Aalto Design Factory is a pioneering hub for product development education, research and practice. Together with our stakeholders, we explore novel formats and insights on development collaboration and interdisciplinary education for innovation. Located in Espoo, Finland, we are part of Aalto University and the Design Factory Global Network.

Lecturer in Interdisciplinary Product Development

We are looking for a full-time lecturer to join the Design Factory academic team in providing and developing teaching in interdisciplinary product development. This is a permanent position on the Aalto University lecturer career system and will be filled either on the level of a University Lecturer or Senior University Lecturer.

The position entails teaching multiple courses in interdisciplinary product design and innovation as a part of our teaching teams, visiting teaching in different Aalto schools on design thinking, co-creation and prototyping, and instructing theses on bachelor, master and doctoral levels. For us to continue to be a forerunner in these fields, part of our lecturers' time is reserved for taking part in research activities of the Design Factory, either tied to interdisciplinary product development or its education. In this role, you report to the Director of Design Factory.

As an ambitious unit, we are looking for innovative experts with a growth mindset. We hope you are eager to understand needs for future capabilities deeply, adapt to a changing landscape and co-create impact in higher education. The position entails collaboration within the Design Factory and different Aalto University units, as well as with industry and international networks. However, the most important stakeholder group is students - your number one priority is to offer excellent learning experiences to our multidisciplinary, multinational student body.

The position

As a key part of our teaching team, your responsibilities will include:

• Participating in and leading teaching teams for courses in interdisciplinary product development and sustainable product development on the bachelor’s and master’s level, including project-based courses. Our class sizes typically range from 50-150 students.
• Providing visiting lectures and workshops on design thinking, co-creation and prototyping in different Aalto courses
• Instructing bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral theses in interdisciplinary product development
• Developing interdisciplinary product development courses, curriculum and educational practices with the teaching team
• Participating in research projects on interdisciplinary product development practices or its education
• Participating in applying for and executing externally funded development projects supporting educational development at the Design Factory
• Collaborating with a wide and diverse range of internal and external stakeholders, both in Finland and internationally

Your experience and ambitions

The person we are looking for has:

• Expertise in product development practices, sustainable product development, human-centered design, design thinking, and other innovation approaches, with experience in several contexts considered a benefit
• Several years of experience on teaching in both bachelor’s and master’s levels, including experience in project-based teaching, teaching in multidisciplinary teaching teams, and industry collaboration in courses. This should include both in-class teaching experience in different formats (face-to-face, online, hybrid) as well as experience in supporting multidisciplinary, multicultural student groups in their team work.
• Experience in course co-development and translating sustainability, creativity and entrepreneurial mindset (Aalto’s cross-cutting themes) into interdisciplinary product development teaching content
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and combine research and teaching, including experience of participating in multi-stakeholder initiatives in higher education
• A proactive and student-centered attitude in organizing and developing teaching
• Interest in the operations and development of higher education in Finland and globally
• A doctoral degree in design, engineering, management, or other relevant field and pedagogical studies are required, and experience in educational research is a merit
• Excellent skills in English, with skills in the national languages of Finnish and Swedish considered a benefit

What we can offer

The Design Factory is a diverse and close-knit community of experts from different disciplines, ranging from engineering, business and design to educational scientists and organizational scholars. Driven by passion for innovation and creativity, many employees come from multidisciplinary and multi-career backgrounds, combining capabilities in several different fields. Our unit has approximately 30 employees from around the world, and our working language is English. We offer pioneering education annually to over a thousand Aalto students across different disciplines.

As an employer, Aalto University offers excellent learning and professional development opportunities, along with a range of employee benefits, including occupational health care services and diverse sports benefits. The Otaniemi campus is a thriving and connected community of 100 nationalities, 13,000 students and 4,500 employees. Life on campus is vibrant and filled with beautiful architecture, calming nature, and a variety of services and good connections along the metro line.

Ready to apply?
To apply for the position, please submit your application including the following attachments in English and in pdf: 

• a two-page motivation letter describing your interest, experience and vision in educating for interdisciplinary product development
• curriculum vitae - please use the template by The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity (TENK)
• list of publications
• teaching portfolio - please check the teaching portfolio guidelines for a candidate

Please send your application by 19th March 2025 23:59 Finnish time (UTC +2) through our recruitment system Workday. Aalto University’s employees and visitors should apply for the position via the internal HR system Workday (Internal Jobs -> Find Jobs) by using their existing Workday user account. If you are an Aalto student or visitor, please use your personal email address (not aalto.fi) to apply through the external Open Positions page.

Selected shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview, teaching demonstration and visit at the Design Factory, estimated to take place in April 2025.

Aalto University reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open or to extend the application period.

For more Information

For further inquiries about the position, please contact the Design Factory Director Tua Björklund at tua.bjorklund@aalto.fi or by phone at +358 50 511 3182 on Monday, 24th February from 2-3 PM, Monday, 3rd March from 3-4 PM, or Tuesday, 11th March from 4-5 PM local time. For recruitment-related questions, please contact our HR Partner Jenni Koivisto at jenni.koivisto@aalto.fi.

We look forward to receiving your application!


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Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by sparking the game changers of tomorrow and by creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 13,000 students, 400 professors and close to 4 500 other staff members working on our vibrant campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. We actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

The School of Engineering drives science and innovation in industrial and built environment technologies. We are committed to educating a new generation of experts who combine technical excellence with a deep understanding of sustainable development in shaping societies. Our research focuses on sustainable built environment, mechanics and materials, multidisciplinary energy technology, and design and implementation of technical systems. The strength of our school lies in close collaboration with stakeholders across research and education. About 45 doctoral candidates and 350 master’s students graduate from the school every year. The school is home to 700 staff members, including 70 professors. To learn more, please visit eng.aalto.fi.

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