Solution Architect, Core Banking System tribe (Helsinki/Oulu)

OP Pohjola; Helsinki; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

OP Pohjola in Helsinki (and Oulu) seeks a Solution Architect to shape architecture for loan and account domain solutions within the Valas transformation. You will define and describe architecture for business releases, enabling development teams to implement them.

You will collaborate with product, business and tech stakeholders to ensure the target architecture supports goals and feasibility, and contribute to architecture work aligned with the overall transformation and technology strategy.

Qualifications

• Experience designing architecture for complex transformation programs.
• Ability to bridge business needs and technical solutions at a high level while considering implementation realities.
• Structured, process-oriented approach with clear communication and visualization of architecture for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Define and document architecture for domain solutions.
• Translate release scope into coherent architectural visions.
• Provide architectural guidance for downstream detailed design and implementation.
• Ensure alignment with Valas target architecture and technology strategy.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across business, architecture, and development teams.

Skills

Architecture design

Communication skills

Stakeholder collaboration

Cloud & containers

Tools

Azure

Kubernetes

REST APIs

Job description

We are looking for a Solution Architect to join our Core Banking System tribe. The position is based in Helsinki or Oulu. Teams are primarily located in Helsinki and meet once a week, with flexible remote work policies in Finland.

About The Role

We are currently enabling a gradual transformation of Retail and Corporate Banking segments in OP Pohjola. The transformation is driven by the Valas program, which includes the renewal of the core banking system and related capabilities.

As a Solution Architect, you will play a key role in shaping the architecture of loan and account domain solutions. Your primary responsibility is to define and describe architecture for business releases, providing a clear foundation for detailed design and implementation by development teams.

You will work closely with product, business, and technology stakeholders to ensure that the target state architecture supports both business goals and technical feasibility.

You will also contribute broadly to architecture work, including solution architecture, based on the overall transformation prioritization and needs.

Key responsibilities

• Define and document architecture for different domain solutions
• Translate business release scope into coherent architectural visions
• Provide architectural guidance for downstream detailed design and implementation
• Ensure alignment with Valas target architecture and broader technology strategy
• Collaborate actively with stakeholders across business, architecture, and development teams

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a person with strong experience in architecture design, especially in complex transformation programs.

You have a solid understanding of how to bridge business needs and technical solutions at a high level, without losing sight of implementation realities.

The ideal candidate has a structured and process-oriented approach, with the ability to clearly communicate and visualize architecture for different audiences.

Familiarity with the following is considered beneficial

• Integration architectures REST APIs, event-driven solutions (e.g. Kafka), batch and file-based integrations
• API and service design principles
• Data model and data flow design
• Understanding of cloud environments (Azure) and container technologies (e.g. Kubernetes)

In this role, you will collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders. Therefore, we value strong communication skills and the ability to facilitate and drive discussions. Full working proficiency in English and working proficiency in Finnish is considered an advantage.

Why OP Pohjola?

We are one of the largest software companies in Finland. By joining us, you will become part of the Development and Technologies organization within our group. Our organization develops digital services and systems for both our customers and our own personnel. We are responsible for OP Pohjola's ICT strategy, technology guidelines, architecture, shared platforms, infrastructure, data platforms, continuity management, and the cybersecurity of the entire group. In total, the area employs 5,000 IT professionals from both our own staff and our partners.

We also encourage and help you to further develop yourself as a technical professional. We have the so called "70/20/10 rule" in use, which means you will use 70% of your time for your daily tasks, 20% to develop the way you do those tasks, and the last 10% is reserved for you to learn and try new things. You will also have our OP Tech Academy at your disposal in case you are interested.

It wouldn’t be fair if we had nothing to offer you. We have a wide range of staff benefits including a personnel fund and special terms for employee banking, insurance, and loan services. We offer comprehensive occupational health care, extensive medical treatment expenses insurance and a full-time group accident insurance policy. We invest in wellbeing at work by encouraging a good work-life balance, providing flexibility in your daily life, and offering lunch, sport and cultural benefits and opportunities for affordable holidays in OP Pohjola timeshares.

Did we spark your interest?

OP Pohjola – We have something in common

Diversity and equality are highly prized at OP Pohjola. We want everyone to feel welcome and valued, and we appreciate that diversity enriches us and brings new perspectives. We invite job applications from everyone, because we all have something in common. We’re thrilled that you want to join us on our shared journey.

We operate in the financial sector and our business is founded on trust and accountability. For this reason, we will check the successful candidate's credit history, corporate connections and potential conflicts of interest. In addition, the successful candidate must take a drug test and will be subject to a security clearance vetting by the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service.

Owned by our customers, we are the most attractive financial sector employer in Finland. OP Pohjola employs more than 14,000 professionals. We have a mission – to promote the sustainable prosperity, security and wellbeing of our owner-customers and operating region. What we do matters, both to our employees and society in general. As the largest provider of financial services in Finland, we are building a better tomorrow; this has been our goal for more than 120 years.