Are you passionate about building a safer and more resilient future? Laurea University of Applied Sciences is looking for a Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Specialist to join our international team working on cutting-edge EU-funded projects in the field of security. This is a full-time and permanent position.

As an RDI specialist, you will strengthen Laurea’s technical expertise within our RDI activities. You are an expert in information exchange systems used in domains such as border management, maritime surveillance, or critical infrastructure protection. You have hands-on experience in using, programming, and maintaining message broker software (e.g., Kafka).

In this role, you will support Laurea and your team in planning and preparing project proposals as well as in implementing funded projects. You will also support our ongoing projects related to maritime security and surveillance. Additional technical skills, such as experience in artificial intelligence, data fusion, advanced risk management, or decision-making systems, are considered strong assets.

What are we looking for?

We are seeking a candidate with:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field
• Strong technical expertise in the field of information exchange and/or decision-making systems (services and tools)
• Work history in R&D within the business environment
• Good oral and excellent written communication skills in English
• Strong collaboration skills
• Genuine motivation to grow and develop professionally

We value

• Expertise in emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and data fusion
• Prior knowledge of the maritime security environment and technological systems supporting border control or maritime surveillance, in particular Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE)
• Expertise in critical infrastructure security or other related areas of security research
• Experience working in international RDI projects
• Experience in project management

Why Join Us? 

At Laurea, you’ll be part of one of Finland’s most respected and impactful Universities of Applied Sciences, known for its excellence in safety and security research. We offer: 

• A supporting working culture with flexible remote work options 
• A clear RDI career path with mentoring and support 
• Opportunities to develop your expertise and shape your role to match your goals 
• A collaborative international team, access to Finnish language courses and support in relocation if necessary 
• A chance to make a real societal impact through your work 

You’ll be part of a research team working in the field of security, supported by experienced colleagues from our RDI services and the Security and Risk Management teaching team. Your work will contribute to Laurea’s strategic Coherent Security Research Programme. 

Salary and Benefits 

• Monthly salary: Specialist 3400-4700€/month.
• Annual leave: 30 to 38 days of paid leave depending on the number of earned leave months and relevant work experience. 
• Free and comprehensive occupational health care. 
• Epassi benefit for personal well-being and recreation. 
• Publication bonuses depending on publication classification. 
• Mobile phone benefit. 
• An inspiring team environment with engaging discussions — and plenty of laughter guaranteed! 

Employment terms follow the Collective Agreement for Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences, with a weekly working time of 36.25 hours. This full-time and permanent position is situated in Laurea’s Leppävaara campus in the Helsinki metropolitan area. 

About Laurea 

Laurea University of Applied Sciences operates across six campuses in the Uusimaa region, Finland. Our community includes around 11,000 students, 700 staff members, and over 39,000 alumni. Laurea combines education with research and development to promote service innovation and entrepreneurship. Applied research at Laurea is conducted within three programmes: 

• Coherent security 
• Service business and circular economy 
• Sustainable and versatile social and health care 

Laurea currently holds the largest share of Horizon Europe funding among all Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences. 

Let’s Build the Future Together 

We’re excited to welcome a new colleague who shares our passion for innovation and impact. Apply now and become part of our success story! 

Please apply via our recruiting system by sending your cover letter and CV by 1st of March 2026.  

More information  

About the research area: Research Programme Director Jarmo Seppälä +358 50 536 45 18 (12th of February at 1-2 PM or 27th of February at 10-11 AM) or Jarmo.seppala@laurea.fi.  

About working at Laurea: RDI Director Hanna Tuohimaa +358 40 524 28 21 (10th of February at 3-4 PM or 26th of February 3-4 PM) or hanna.tuohimaa@laurea.fi.  

Laurea aims to be an equal and diverse work community, and we encourage individuals of different ages, genders, and those belonging to linguistic, cultural, or other minorities to apply for our open positions. Through our recruitment efforts, we also strive to enhance our expertise in diversity and sustainable development. Laurea supports employees of different ages and at various career stages, considering their different life situations. We see the balance between work, leisure, and family life as a significant strength. The primary working languages at Laurea are Finnish and English. We are happy to support our staff in developing their language skills.