Solution Architect, Hybrid Network (Helsinki/Oulu)

OP Pohjola; Helsinki; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Structured career advancement

Comprehensive occupational healthcare

Sport and cultural benefits

Discounts on OP Pohjolas products

Job summary

OP Pohjola is seeking an experienced Solution Architect for Hybrid Network, based in Helsinki or Oulu. You will shape target architecture, standards and design principles across on-premises, cloud and connectivity services, ensuring resilience and continuous availability in a financial services environment.

You will collaborate across Technology, Production Services, Cyber Security and external partners, translating business and regulatory requirements into scalable, secure network solutions

Qualifications

• 5+ years in network architecture or similar
• Experience as Solution Architect/Tech Lead
• Strong data center and enterprise networking expertise
• Experience with Azure networking and hybrid cloud
• Understanding of highly available, mission-critical networks
• Experience with load balancing, firewall and WAF tech
• Ability to translate requirements into architecture decisions
• Experience working with external service providers and stakeholders
• Guidance of software development teams
• Fluent English; Finnish an advantage

Responsibilities

• Define target architecture, standards and design principles for OP Pohjola network services
• Design network architecture across data center, LAN, WAN, SD-WAN and Azure networking
• Ensure resilience, scalability and 24/7/365 availability of network services
• Define principles for hybrid networking and cloud-datacenter connectivity
• Collaborate with Technology, Production Services, Cyber Security and partners
• Review and validate designs, operational models and configurations

Skills

Datacenter networking

LAN/WAN/SD-WAN

Azure networking

Hybrid cloud connectivity

Network security

Stakeholder collaboration

Architecture review

Leadership

Education

University degree in telecommunications engineering or equivalent

Job description

Join us as a colleague

We are currently looking for a Solution Architect, Hybrid Network for a permanent position based in Helsinki or Oulu.

A Few Words About The Job

As a Solution Architect, you will play a key role in defining and evolving the target architecture, technology standards and design principles for OP Pohjola network services. This role requires strong expertise in datacenter network architecture, hybrid datacenter-to-cloud connectivity, and large-scale enterprise networking. You will help shape the future of OP Pohjola network landscape across on-premises environments, cloud platforms and business-critical connectivity services.

You will be responsible for designing and developing network architecture across datacenter, LAN, WAN, SD-WAN, and Azure networking environments. A key part of the role is ensuring that network services are designed for resilience, scalability and continuous availability, supporting the demanding 24/7/365 operational requirements of a modern financial institution. This includes architecture decisions related to redundancy, segmentation, service continuity, and maintenance models that enable infrastructure changes and lifecycle activities without service interruptions.

You will also be responsible for defining architectural principles and target-state solutions for hybrid networking, connectivity between datacenters and cloud environments, and internet-facing network services. This includes designing secure and scalable traffic flows, load balancing solutions and network access architectures that support some of Finland's most critical digital services.

In this role, you will collaborate closely with stakeholders across Technology, Production Services, Cyber Security, business development initiatives, and external service partners. You will contribute to major transformation programs and provide architectural guidance for both new solutions and the continuous evolution of existing network services.

While the role is architecture-focused, we expect a practical understanding of network technologies and their implementation. The ability to review, challenge, and validate technical designs, operational models, and configuration-level solutions is essential.

The position is based in Helsinki or Oulu. At OP Pohjola, we work in a hybrid model where our ways of working are guided by our customers' needs, our business objectives, and the nature of each role.

What We Expect From You

We are looking for an experienced network professional with a strong architectural mindset and the ability to work across complex hybrid environments.

We expect you to have

• 5+ years of relevant experience in network architecture, network engineering or similar technical expert roles
• Experience in a Solution Architect, Tech Lead or similar role, including designing, modelling and documenting solution architectures
• Strong expertise in datacentre and enterprise networking, including LAN, WAN and SD-WAN technologies
• Experience with Azure networking services, hybrid cloud connectivity and integration solutions
• Strong understanding of highly available and mission‑critical network architectures, including segmentation, resiliency, redundancy and scalability
• Experience with load balancing, firewall and WAF technologies, such as F5 and Azure Application Gateway
• Ability to translate business, operational and regulatory requirements into architecture decisions and manage technical decisions, dependencies and risks
• Experience working with external service providers and multidisciplinary stakeholder groups, with excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Ability to guide and support the technical development of software development teams
• A university degree in telecommunications engineering or equivalent expertise and qualifications gained through relevant work experience

Fluency in English is required, and Finnish language skills are considered an advantage.

Experience working in highly regulated environments, such as financial services, and familiarity with regulatory requirements including DORA are considered strong advantages.

What We Will Offer You

You will join OP Pohjola Network Services team, responsible for the architecture and development of networking capabilities across the entire OP Pohjola. The team operates as a hybrid and virtual expert organization, working closely with Production Services and Technology departments and our strategic partners. Together, we design and develop secure, resilient and scalable network services that support one of Finland's largest and most critical financial sector environments.

In internal surveys at OP Pohjola, our employees often cite the work community and their highly skilled colleagues as the most rewarding aspects of their work. We take great pride in this. As a member of OP Pohjola, you will join a company that is dedicated to developing the best products and services in the industry.

As an employer, OP Pohjola offers you a stable environment where people come first. Our people value good work‑life balance and opportunities to learn and grow in their role. Our70-20-10 modelgives you a chance to focus on your professional development in your work time – by utilizing our very own OP Tech Academy, for instance.

When you work for OP Pohjola, you work with the best products and services in the field. In everyday life, it is, of course, very nice to work in an architecturally beautiful environment, in a location easily accessible from basically anywhere. As an OP Pohjola employee, you are entitled to

• Structured model for professional career advancement
• Possibility to enhance your own skillset while working with highly talented teams
• Comprehensive occupational healthcare
• Sport and cultural benefits
• Benefits and discounts on OP Pohjola's own products

Background Checks Required For The Position

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.

OP Pohjola

OP Pohjola is a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We want everyone to feel welcome, respected, and appreciated. We believe that different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences make us stronger. Growth comes from embracing these differences and learning from one another. We encourage everyone to apply for opportunities with us. We're delighted that you're interested in joining us on our journey.

We are owned by our customers and are the most attractive employer in the financial sector in Finland. OP Pohjola employs over 15 000 professionals in the field. Working with us is meaningful not only to our employees but also to others, as Finland’s largest financial institution, we help build a more hopeful future through our work. We’ve been doing this for over 120 years.

For more information about the role, please contact Sami Sivunen ([phone]) or Jesse Pasuri ([phone]). Sami is available on Monday, 19 October, from 1500 to 1600, and Jesse on Wednesday, 21 October, from 1200 to 1300.