budget and quality
• Make the real constraints and trade offs visible, so leadership can make informed decisions
• Drive pragmatic, incremental modernization: improving the system step by step while keeping current customers safe and supported

What we are looking for:

Experience & background

• Deep experience in embedded automation and control systems software for complex physical products (e.g. marine, automotive, energy, aerospace, process industry or similar)
• Proven track record of leading software intensive product organizations (40–100+ people) through platform modernization and lifecycle oriented thinking
• Solid understanding of real time control, embedded systems, safety critical or mission critical software, and hardware–software co design
• Experience in building capabilities to develop applications running on edge computers, with services deployed as containers and orchestrated by Kubernetes
• Experience connecting R&D with lifecycle, service and digital business (remote asset management, over the air updates, diagnostics, analytics, etc.)
• Hands on experience with agile at scale, with a focus on real product ownership, feature teams and continuous integration, not just process frameworks
• Relevant academic background (e.g. Automation, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Control Engineering or similar)

Leadership & mindset

• You are comfortable being the software voice in a mechanically oriented leadership team, explaining trade offs and value in clear
• Strong business sense: able to connect architectural choices and technical debt to lifecycle cost, risk and revenue
• Proven ability to build and develop teams: hiring, coaching, growing future leaders, and shaping a healthy engineering culture
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across R&D, Services, Sales, Finance, Classification Societies and customers
• Open, collaborative and pragmatic. You can balance ambition with realism and keep people focused under pressure
• A natural continuous improver: you challenge the status quo based on data and learning, not dogma

Why you and us?
 
You are valued – as your true self. At Wärtsilä YOU matter. We value diversity and are committed to supporting an inclusive work community.
Your growth is supported. We believe in continuous learning and teamwork. Wärtsilian community has your back when it comes to development opportunities, so you can develop beyond your potential.
You get to make a difference. Innovation and sustainability are important to us. Every day, we - Wärtsilians - put our hearts and minds into enabling sustainable societies through innovation in technology and services into reality.
 
Contact & next steps:  
 
Please submit your application by 08.12.2025 through our Careers portal by including your CV and application letter. Applications submitted via email will not be considered. After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation email.

In case you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact:

Juha Kytölä 

Director R&D and Engineering
juha.kytola@wartsila.com

Last application date: 08/12/2025 

At Wärtsilä we value, respect and embrace all our differences, and are committed to diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunities; everyone can be their true self and succeed based on their job-relevant merits and abilities. 

Please note that according to Wärtsilä policy, voluntary consent for a security check may be required from candidates being considered for this position, depending on the applicable country.

This is Wärtsilä 

Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. Our team of 18,300 professionals, in more than 230 locations in 77 countries, shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. Read more on www.wartsila.com.