Jani Pelkonen
About Jani Pelkonen
Jani Pelkonen serves as the Head of Engineering at Saab Finland, bringing extensive experience from various roles in the technology sector, including significant positions at Nokia and Microsoft. He has a strong background in product development and management, with a focus on building effective teams and processes in both corporate and startup environments.
Work at Saab
Jani Pelkonen has been serving as the Head of Engineering at Saab Finland since 2019. In this role, he oversees engineering operations and product development initiatives within the organization. His leadership focuses on fostering a product-making culture and enhancing cross-functional collaboration among teams. Pelkonen's extensive experience in engineering and product management contributes to Saab's strategic objectives in the defense and aerospace sectors.
Previous Experience in Product Management
Prior to his current role at Saab, Jani Pelkonen held various positions in product management across notable companies. He worked at Symbio as a Senior Manager in Product Management for 10 months in 2018-2019. His tenure at Nokia included several key roles, such as Product Development Manager for multiple Lumia models and Project Manager. He also served as a Lead Product Program Manager at Microsoft, where he managed the Lumia 640 project.
Education and Expertise
Jani Pelkonen holds a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus on Microelectronics from Tampere University of Technology, which he completed in 2001. He also studied Electrical Engineering, Acoustics, and RF Design at Reinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen for one year. His educational background supports his expertise in product development and engineering management, particularly in the technology sector.
Background in Engineering and Design
Pelkonen's engineering career began at Nokia, where he worked in various design and development roles from 2001 to 2011. He contributed to the design of the Nokia 9210 and 9500 Communicators and later managed product development for the Nokia E7 Communicator. His experience spans over two decades in the technology industry, focusing on product development processes and R&D capabilities.
Achievements in Cross-Functional Leadership
Throughout his career, Jani Pelkonen has demonstrated a strong ability to lead cross-functional product development teams. He has emphasized the importance of building a product-making culture in both large corporations and startups. His strategic understanding of product platforms and their alignment with various business models has been instrumental in managing and developing products that cater to diverse market needs.