Employee experiences: Summer Intern, Venla

We had the pleasure of working with Venla Vastamäki this summer. She returned to Radientum for the second round of internship. Venla is a bright and motivated student pursuing her master’s degree in Microwave Engineering at Aalto University. Venla’s journey with us has been inspiring, and we are thrilled to share her story.

Venla’s journey into the world of RF and antenna design began at Aalto University, where she completed her undergraduate studies in electronics and electrical engineering. When asked what drew her to Radientum, Venla fondly recalls a radiotechnology fair where our stand caught her attention. After a successful first internship, Venla didn’t hesitate to return for a second summer, confident that the diverse projects and collaborative environment at Radientum would further enrich her experience. “I reapplied because I knew that I would get to work on many different types of projects during the summer and I liked working here last summer.” she shared.

Among the projects Venla worked on, one particularly stood out: developing an Octave code for calculating and displaying link budget results. “This project was exciting because it allowed me to approach the problem from various angles—combining my coding skills with antenna design,” she explained. The complexity of her tasks require her to integrate different disciplines, which she has found both challenging and rewarding. By breaking the projects into smaller steps and seeking feedback, Venla successfully managed the challenges.

Venla’s typical day at Radientum begins with a morning meeting, setting the tone for the day ahead. She usually starts the work with coding. “I can focus better in the morning, so it is easier to debug and solve complex problems. In the afternoon I build and start the simulations before leaving work so that the results are ready the next day,” she explained. This routine ensures her work is always progressing.

Throughout her internship, Venla also had the opportunity to broaden her skills in areas she hadn’t anticipated. “I got to learn more about PCB design, which was unexpected. However, it is something that I have been wanting to learn, so definitely a great addition to my summer trainee experience,” she shared, highlighting the comprehensive learning environment that Radientum offers.

From the moment she joined Radientum, Venla was inspired by her colleagues. “My first impression was that Radientum is full of people with expertise, and I was eager to learn from such a skilled team. That impression has only been reinforced over time,” she said. The friendly and collaborative culture at Radientum has been a key factor in making her internship a positive experience. Whether through company-wide meetings, online coffee breaks like our weekly ‘Perjantai Pulla,’ Finnish for ‘Friday bun,’ or direct collaboration with teams from different offices, Venla always felt supported. “I like how relaxed and supportive the office atmosphere is. It’s also great that we maintain regular contact with colleagues from other offices, because it forms a sense of community.”

Her mentors and colleagues played a significant role in her development, helping her navigate challenges and encouraging her to ask questions whenever she encountered difficulties. She feels this will have a significant impact on her professional development since it has helped her lower the threshold to ask for help.

Radientum’s commitment to continuous learning also helped make the summer a success for Venla. She enjoyed the training opportunities that were provided, including SAR training and access to extensive resources on the company network. These opportunities have not only expanded Venla’s technical knowledge but also given her greater confidence in her capability.

As Venla reflects on her time at Radientum, she sees a bright future ahead. “This internship has improved my skills and confidence in both my studies and career path,” she said, adding that she plans to write her master’s thesis with us next spring. A memorable highlight for Venla was learning that her work would be included in a publication, a testament to the meaningful contributions our interns can make.

When asked how she would sum up her internship experience in one sentence, Venla responded, “This internship has been a rewarding learning experience during which I have developed diverse antenna design skills and clarity on my career direction.”

At Radientum, we are proud to be a part of Venla’s journey and excited to see where her career will take her. We look forward to welcoming more talented people like Venla to our team, people who are ready to dive into challenging projects, contribute to the field and grow both professionally and personally in a supportive environment.

If you are passionate about antenna design and looking for a place to take you to the next level, consider joining us at Radientum where innovation thrives, and your contributions truly matter.

Are you our next RF talent? If you are interested in an internship at Radientum or have any questions about our available jobs or career possibilities send an email to jobs@radientum.fi!