Research Team Leader, Irradiated Materials

VTT is one of the leading applied research organisations in Europe. What unites us are curiosity, a passion for learning, and a purpose: to solve the biggest challenges of our time and turn them into sustainable growth and well-being. Our cross-disciplinary community of over 2000 brilliant minds from 55+ different nationalities focuses on creating impact through science-based innovation. In recent years, we have created ground-breaking innovations such as the world's fastest and most accurate radiation detector, a cancer-sniffing sensor device for smartphones, and a headphone set entirely made of microbial materials. Get to know us further by exploring VTT's tech & infra.

We are looking for a Research Team Leader to lead our Irradiated Materials team.

We are looking for a Team leader with a coaching leadership style, excited about people development and creating an atmosphere where everyone feels invited to grow professionally. Besides people leadership, the role includes thought leadership and networking, as you will be responsible for creating new, impactful openings together with your 14 team members. You will combine visionary substance leadership, people leadership and hands-on contribution to research and customer projects.

The Irradiated Materials team is part of VTT’s Nuclear Energy research area, a community of approximately 150 professionals. We help the industry and society to use nuclear energy safely and sustainably, and support industry renewal in new-build and plant life management projects. We advance decommissioning and radioactive waste management and development of new nuclear technologies. We also provide high-quality testing and analytical services.

Our international team brings together engineers and scientists specialising in the testing, characterization, and performance assessment of irradiated materials for nuclear applications. Our expertise covers the handling and examination of neutron-irradiated materials, supported by advanced hot cell facilities and state-of-the-art analytical capabilities for radioactive specimen testing and evaluation.

Read more: Nuclear energy services across the full lifecycle | VTT Research

Your responsibilities include:

• Own and develop the team’s research agenda, ensuring its scientific ambition, strategic relevance and impact.
• Build and lead a balanced portfolio of research and customer projects, from opportunity identification and proposal preparation to high-quality delivery.
• Act as the line manager for the team: set objectives, coach performance, support well-being and foster an inclusive, collaborative working culture.
• Plan the team’s long-term competence development and resource needs, and recruit, retain and develop talented professionals.
• Represent the team’s expertise internally and externally and actively strengthen its scientific and industrial visibility, networking with top experts in the field.
• Participate hands-on as a subject-matter expert and, when appropriate, as a project manager in research and customer projects.
• Guide the planning and execution of experimental research together with researchers and laboratory personnel, with a strong focus on quality and safety.
• Lead the development of key methods, frameworks, tools, research infrastructure and competences with the team, other VTT experts and external partners.
• Build trusted customer and partner relationships, contribute to sales and international tendering, and communicate progress and results to stakeholders.
• Contribute as a member of the research area leadership team, combining competences across disciplines and fostering collaboration for wider impact.

To succeed in this role, you should have:

• A Master’s degree in materials science, metallurgy, mechanical or nuclear engineering with demonstrated expertise in materials behaviour under irradiation and demanding service conditions; a doctoral degree or equivalent scientific merits are an advantage.
• Experience in materials testing and characterisation; experience with irradiated materials/hot cells is a major advantage.
• Relevant experience in research and development, engineering or customer projects, and the ability to translate scientific excellence into practical impact.
• Previous leadership experience, for example as a line manager, project manager, work-package leader or supervisor, together with a genuine motivation to lead people.
• Fluent spoken and written English.

We consider the following an advantage:

• Expertise in the mechanical behaviour and strength of materials, preferably including fatigue, fracture mechanics, structural integrity or materials ageing.
• Experience in project management, research proposal preparation or international tendering.
• Experience in nuclear energy or similar regulated research environments.

As a person, we hope you have

• Strong communication, collaboration and networking skills across scientific, industrial and organisational boundaries.
• Ability to set direction, facilitate change, prioritise work and deliver results across a portfolio of projects.
• Readiness to work in an environment with strict quality and safety requirements; some projects may involve work with or remote handling of radioactive material samples in specialised facilities.
• A strategic and visionary science leader who combines high ambition with a pragmatic, goal-oriented approach.
• An inspiring and supportive people leader who creates positive drive, sets ambitious targets with the team and empowers team members to grow and succeed.
• Curious and committed to continuous learning, creative problem-solving and developing new capabilities.
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary, international organisation.
• Customer-focused and motivated by solving complex challenges that matter to industry and society.

With VTT, you’ll enjoy:

• Visionary work in technology. We offer positions at the cutting-edge of technology and engineering, from next-generation microelectronics and quantum technology to automation and robotics, energy systems, and more. Our research agenda is dedicated to creating sustainable growth by solving systemic and technological challenges, so your work will go towards creating a real, positive impact. Read more about our strategy – Chain reaction for growth.
• Fascinating projects, excellent research environment. Our researchers get to work on a combination of cutting-edge academic research and applied customer projects locally and internationally. At VTT, you'll have state-of-the-art research facilities, such as Micronova, the Finnish research infrastructure for micro-, nano-, and quantum technologies.
• Great career opportunities, superb colleagues. At VTT, excellence in research is a strategic priority. We offer long-term positions and stable career paths in top-level research. People tend to stay with us for over ten years since there are always new roles and responsibilities to grow into. Collaborating in a cross-disciplinary community with superb colleagues is a source of learning, inspiration, and fun. Read more about our organisational culture as the builder of the world's most meaningful place to work.
• Support for your well-being. Our people are our main asset, so we take good care of them. We aim to nurture excellent team spirit and leadership and offer versatile well-being services to enable a good work-life balance. On top of 6 weeks of paid holidays annually (after one year of work), we offer exercise and culture benefits, hobby clubs, and other versatile services aiming to support your occupational wellbeing.

Apply now and join our community of brilliant minds!

Please send your CV with your salary request and answer the short screening questions instead of writing a cover letter via our recruitment system as soon as possible but at the latest by 15 November 2026. We will use the screening question answers to do our initial screening for this position. We will process applications as they come in and fill the position as soon as we find the right candidate. A security clearance procedure may be conducted during the recruitment process.

Interested and want to hear more?

For further information, please contact Jani Halinen, Vice President, Nuclear Energy, jani.halinen@vtt.fi

We look forward to hearing from you!

Apply between 26 October 2026 and 15 November 2026 23:59 (Europe/Helsinki)

Employment type: Full-time, Permanent

VTT

VTT is a forerunner in research, development and innovation, and one of Europe’s leading research organisations. We develop cutting-edge technologies and transform them into growth together with our customers and partners. Our solutions address the greatest challenges of our time while creating sustainable growth, jobs and wellbeing.

With more than 80 years of experience, we accelerate the journey from innovation to impact. By thinking beyond the obvious, we drive growth, renewal and resilience.

VTT – beyond the obvious