From Cold Email to Chief Engineer: Samuli Kostamo’s Journey at Framery

When Samuli sent an unsolicited email to Framery in late 2019, there were no job openings in R&D. He had no direct experience in pods, yet less than two weeks later, he was hired.

It wasn’t a typical recruitment story—but Framery isn’t a typical company.

Samuli had spent years working in traditional engineering roles, from structural analysis to developing advanced tooling at globally respected industrial firms. But he was ready for something new. Something with a challenge. Something that could push him forward, both professionally and personally.

At Framery, he found it.

“I wasn’t looking for a safe job. I was looking for a challenge.”

When Samuli reached out, he didn’t just send his CV. He sent a message with intention. He made it clear he wasn’t chasing a 9–5 technical drawing job—he was searching for an environment that would push his limits. And Framery responded in kind.

Within days, he was in conversations with the People & Culture team, meeting the R&D leadership, and sitting down for a deep dive with the CEO and Head of Product. The interviews didn’t just assess his skills—they explored how he works with others, how he processes feedback, and whether he’d thrive in Framery’s culture of fast iteration and shared ambition.

That same focus on potential—on people, not just qualifications—is something Framery is known for. And something Samuli immediately recognized as special.

Growth that doesn’t wait for permission

Samuli joined as a mechanical engineer and was immediately given meaningful responsibility. As soon as the onboarding phase faded, he was trusted to run projects and make design decisions. That early autonomy sparked something. He began gravitating toward full product thinking, connecting the dots across components, teams, and technical challenges.

That curiosity didn’t go unnoticed.

“During the feedback session of my 6-month trial period we discussed about my future, and I carefully expressed that I’d like to become a Chief Engineer somewhere in the future. Six months after that timid suggestion, it happened.”

It’s a familiar pattern at Framery: people stepping up, roles evolving, careers accelerating. As the company scales, new teams and responsibilities emerge rapidly—and more often than not, they’re filled by the people already shaping the future from the inside.

The focus isn’t on hierarchy or tenure. It’s about initiative, curiosity, and the ability to deliver—together.

Designing things no one’s ever done before

Today, Samuli is the Chief Engineer for all Framery pods in production. What started as a focus on one product has grown into full technical ownership across the entire portfolio.

His days are a mix of collaboration and complexity. On one side, he shapes broad product strategy with other R&D stakeholders. On the other, he dives deep into simulation, acoustics, ventilation, and structural design—solving challenges that don’t come with ready-made answers.

“The Framery R&D process is undoubtedly the most aggressive approach to research, development and productization I’ve ever taken part in.”

A culture of trust, openness, and shared ambition

Samuli describes the culture at Framery as open-minded and relentlessly collaborative. People challenge each other, but never compete. Ideas are stress-tested—not shut down. And no one hoards information to climb a ladder. Instead, they lift each other up, knowing that the best outcomes come from shared effort.

“Help and advice is eagerly given whenever needed. People truly work towards shared goals and no one is driving their personal agenda by trying to keep their innovations and knowledge to themselves.”

What surprised him most wasn’t just the talent—but the humility. Across teams, functions, and even leadership, there’s a consistent focus on listening, learning, and evolving. Mistakes aren’t punished—they’re seen as part of the process. The goal is progress, not perfection.

“When mistakes happen, we don’t blame anyone but rather try to analyze what we learned from that attempt and what we should do next.”

This is how Framery earns its reputation—not just for innovative products, but for being one of the best places in the world to work as an engineer.

Looking to the future

Samuli is still curious. Still learning. Still excited by what’s ahead.

Right now, he’s exploring new methods for cost-effective prototyping of deep-drawn and cast metal parts—processes that could further accelerate product development without compromising quality. He’s also keeping a close eye on how AI might transform design simulations and structural analysis.

Because for him, the work is never static. Every day brings a new chance to create something better—and to build it with people who care just as much as he does.

“When you sell happiness, your people should be happy too.”

Samuli’s favorite Framery value is the pursuit of happiness. Not just for customers, but for every employee who shows up with ideas, energy, and drive. That’s what makes the difference. That’s what makes growth sustainable.

From cold-emailing his way into the company to leading the design of every pod on the market, Samuli’s story is one of momentum. Of trust. Of curiosity turned into impact.

And like so many others at Framery, it’s a story that’s still unfolding.

April 2, 2025