Career story: Program Manager Thomas Richter

From Germany to Finland: How Program Manager Thomas Richter found his place at Simucube

Simucube’s Program Manager Thomas Richter came to Finland as an exchange student during his mechanical engineering studies and quickly found a sense of community through Finland’s vibrant student life. The experience left a strong impression, and after heading back to Germany to finish his degree, Finland remained on his mind. Once he graduated, moving back felt like a natural next step. He returned to Finland and began applying for jobs.

Understanding the bigger picture

Ten years later, he is working at Simucube as a Program manager. He came to Simucube after holding various roles across Finnish companies, initially in mechanical engineering before shifting to project management.

This shift occur when Thomas realized he wanted more than just technical tasks—he found him self longing to understand the bigger picture in projects. Regular interactions with international clients and other project management tasks in one of his old workplace helped him to understand what he really wanted to do.

“That’s when I realized how valuable it is to meet the people who actually use our product — it helped me understand what I was doing and why. I saw the big picture of the project, and I knew then that just doing mechanical design tasks wasn’t enough for me anymore. I enjoy understanding the whole context and being connected to the end customer.”

With this realization, he set his sights on a project management role. He worked in another international company for the next five years, leading international export projects.

“I wanted to show that this role is where I know I’m good at,” says Thomas about his previous position.

Looking for the right fit

After five years, Thomas was confident that project management was his ideal path.

“At most, I had 60 business travel days per year. I managed projects on the customer interface. The job description suited me really well and I liked it a lot. I got to meet new clients and understand their needs.”

However, with a young family, frequent traveling became less appealing. He was also eager to take more responsibility in developing project management practices, but the opportunity never came. These things led him to search for a new role—one where he could continue in project management, use his experience, and grow.

Being a German living in Finland, Thomas specifically sought a young, adaptable workplace with an international outlook.

“I wanted an international perspective because that’s my thing. I have a lot of experience working with different cultures, and I tried to find a place for myself where I could make use of my skills and personality.”

He had previously worked with Simucube’s CEO, Hannu Harju, and they reconnected during Thomas’s job search. Hannu introduced him to Simucube and mentioned an opening for a Project Manager. Though Thomas knew little about the company at the time, he had come across interesting posts on LinkedIn that caught his attention.

“The way my current role differs from the previous one is that at Simucube, I manage projects for our own company, whereas before I managed them for external clients. Here, I ensure that the products we sell are developed within budget, and all of this happens within the company. At first, this was something I had doubts about, because it’s important to me that I enjoy my role and that it suits me.”

Thomas took time to consider the transition but ultimately embraced the opportunity, seeing Simucube as a flexible and promising place to grow.

“I also wanted to learn about the company through the recruitment process; I feel that it’s the first point of contact with the company and shows how employees are treated.”

Leading projects as Simucube’s Program manager

Thomas worked at Simucube as a Project Manager for 1.5 years, starting in this role in late 2023. His work focused on keeping projects moving forward, supporting team members, and ensuring clear communication across departments.

“I’m motivated by having a clear view of where we’re headed—how each product fits into our portfolio and connects with others. I also enjoy working across departments to ensure projects move in the same direction. Managing the big picture is what I enjoy most.”

At Simucube, he actively developed project management practices and improved internal communication, resulting in stronger cross-functional collaboration. He is now continuing this cross-functional work and development in his new role as Simucube’s Program Manager, a position he transitioned to in mid-2025.

Products made to last for generations

What stands out to Thomas about Simucube’s products is their long-term value and customer-centric design—Simucube products are made with the idea of bringing the most value to the customer.

These products are also built to last, from a generation to another, both physically and through long-term software support.

“We do quality work and plan the products so that they have a good quality and they last, we are Granite Devices, and make products which are like granite.”

Open and welcoming culture

Thomas appreciates Simucube’s open and relaxed culture, where people are genuinely interested in one another.

“Here, there’s time to bring out your personality – it’s allowed to talk about your passions, which ensures a culture where people work well together and we understand what kind of people we are. In stressful situations, it helps to know each other’s personalities.”

He believes the company’s international team contributes to its inclusive atmosphere, bringing diverse perspectives and fostering a sense of belonging.

“Everyone has their place in this culture. We take care of one another and want everyone to feel well.”