Job Description

Are you an expert-level Mainframe professional looking to excel in large-scale infrastructure projects in a critical financial environment? Do you thrive in managing vendor relations and ensuring rock-solid business continuity? Could you be the Senior Specialist who bridges the gap between our legacy core and modern cloud integrations?

We are now seeking a Senior Specialist, Mainframe (full-time, permanent position) for our DCC tribe's Infraops team in Helsinki or Oulu to coordinate, develop, and maintain OP Pohjola’s critical mainframe environment together with our vendors.

A few words about the job

The core purpose of your role is to ensure a highly reliable and continuously evolving mainframe environment. You will act as the primary mainframe expert in OP's business projects, ensuring that our outsourcing vendors deliver high-quality and cost-effective services.

In your day-to-day work, your responsibilities include leading vendor work (such as performance management tracking and issue resolution), developing and maintaining the integration layer for cloud applications, and strongly supporting business continuity activities. You will also provide business as usual support to our Database team, concerning DB2 on the mainframe team.

You are joining us at an exciting and busy time. You will be a key player in multiple ongoing and upcoming high-profile projects, including Hyperswap, insurance separation, CBU, GDPS, restoration environment, Cybervault, BDC improvements, and our cloud integration layer. You will be working in the Infraops team within the DCC (Datacenter and Connectivity) tribe, a group of dedicated professionals where your deep technical expertise will be highly valued and put to good use.

At OP Pohjola we utilize a hybrid working model within Finland.

What we expect from you?

We are looking for a true senior professional. You have an analytical mindset, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage complex vendor ecosystems effectively.

To succeed in this role, you will need:

• Deep, senior-level expertise in mainframe environments (e.g., z/OS, CICS, IMS), including hands-on experience with z/OS utilities and system management tools such as IODF, JES, USS, and SMP/E.
• Strong knowledge of mainframe storage, backup, continuity management, recovery, and mainframe virtualization. Familiarity with DFSMS, Copy Service Manager, and the lifecycle management of hardware components (e.g., DASD, VTS, SAN, FICON Switch).
• Solid understanding of mainframe security aspects, including Top Secret, and a working knowledge of RACF and ACF2. Familiarity with encryption methods, cryptographic protocols, and multi-factor authentication (zMFA) in mainframe environments.
• Proficiency in performance tuning and monitoring mainframe systems using tools such as RMF (Resource Measurement Facility), SMF (System Management Facility), Xamine, and SMT.
• Strong skills in mainframe automation and monitoring, including working with tools like CA OPS/MVS and IBM System Automation (SA). Experience with scripting languages such as REXX, CLIST, and JCL for automating operational tasks.
• Experience in mainframe networking, including expertise in configuring and managing SNA, VTAM, TCP/IP, and secure network connections (e.g., SSL/TLS).
• Administration experience in CICS and MQ, including installation, configuration, performance monitoring, and tuning, as well as resource and queue management.
• Familiarity with virtualization technologies, such as IBM zD&T, VMware, or KVM, and experience in managing, monitoring, and maintaining virtual mainframe environments, including backup and restore procedures.
• Hands-on proficiency with DB2 technologies within the mainframe ecosystem.
• Proven experience in vendor management and ITSM processes.
• Fluent communication skills in English. Finnish language skills are considered a distinct advantage, but are not mandatory.Experience requirements:
• 5+ years of hands-on experience working with the technologies mentioned above.
• Ideally, 10+ years of overall IT industry experience. However, we are flexible on the total years if your specific mainframe expertise is exceptionally strong.

What we will offer you

As a counterbalance to responsible work, we take care of your well-being and future-oriented work arrangements. We offer you a stable environment where responsibility, human touch, and mutual success are key values.

You get access to our versatile employee benefits, which include staff-based banking, insurance, and loan services. We also offer comprehensive occupational health care, extensive medical expense insurance, and full-time accident insurance. We invest in everyday balance and flexibility as well as offering you lunch, exercise, and cultural benefits and the opportunity for inexpensive vacations in OP Pohjola vacation shares.

Further information and application instructions

Apply for the position by sending us your CV and application through our recruitment system by Sunday 19 April 2026. We would love to hear more about your skills and motivation for this role. Please also indicate your salary expectations in your application.

For role-specific questions, please contact Production Lead Juha Honkanen, +358 50 370 0944, on 15 April 2026, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM EET. For general information about OP as a workplace, please contact Competence Lead Sami Sivunen, +358 40 555 9089, on 13 April from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM EET.

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 – 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.

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.

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