AI and Robotics Jobs in Finland: Opportunities, Skills, and Where to Find Them

Growth of the AI and Robotics Sector in Finland

Finland’s AI and robotics ecosystem has grown rapidly thanks to research strengths at universities (Aalto, University of Helsinki, Tampere) and applied institutes like VTT. The government and innovation agencies (Business Finland, Sitra) actively fund AI projects, and high-profile events such as Slush attract global investors and talent. Large industrial players — including KONE, Wärtsilä, Nokia and ABB — invest heavily in automation, predictive maintenance and autonomous systems, while numerous startups focus on computer vision, robotics-as-a-service, autonomous mobility and industrial AI. This blend of academia, corporate R&D and startups creates diverse opportunities for engineers, researchers and product specialists.

Most In-Demand Roles and Skills

Employers hiring for AI and robotics jobs in Finland typically seek candidates for roles such as machine learning engineer, robotics engineer, computer vision developer, autonomy engineer, embedded systems developer and MLOps engineer. Technical skills in demand include Python, C/C++, ROS, TensorFlow/PyTorch, OpenCV, control theory, SLAM, real-time systems, containerization (Docker/Kubernetes) and cloud platforms (AWS/GCP/Azure). Experience with hardware integration, sensors (LiDAR, cameras, IMUs) and edge deployment is a plus for robotics roles. Soft skills — collaborative teamwork, clear communication in English, and a product-minded approach — are equally valued. For research-heavy positions, publications and a strong academic background can be decisive.

Finding Jobs, Hiring Process, Visas and Practical Tips

Start your search on LinkedIn, Glassdoor, local job boards (Oikotie, Monster Finland), company career pages and the public employment service (TE-palvelut). Attend meetups, Slush, hackathons and university career events to network. Typical hiring steps include a technical phone screen, coding or take-home task, and onsite/virtual interviews with system design or robotics demos. Salaries vary by role and experience (rough estimates: entry-level ~€35–50k, mid-level ~€50–80k, senior ~€80k+), and many companies offer relocation packages and hybrid work. Non-EU citizens will need a work-based residence permit; employers often support the application or you can explore an EU Blue Card for highly skilled workers. Practical tips: tailor your CV to each role, showcase projects on GitHub or a portfolio site, contribute to open-source or publish demos, and highlight domain-specific experience (robotics integrations, cloud ML pipelines). Learning some Finnish can help in certain companies but many tech teams operate in English.