R&D Director

Kuori; Espoo; On-site; EUR 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Kuori in Finland is seeking a driven R&D Director to lead hardware engineering, reporting directly to the CTO, with autonomy to make critical technical decisions and clear obstacles for the team as we scale.

You will drive development from concept to mass production, mentor engineers, own timelines and budgets, and foster cross-functional alignment with manufacturing and QA. Weekly onsite work at our Espoo headquarters is required; fluency in English is essential.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of hardware engineering and product development experience.
• Proven track record leading technical teams through high-pressure phases.
• Hands-on leader who makes autonomous decisions and resolves bottlenecks.
• Broad technical foundation in mechanics and electronics.
• Curiosity and practical knack for leveraging AI to streamline R&D.

Responsibilities

• Drive product execution across the development lifecycle from concept to mass production.
• Lead, mentor, and empower engineering teams to perform at their best.
• Make autonomous decisions and proactively resolve bottlenecks.
• Maintain control over timelines, budgets, and technical resources.
• Foster cross-functional alignment with manufacturing, operations, and QA.
• Implement feedback loops to continuously elevate product quality.

Skills

15+ years hardware experience

Leadership of technical teams

Hands-on approach

Broad mechanics & electronics

AI tools for R&D

Job description

At Kuori, we build heavy-duty outdoor displays, touchscreens, and payment terminals engineered to survive real-world chaos - without failing when weather or high usage hits. We’ve grown from a Finnish startup into a global player with hardware running in over 30 countries, outmaneuvering sluggish industry giants through speed, mass customization, and Finnish grit (sisu).

We are looking for a driven, fast-thinking R&D Director to lead our hardware engineering efforts. Reporting directly to our CTO, you will have total autonomy to make critical technical decisions, clear obstacles for our engineering teams, and drive product execution as we scale. If you run towards accountability and want to shape heavy-duty hardware instead of fighting corporate bureaucracy, this is your invitation to build something great.

In your daily work, you will:

• Drive product execution across the entire development lifecycle -taking hardware smoothly from initial concept and prototyping through to mass production.
• Lead, mentor, and empower our engineering teams, building an environment where people take pride in their work and perform at their best.
• Make autonomous decisions and proactively resolve bottlenecks to keep technical execution aligned with business goals.
• Maintain control over project timelines, budgets, and technical resources when deadlines tighten.
• Foster seamless cross-functional alignment between your teams, manufacturing, operations, and quality assurance.
• Implement feedback loops and fast problem-solving practices to continuously elevate product quality and technical maturity.

What we expect from you:

• A builder mindset - you thrive in a company environment where (almost) nothing is set, but everything is possible
• A growth attitude - you enjoy challenges and embrace opportunities for personal and professional development
• Hands-on approach: you are not afraid to take action, dive into the work and carry responsibility. You spot what needs to be done and take independent responsibility and deliver results
• Broad technical foundation spanning both mechanics and electronics.
• Proven track record of owning outcomes and leading technical teams through high-pressure phases.
• A genuine curiosity and practical knack for leveraging modern AI tools to streamline R&D processes, speed up technical workflows, and cut out administrative friction.
• 15+ years of relevant work experience in engineering and hardware product development.
• This role requires weekly onsite work at our headquarters in Espoo, Finland, to stay close to hardware prototyping, manufacturing, and engineering teams
• Professional working fluency in English (fluent Finnish is not required).

What we offer:

• A chance to customise your career and grow in your field in a rapidly growing high-tech company
• Direct line to our CTO and C-level in a low-hierarchy, entrepreneurial environment. Unlike legacy hardware giants, you won't fight through five layers of committees and red tape just to ship an engineering fix-our short decision paths mean smart ideas always beat corporate bureaucracy.
• An international and easy-going team of 70 bright minds who embrace a culture of humour and collaboration
• Full-time, permanent contract with clear room to expand your leadership footprint as Kuori scales.