- Overview -

I am an experienced software engineer with a background in space systems, control engineering, and robotics, with strong project and team leading skills. I have developed software for space missions and various other industries for around 10 years. My experience includes a wide range of positions and responsibilities, from low-abstraction-layer developer to DevOps and software architecture design. I have a pragmatic approach where details matter, but the end result is what counts. I have been involved in the emerging Finnish NewSpace industry from its early years, starting with the Aalto-1 cubesat mission.

In addition to my technical skills, I have honed my project and team leading skills within different organizations. I embrace change, start projects from scratch, and finish them properly, even if it requires working under pressure and sometimes going backward. Everything is done together, where team members matter as human beings.

- Experience -

ICEYE

  • Head of Communications Network, Software Engineering (2022 -)
  • Lead Software Engineer (2019 - 2022)
  • Ground Segment Software Engineer (2017 – 2019)
  • Master’s Thesis Worker (2016 – 2017)
  • Software Engineer (2014 – 2015)

I have worked for ICEYE almost since the beginning of the company, since it was technically a university spin-off project and only later turned into a private company.

I started working on on-board software and later wrote my thesis around DevOps practices for embedded software development, but it later shifted to a different focus. I have been part of ground software development from the very early steps, especially focusing on pass management and telemetry handling, but also focusing on multiple other areas such as payload data processing, satellite operations, and mission control. I created ICEYE’s first ground software components from scratch with the help of a small team who were also doing everything from scratch. Later, this software was improved and refactored/rewritten multiple times, but it is still a critical part of current operations. I was also part of introducing better engineering practices while embracing microservices-based architecture and introducing more tools in our everyday work.

Alongside the engineering work, I managed to use my leadership skills and build an extremely well-performing software team first as a Lead Software Engineer and currently as Head of Communications Network. My current focus is leading a department responsible for satellite telecommunications, pass management, antenna infrastructure, and payload downlinking components.

Eficode

  • DevOps Consultant (2015 – 2016)

I was a consultant in the DevOps unit, which produces solutions for third-generation software development with virtualization, modern software production tools, continuous integration, and test automation. I was involved in projects such as an autonomous payment terminal test robot based on a CNC mill frame and OpenCV, automatic acceptance testing library for a mobile game, creating CI/CD pipelines for different fields of industry, and Robot Framework coaching material.

Aalto-1 (Aalto University)

  • Research assistant (2013 - 2015)

In 2013, I was employed as a research assistant in the Aalto-1 student satellite project to develop on-board computer software from scratch. I also wrote my bachelor’s thesis based on my work in autumn 2013. After this, I worked as a freelance developer for the project. In 2015, I was hired again by the university to help finish satellite communication software for OBC before launch, while simultaneously working for Eficode.

Miscellaneous

I did various different internships, summer jobs, etc. between 2005 and 2012.

- Education -

Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering

Master of Science, Technology (2014 - 2017)

Major: Control, Robotics and Autonomous Systems
Minor: Space Technology

Thesis: Embedded software development methods for mission critical satellite operations

Courses included: control theory, robotics design, automation design, physics, artificial intelligence, spacecraft engineering, remote sensing

Bachelor of Science, Technology (2010 - 2014)

Major: Automation and Systems Technology
Minor: Industrial Engineering and Management

Thesis: Lento-ohjelmistojen kehitysprosessit nanosatelliiteille

Courses included: automation design, mathematics, physics, programming (C, C++, Matlab), control theory, electrical design, mechanical design, economics, marketing, project management

- Technical skills -

My full stack goes from ground to space. Seriously, dropping some buzzwords here to give some kind of understanding of my stack for those who know these words. Also writing some my views about writing software.

Buzzword bingo

Python, C, C++, Matlab, Simulink, Kubernetes, Rancher, Docker, Robot Framework, Git, Falcon, Tornado, FastAPI, AWS, Podman, CI/CD tools (Jenkins, Github actions, …), STK, ODTK, Robot Operating System. SQLAlchemy, PyOrbital, Skyfield, SQL/NoSQL (PostgreSQL, MongoDB, …), Bash, XML/XSD, GNU/Linux (cloud, bare-metal, embedded), FreeRTOS

Principles

I consider Python and C as my main languages to work with. I embrace SOLID and ATDD principles when developing software, even if I’m far from perfect with those. I’m trying to find a proper middle-ground in modern and classical software development practices, when working with cloud infrastructure and embedded software. I tend to follow agile, scrum etc. when managing software projects, but having waterfall at my side and avoid agile to turn into “unplanned and ad-hoc”.

I use VSCode IDE when writing software. My distro of choice is either Arch Linux or Ubuntu, and KDE Plasma is my choice of DE.

- Languages -

Finnish Native
English Full working proficiency
Swedish Limited working proficiency
German Elementary proficiency

- Volunteer experience -

I have been actively part of various organizations where I learned the basics of my organizational skills and project leading - and still going strong. I have experience especially in event producing, where largest of them have involved thousands of participants. For full list of experience, I can provide additional list of positions upon request. These positions include, for example,

  • Member of board (including chair of board) in over 5 different organisations
  • Multiple professionally produced events, such as Laskiaisrieha sports event, world’s largest sauna WiikonWappuSauna and phenomenal Tempaus2016 for promoting comprehensive schooling around Finland
  • Leading different teams, usually from 5 to 30 members
  • Received several awards for distinguished volunteer work

Currently I’m a vice-chair at Guild of the Round Tower (Pyöreän Tornin Kilta), which is an alumni/honoary association for distinguished, graduated engineering (ex-)students

- Other -

Developing a Linux-based nanosatellite on-board computer: Flight results from the Aalto-1 mission

Combining rapid development and ECSS standards: on-board computer development for the ICEYE mission

  • Co-author, conference paper, Sep 2014
  • Published in Tartu Conference on Space Science and Technology, Sept. 22-24, Tõravere, Estonia. 2014