Contents

Experience Skills Education Achievements & Certifications Hackathon Recommendations Civic Activities Hobbies & Strengths

Virva Svala

Software Developer

I am a software developer and Master of Science in Computer Science from the University of Helsinki (2025), with a background as an art teacher. I have over 6 years of hands-on experience as a software developer at Foreca, where I was responsible for Full Stack development and maintenance of consumer weather services, a B2B developer portal, and dynamic weather applications. My core expertise lies in modern web development — particularly Node.js, React, TypeScript, and Next.js. In addition to my technical skills, I have an exceptionally strong eye for visual design from my background as an art teacher.

virva.svala(at)gmail.com github.com/vsvala

One-page PDF for quick download — or view the printable summary of this site online.

Download CV (FI)

Download CV (EN)

Printable CV

Experience

See all

Education

See all

M.Sc., Computer Science

University of Helsinki

2017 – 2025

I completed my Master’s studies in March 2025 alongside full-time work, and my Bachelor’s degree in 2019. I received the Honours Programme Scholarship, University of Helsinki 2019 – awarded for academic excellence in Computer Science. My Master’s thesis, Web Mapping Tools for Geospatial Data Visualizations: A Literature Review, focused on evaluating modern technologies and tools for representing spatial data in web environments.

Otava Institute

2011 – 2012

Professional Qualification in Audiovisual Communication, specialisation in Web Communication. Completed at Otavan Opisto, a Finnish institution specialising in online and distance learning. Qualification modules (all graded Passed): • Web communication planning and expression • Web communication methods and tools • Web communication production processes and environment Certificate issued by the Committee for Audiovisual Communication Qualifications (26 September 2012).

TaiK, Department of Art Education

2003 – 2009

Master of Arts in Art Education at the University of Art and Design Helsinki.

Claude Code: A Highly Agentic Coding Assistant

DeepLearning.AI · 2026

Course covering Claude Code for AI-assisted software development: agentic workflows, MCP integrations, hooks, and automation.

Claude Code

MCP

Agentic Workflows

Full Stack Open

University of Helsinki · 2024

Open online course on modern JavaScript-based web application development. Covers React, Redux, Node.js, Express, MongoDB, GraphQL, and TypeScript.

Honours Programme Diploma

University of Helsinki, Faculty of Science · 2019

Bachelor of Science degree completed in three academic years through an approved Honours Programme in Computer Science with good average grades.

Graffathon 2019 – 2nd Place, Beginner Compo

Aalto University Digital Media Club (DOT) · 2019

Entry: Mandaloid / Vadod. Graffathon is a demoscene event organised by Aalto University's Digital Media Club.

Hackathon

See all

vaDOD — Graffathon 2024

Group workshop demo at Graffathon 2024.

p5.js

JavaScript

Adobe Illustrator

Murrr — Assembly 2019 One Scene

vaDOD group audiovisual demo for the Assembly 2019 One Scene competition.

JavaScript

WebGL

Canvas

Mandaloid — Graffathon 2018

Procedural mandala generator. Group work. 2nd place in the Newcomer category at Graffathon demoparty.

Processing

Java

Recommendations

See all

Virva is a versatile software developer who combines software engineering, media production, and graphic design among many other skills. At Foreca, she worked on web platforms as well as various B2B…

Petri Marjava · Growth, data & digital, internationalization, HR and leadership,

I had the pleasure of working with Virva for several years when her company became our strategic partner in Finland, and I would wholeheartedly recommend her as a team member. Virva worked across both…

Martin Kantor · Senior Creative Broadcast Engineer, MetService

I had the pleasure of working with Virva at Foreca. Virva was a reliable colleague who consistently delivered on her commitments. She worked on the technical side, but was also able to communicate tec…

Markus Mäntykannas · Meteorologist, Foreca Oy

Civic & Volunteer Activities

Academic Wine Society, equality and environmental officer

2018

KOL Board, student member

2004

AIESEC, trainee mentor

1998–1999

Tutor for new students

1998

Upper secondary school student council, secretary and treasurer

1993–1995

Hobbies & Strengths

I paint with oils and keep active through dancing, yoga, and aerobics. My strengths include creativity, positivity, strong organisational and coaching skills — paired with a natural curiosity and a drive to keep learning.

Explore my paintings → virvasvala.com

Skills

Frontend

HTML/CSS

JavaScript

TypeScript

React

Next.js

Vite

Leaflet

MapLibre

Backend

Node.js

SQL

Python

Java

REST APIs

Weather APIs

Geolocation API

OpenAI API

Gemini API

Databases

PostgreSQL

MongoDB

SQLite

Tools

Git

Docker

GitHub Copilot

Claude Code

Agentic Coding

Adobe Creative Cloud

Jest

Playwright

Methods

Scrum

Kanban

Additional university coursework in: Ruby on Rails, R, and Java Spring Boot.

Languages

Finnish

Native

English

Fluent

Swedish

Good

French

Basic

Exchange Studies

Cyprus Finnish School — Teaching practice

Syksy 2001

Malmö University, School of Education

Kevät 2000

Haagse Hogeschool, The Hague, Netherlands

Syksy 1999

Virva Svala

Software Developer

Experience

Education

M.Sc., Computer Science

University of Helsinki

Web Production, AV Communication

Otava Institute

MA, Art Education

TaiK, Department of Art Education

Achievements & Certifications

Claude Code: A Highly Agentic Coding Assistant

DeepLearning.AI · 2026

Full Stack Open

University of Helsinki · 2024

Honours Programme Diploma

University of Helsinki, Faculty of Science · 2019

Graffathon 2019 – 2nd Place, Beginner Compo

Aalto University Digital Media Club (DOT) · 2019

Hackathon

vaDOD — Graffathon 2024

Murrr — Assembly 2019 One Scene

Mandaloid — Graffathon 2018

Recommendations

Civic & Volunteer Activities

Hobbies & Strengths

Software Developer

Foreca

Course Assistant

Department of Computer Science, University of Helsinki

Art Teacher

Munkkiniemi School

Skills

Frontend

Backend

Databases

Tools

Methods

Languages

Exchange Studies