I work at Murata Finland as a Sr. Process Development Engineer, and I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence alongside my job.

At the moment, I focus on automated acoustic and optical microscopy. My work involves developing inspection programs for new MEMS inertial sensor products and supporting product development. I also contribute to advancing our technology areas through equipment investments and improvements to working methods. In addition, I aim to integrate AI solutions into our inspection processes.

My career path

I first joined Murata through a summer job while studying mechanical engineering at Aalto University. I heard about Murata from my then-girlfriend, now my wife, who was working weekend shifts as a Production Operator and encouraged me to apply as well. To my delight, I was offered a position in component testing, and over the next few summers, we both worked as Production Operators.

From component testing, I moved on to a summer role in testing maintenance. This was an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on technical experience. I later transitioned to the process quality team, which marked my first experience in an office-based role.

After several summers at Murata, I spent a short time at Aalto University as a Research Assistant while completing my master’s thesis. After graduating, I returned to Murata—this time to sensor element manufacturing as a Process Quality Engineer, and later progressed to my current role as a Process Development Engineer.

Studies alongside work

When I joined the process development team, I was given the opportunity to start postgraduate studies, and I am now pursuing a doctoral degree at Aalto University alongside my work. My research focuses on applying artificial intelligence, particularly in optical inspection.

AI as a field is evolving rapidly, with continuous breakthroughs. Much attention is currently focused on language models and their applications in expert work. However, similar progress is being made in computer vision, with the long-term goal of enabling systems to interpret visual data with minimal supervised training. I aim to bring these advancements into practical use at Murata.

Interesting challenges and a supportive work environment

Throughout my career, I have encountered many interesting challenges. One of the most significant and rewarding so far has been a production equipment investment project. This involved a wide range of responsibilities, from defining requirements and selecting suppliers to overseeing installation and commissioning.

I have greatly enjoyed my time at Murata, thanks to my colleagues and the wider work community. The company has provided opportunities for growth, and I have consistently been able to work on meaningful and engaging challenges. Approaching new situations with an open mind is essential—there are plenty of opportunities to learn, and they help you develop your skills quickly.

The semiconductor industry is here to stay, and its importance will only continue to grow in the future. The expertise gained in this field in Finland opens doors internationally, and at Murata Finland, there are also opportunities to pursue careers abroad—for example, in Japan or France.

Approaching new situations with an open mind is essential—there are plenty of opportunities to learn, and they help you develop your skills quickly.

Tuomas Keski-Heikkilä
Sr. Process Development Engineer