Lead Supplier Technology Expert

Wärtsilä; Friuli-Venezia Giulia; Hybrid; EUR 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Wärtsilä is seeking a Lead Supplier Technology Expert to provide rapid technical leadership, accelerating supplier industrialisation and strengthening manufacturing capability across key supplier segments. The role requires expertise in casting, machining, welding or metal forming and the ability to lead critical projects with cross-functional teams.

The primary location is Finland, with Italy as an option under the national collective agreement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in mechanical/manufacturing/materials/metallurgical/welding engineering.
• Expertise in casting, machining, welding or metal forming.
• Proven experience leading complex technical or industrialization projects.
• Strong project-management and cross-functional collaboration and presentation skills.
• Fluent business English and readiness to travel on short notice.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership in critical situations, including production ramp-ups, new product introductions, make-or-buy evaluations, industrialisation challenges, and major quality or delivery disruptions.
• Lead recovery and improvement projects and coordinate relevant stakeholders to reach rapid, measurable improvements.
• Partner with R&D, Engineering, Operations and suppliers to improve component design, material selection, specifications, manufacturability, quality, cost and supply resilience.
• Assess supplier capabilities, capacity, equipment, process maturity and technical risks.
• Lead or coordinate technical due diligence, manufacturing-capability assessments, process reviews and focused audits.
• Capture lessons learned and disseminate technical knowledge and best practices across teams.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Presentation skills

Leadership

Problem solving

Education

Mechanical engineering degree

Job description

We are always on the lookout for a talent with a growth mindset – are you the one?

We are looking for a Lead Supplier Technology Expert with a main responsibility in providing rapid technical leadership to accelerate supplier industrialisation, resolve disruptions, and strengthen manufacturing capability at selected supplier base segments. The preferred location for this position is Vaasa, Turku or Helsinki in Finland, or Trieste in Italy but also other major Wärtsilä locations are negotiable. We offer a possibility to hybrid remote work.

Your role and responsibilities

As a Lead Supplier Technology Expert your work will include providing technical leadership in critical situations, including production ramp-ups, new product and technology introductions, make-or-buy evaluations, industrialisation challenges, and major quality or delivery disruptions.

You will be Supply Management’s expert in a manufacturing technology such as casting, welding, or machining. Working with Category teams, R&D, Quality, Operations, and suppliers, you will turn technical requirements into practical solutions that improve quality, cost, capacity, and manufacturability. Category teams will retain responsibility for sourcing strategies, commercial decisions, negotiations, and ongoing supplier management.

You will assess situations quickly, create fact-based action plans, coordinate the relevant stakeholders, lead recovery and improvement projects, and elevate issues when additional decisions or resources are needed.

The tasks can also be adjusted based on your individual skills and interests. You’ll be working as a part of collaborative Supply Management - New Ventures & Development team with diverse expertise.

Requirements for the position

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical, manufacturing, materials, metallurgical or welding engineering, or a related discipline. Equivalent relevant professional experience may also be considered.
• Demonstrated expertise in at least one relevant manufacturing technology, particularly - but not limited to - casting, machining, welding or metal forming.
• Proven experience leading complex technical or industrialization projects.
• Strong project-management and cross-functional collaboration and presentation skills.
• Fluent business English and readiness to travel on short notice.

Qualifications/to be able to succeed in the position we expect you to have:

• Serve as Supply Management’s technical authority for the assigned manufacturing technology, advising the Category teams, projects and business stakeholders.
• Respond quickly to critical technical, quality, capacity and delivery issues, including on-site interventions when required.
• Lead time-critical acceleration and recovery projects from initial assessment through stabilization and handover.
• Partner with R&D, Engineering, Operations and suppliers to improve component design, material selection, specifications, manufacturability, quality, cost and supply resilience.
• Assess supplier capabilities, capacity, equipment, process maturity and technical risks.
• Lead or coordinate technical due diligence, manufacturing-capability assessments, process reviews and focused audits.
• Structure complex technical problems, lead root-cause analysis and ensure timely implementation of containment, corrective actions and sustainable solutions.
• Capture lessons learned, technical standards and market insights to improve future sourcing and design decisions.
• Mentor junior professionals and support the systematic transfer of technical knowledge and best practices.

The primary location for this role is Finland, but this role can also be based in Italy where the annual salary range would be 44 799EUR - 65 497EUR in accordance with the salary provisions in the National Collective Labor Agreement for workers in the metalworking and plant installation industry (CCNL Metalmeccanico). At Wärtsilä, we are committed to fair and transparent pay. This range reflects the expected compensation for the role, based on market data and our job architecture. The final salary offered will depend on factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the role, the required competencies, and your relevant education, skills, and experience. We also take internal equity into account to ensure fairness across our organisation.

Why you and us?

You are valued – as your true self. At Wärtsilä YOU matter. We value diversity and are committed in supporting inclusive work community.

Your growth is supported. We believe in continuous learning & teamwork. Wärtsilian community has your back when it comes to development opportunities – so you can develop beyond your potential.

You get to make a difference. Innovation and sustainability are important for us. Every day, we - Wärtsilians - put our hearts and minds into enabling sustainable societies through innovation in technology and services into reality.

Contact & next steps

In case of any questions regarding the position, reach out to:

Pietro Zancai,

General Manager, Supply Management - New Ventures & Development,

[e-mail]

Last application date: 01/11/2026

At Wärtsilä we value, respect and embrace all our differences, and are committed to diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunities; everyone can be their true self and succeed based on their job-relevant merits and abilities.

Please note that according to Wärtsilä policy, voluntary consent for a security check may be required from candidates being considered for this position, depending on the applicable country.

This is Wärtsilä

Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. Our team of 18,300 professionals, in more than 230 locations in 77 countries, shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. Read more on www.wartsila.com.