Project Architect (data centers)

Laitila Architects has an exceptionally strong routine and long experience in permitting and localizing demanding international data center projects in Finland. We have worked in numerous billion-euro hyperscale data center projects as a permit team leader, architectural, landscape and principal designer, as well as a Due Diligence expert.

In this role, you will be part of our localization team and ensure that our international clients' massive concepts are smoothly adapted to Finnish legislation and regulatory requirements. Your tasks may also include more traditional architectural and principal design of industrial and business premises.

Laitila Architects is an architecture firm focused on creating functional, people-centered spaces that support smoother everyday life for businesses and organizations. The firm has extensive experience in designing residential, office, commercial, and industrial environments, covering both new construction and renovation projects. Laitila Architects emphasizes solutions that are appropriately scaled and tailored to the specific needs of each client. The company operates as part of United Founders, a community of seasoned construction industry professionals, offering multidisciplinary expertise and collaboration opportunities. This setting provides team members with a supportive professional network and diverse project work.

Role Description

The Architect / Principal Designer is a full-time, hybrid role based in Helsinki, with the flexibility to work partly from home. In this position, the architect will lead and develop architectural concepts, prepare design documentation, and act as principal designer in projects from early planning to execution. Daily tasks include coordinating with clients, engineers, and other stakeholders, ensuring compliance with regulations, and aligning designs with project budgets and schedules. The role involves overseeing project integration across disciplines, participating in design reviews, and guiding junior team members. The architect will also contribute to continuous improvement of internal design processes and digital tools used in project delivery.

We expect from you:

• Education and experience: You have a relevant university degree in architecture (within EU), and eligibility or licensure to act as principal designer (pääsuunnittelija) in Finland, and preferably previous work experience in the design of data center and/or industrial projects. Understanding of Integration between architectural, structural, and building systems, and ability to collaborate effectively with other design disciplines. Competence in Project Management, including planning, scheduling, stakeholder coordination, and quality control. Proactive, organized, and able to take responsibility for project outcomes in a collaborative, non-hierarchical work environment.

• Software expertise: We primarily use Autodesk Revit BIM software in our projects. In addition, we consider knowledge of other tools we use (AutoCAD, Solibri Model Checker, Twinmotion) to be an advantage.

• Authority expertise: You have excellent knowledge of Finnish building regulations and local permit processes, as well as construction practices.

• Language skills: We constantly work with international design teams and clients, so we require fluent Finnish and English language skills.

What do we offer?

A unique project portfolio: You will get to work with real large-scale international projects as well as significant domestic industrial players.

Agile and supportive work community: We are part of the United Founders expert network, which offers its shareholder companies and employees the flexibility of a small company but the resources of a large organization and multidisciplinary expert support (e.g. structural, fire and building technology in the same ecosystem).

Competitive benefits: We offer, among other things, a separate incentive scheme (customer acquisition bonus) for bringing new business to the company.

Job-specific salary 4500 – 5500 eur/month