Rene Jürnaste: “If I could do it, so can you.”
Rene Jürnaste is a project engineer who joined the Azortum team in 2021. In his daily work, Rene designs waste management sorting lines, which includes creating conveyor systems, support structures, and other equipment.
Depending on the project, he occasionally takes on the role of lead engineer or as a project engineer in small projects or larger sub-projects. He also acts as a sales engineer when needed, participating in procurements, solving any new customer issues, and handling the general relations with our clients.
During his three year tenure in multiple roles, Rene has proven that no problem is unsolvable—you just need to find the right approach.
We asked Rene about how he became an engineer and what motivated him to join Azortum and the world of waste sorting.
Childhood hobbies led Rene to a later career choice
His interest in engineering arose from many early hobbies related to technology. As a child, Rene was fascinated by model airplanes and how they're made. He also spent his summers in the countryside, where he tinkered on a Riga moped.
Rene says his technical hobbies developed into a general habit of asking questions. This inquisitiveness has led to him petting a tiger cub at Tallinn Zoo, seeing the cockpit of a commercial airplane, and given him the chance to be at the helms of a large ferry. It shouldn't come as a surprise then that one of Rene's mottos is "You can always do it!"
During school, he was more part of the back of the class crowd, but both physics and workshop classes kept his attention. This led to a smooth transition into a university degree in product development and manufacturing technology.
In his second year, he found his true calling in engineering during an internship, where he worked on water jet cutting programs for metal. He also saw how wooden furniture was designed and how metal bending worked.
Rene says one of the driving factors behind his decision to become an engineer was this common saying from his school years: "An engineer will always have work," although he adds that no one ever specified that somebody also has to do the work. Nonetheless, he sees engineering as a way to solve real-world problems, where he can contribute from the formulation of the technical brief to seeing the results succeed (or sometimes fail).
During school, Rene was ready to challenge himself in unusual ways—for example, he offered to complete a trial project for Thorsteel OÜ to gain a solid engineering foundation. This internship later turned into a part-time job.
After finishing his bachelor's degree, though his thesis was initially delayed, Rene worked as a designer and FEM (finite element method) specialist at TIKI Trailers, where during his six-year stay, he modeled and assessed the strength of structures. Since the trailers were designed and produced locally, Rene also gained valuable experience in managing production processes.
While working at TIKI, Rene completed his bachelor's degree and earned a master's degree in product development at the mechanical engineering faculty. At the same time, he also taught design internships at Tallinn University of Technology.
His path to joining Azortum
Rene joined Azortum in 2021 after years of contact with the company’s CEO, Taavi Põri.
The two first met 10 years ago on a ski trip that included other engineers, after which they kept in touch. Taavi would often jokingly ask when Rene would come work for Azortum. So one day, while still at TIKI, Rene called Taavi and said, “I’m coming now.”
The decision to join Azortum was based on the opportunity to bring his experience in serial production and sheet metal to a growing company, where he could develop the local waste management and materials industry. Every client's problem is different, meaning each project is unique and this require specific solutions and equipment to fit the client’s needs, space, and incoming material.
One of Rene’s largest projects at Azortum was a plastic waste shredding and dosing line in Kilpilahti, Finland, where Rene was involved in the sale, design, and installation of the solution.
He prefers simple but effective solutions
Rene’s greatest achievements are tied to projects where he has found innovative solutions to clients' problems. One of the brightest memories is from a project in Northern Sweden:
“One year, in mid-December, I was trudging through the snow in Northern Sweden for an initial meeting with a client. There were just a few weeks left until the procurement deadline, and the Swedes looked at us with amusement, not giving us much hope. Ultimately, we won the procurement thanks to the best technical solution (and not because of price, as is commonly perceived from Eastern European companies).”
The work hasn’t been without challenges. Large projects and tight deadlines are a daily reality, but Rene always finds practical and effective solutions. “I prefer simple solutions, provided they work. At the same time, I’m not willing to accept a seemingly functional but empty solution,” says Rene.
As colleague Mihkel mentioned before, Rene also believes teamwork is the key to a successful project. “You can’t get far alone, and you can’t know everything,” he emphasizes, adding that good work deserves recognition only when it is truly justified.
Even more active in his free time
Rene spends his free time hiking in nature and traveling. He has explored the mountains of Georgia and the Great Wall of China, and he enjoys discovering new cultures and local flavors, which also inspire him in the kitchen.
The sea and water are important to Rene—he loves fishing and sailing, though boat maintenance tends to take up time.
He also spends a lot of time with his black Labrador, often hiking and swimming in nature. Rene enjoys social events, participating in ski trips and fishing trips with friends, and finds time for running and swimming to stay in shape. In the past, he has also enjoyed volleyball and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, though he doesn’t have time for everything nowadays. Sometimes, you have to let go of a few things.
Regarding future plans, Rene says his goal is primarily to grow his professional skills and achieve greater autonomy in project management. “I also want to build a strong network of partners who can help achieve these goals,” he adds.
When asked for advice for young people aspiring to start a career in engineering, Rene says frankly: “Just get started! If I could do it, so can you. A strong engineering foundation and understanding of production are a big help, and these can certainly be acquired in Estonia. No one specifically teaches waste management technologies—that’s something we learn on the job.”
