Nokia Bell Labs is the world-renowned industrial research arm of Nokia, having invented many of the foundational technologies that underpin information and communications networks and all digital devices and systems. This research has produced ten Nobel Prizes, five Turing Awards and numerous other awards.

Celebrating over 100 years of groundbreaking innovation, Nokia Bell Labs continues to shape the future of technology through world-class research and visionary leadership. Join the Software and Data Systems Research (SDSR) Lab as a department head and be part of a global team driving the future of intelligent software and data-centric systems. Our mission is to create groundbreaking and versatile technologies that redefine how people live, work, and connect — integrating AI, pervasive and autonomous systems, immersive experiences, privacy-first architectures, and decentralized platforms across devices and environments. Come build what’s next—where your work doesn’t just innovate but also empowers.
 

You have: 

PhD degree or equivalent in experience in a relevant engineering field such as Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or Mathematics from a leading college/university.  10+ years of experience in cutting-edge research, with at least 3–5 years in a leadership or technical management role. Demonstrated success in leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering impactful research outcomes. Deep technical expertise in pervasive systems, embedded AI/ML, edge computing, and distributed computing. 

Personal Attributes: 

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to articulate research program objectives and impact to senior management and corporate executives. Exceptional collaboration skills and strong motivation and ability to interact with department head peers and lab leaders in Nokia Bell Labs and other senior stakeholders.  Strong interest in collaborating with internal business units and external academic and industrial partners. Eagerness to build proof-of-concept systems for real world problems and run experiments with first movers.  Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills, boundaryless and agile collaboration mindset with a passion for mentoring and developing the next generation of researchers. Very strong analytical skills and eager to find innovative/disruptive solutions to problems.

It would be nice if you also had:

Experience founding or supporting a startup or research-to-venture effort. Familiarity with emerging computing paradigms (e.g., neuromorphic, event-based). Experience with interdisciplinary research involving hardware, software, and user experience. Strong connections to academic and/or industrial research networks. Experience in building experimental platforms or large-scale test beds. Experience in identifying opportunities with a successful track record of submitting and securing government grants and external funding.
 

We are seeking an accomplished and visionary leader to head the research department in the SDSR Lab specializing in pervasive and mobile computing systems, on-device and embedded AI/ML, and innovative operating systems solutions. This role is a unique opportunity to lead a high-impact, interdisciplinary team of world-class researchers pushing the boundaries of intelligent, adaptive, and decentralized pervasive systems in extremely power, memory, battery, and compute-constrained environments. The Department Head will drive the scientific vision, foster breakthrough innovations, and shape the future of AI/ML at the extreme edge.

As part of our team, you will have the following key responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership: Define and execute a bold research agenda that aligns with Nokia Bell Labs’ long-term vision in AI-driven communication and computing systems and ambient intelligence. Team Management: Lead, inspire, and mentor a team of researchers across disciplines including distributed systems, machine learning, embedded AI, edge computing, and devices. Innovation & Collaboration: Foster a culture of scientific excellence and innovation. Establish collaborations across Nokia Bell Labs departments and with external academic and industrial partners. Project Oversight: Oversee multiple high-impact research projects, ensuring scientific rigor, timely execution in alignment with corporate technology strategies.  Technology Transfer: Work closely with internal business units and innovation hubs to transition research into real-world applications, proofs-of-concept, and patents. Start-Up Incubation & Venture Exploration: Drive opportunities for startup initiation by identifying high-potential research outcomes and partnering with internal and external venture programs and promote an entrepreneurial mindset within the department. Thought Leadership: Represent Nokia Bell Labs in global research communities through publications, keynotes, participation in technical committees, and strategic partnerships.