Tomi Julin
From design to director - a global career built on curiosity and commitment
Career story of Tomi Julin
Educational background and early industry experience
Tomi Julin, Auramarine’s Technical Director, studied Machinery in the Turku Vocational Institute. After graduating he continued to the University of Applied Sciences from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science for Mechanical and Metal Engineering.
During the summers of his university studies, Tomi interned at the Finnish company Wärtsilä at their Turku factory. Consequently, he also ended up wroting his dissertation at the company. Due to the Wärtsilä factory closing down in his graduation year in 2002, his road led to the Netherlands. There he worked for half a year as a Machine Operator in a factory. When he returned back to Finland, he started as a Mechanical Designer at a company in Heinola. Tomi remarked that despite the work being difficult for a ‘first-timer’, the experience proved a valuable part of learning. However, as he wanted to move closer to Turku, where he is from, Tomi started looking at job opportunities here. This is when he found out, Auramarine was hiring.
Entry into Auramarine and evolving technical roles
His 21-year career at Auramarine, from which half he spent in Finland and half in China, started in 2004. Initially, Tomi was hired as a Mechanical Designer. In 2005 he moved from mechanics to a Process designer, which included designing units and communicating with the customer. After this he became the Team Leader for project design for units that were delivered to Asia. This is also when he first started doing business trips to China. Along with this, he was the technical support person and responsible for sub-contracting semi-products from Auramarine Asia to Auramarine Finland. Tomi held this position all the way until 2008, which is when his first move to China came.
Adapting abroad: First years in China
Although having done business trips to China, prior to his move to Auramarine Asia, working there full time still was quite different compared to Finland. In China he continued as the Team Leader for the design team and started in the efficiency development project, which was beginning during the time of his arrival. This project was paramount in improving the efficiency of production and material handling in the company. During his time in China, he also continued to meet with clients on site and worked in designing, as he had done in Finland.
Switching continents: Development projects between Finland and China
After the first five years in China, Tomi moved back to Finland in 2013 for a year, upon a development project, this time supporting in the systems in Auramarine Europe. And in 2014 he again moved to China and continued in Project Manager, now overseeing projects delivered to Asia. In 2016 he again returned to Finland, now taking on the position of the Manager of Process Design and the Product development. He also oversaw the Design-to-Cost project, which aimed to lower the costs of Auramarine units in 2018. In 2019 he again returned to China to serve as the Technical Director and joining the management team.
Leading through change: General Manager role during challenging times
In 2020, he returned to Finland again, giving up his position in the management team, and for few months worked as a development management. During this time he also provided support for sub-contracting and served as an expert. However, shortly afterwards he was again asked to return to China to step into the General Managers position. Between the late summer of 2020 and 2023, Tomi was in China managing the Auramarine Asia, being responsible of PL during the ongoing global pandemic, but also the change in the factory space. This period Tomi described as busy, yet adventurous and exciting. After the new factory was finally opened into use in 2023, he again returned to Finland and continued as the Technical Director.
Growing with the company: 21 years of evolving challenges
During his time at Auramarine, Tomi has not only seen a lot of changes in technology and processes inside the company, but also has gotten to work with many people.
As a company to work at, Tomi has found Auramarine to be truly a place to progress in any direction in one’s career. While he remarked that education is the base for the career, he also stated that it is important to work in a place where you learn as you do. Additionally, as the company is a good sized one, there are many possibilities and opportunities to change with what one works with. Sometimes the change happens naturally, but sometimes the individual can also take the initiative. He stated that it depends a lot on what the employee themselves wants.
There is also an opportunity to grow and develop internationally – he feels almost as if he has worked at many companies over his time at Auramarine so far. This accompanied by supportive and motivated colleagues, as well as a company that supports and encourages development, is what Tomi especially likes about Auramarine.
Life outside work: Slowing the pace after years on the move
During his time outside of work, Tomi did sports and travelled when he was younger, however as his job now and over the years has included more than enough travelling, he now reads, watches movies and jogs more. ‘Nothing out of the ordinary’, he remarked.
Looking ahead with openness and curiosity
Overall, Tomi described his time at Auramarine as interesting and adventurous. While Auramarine offers a safe workplace, there is still an opportunity to see and experience, if one wishes to do so, Tomi remarked. And while Tomi stated that he does not have necessarily a set career goal in mind, he instead wants to develop in his current position, and maybe try some new responsibilities if the opportunity were to present itself, if he feels like he can give something, and the tasks are intriguing. Also maintaining a connection to China in the future as well.
Tomi’s career advice: Try to find own interest
It is important to be hard-working and show interest in the work you do. And if you do not find your work interesting, think of something else that is interesting. Do your job well and with attention to detail.
