Not sure if it is just me, but my loading times seem to be ridiculously long. After pressing play, it can take me anywhere from 5-20 minutes to join a single match. Is this normal, or is it a problem with my connection? Are there are solutions to this problem?

Loading times depends on very much.

After you press play 2 things go into action.

1) Checking what map you have played. (The map you played less becomes your first choice)
2) checking what level you are (this is not only you experience, but also Healed Armor, level of Armor, runes you have appointed, ...)

Now depending on the results of this you are put in a queue of people that have about the same level as you. As far as I know there are 3 ranges. If that queue has 20 players the game starts.

So take this example if you are in queue and there are 38 people of your level online that means that 1 games is going on and 18 people are waiting in queue so you need to wait until the game that is going on has ended and 2 people of the previous game have pressed the play button again. A game takes about 10 to 15 min so a waiting time of 5-20 is long but very possible at this time.

I have been in games that take 40 to 50 min so if there are not enough people online in the same level of me and they didn't have the full 20 people waiting they had to wait 40 to 50 in queue until the game I was in had ended.

I honestly dont believe that the game checks for levels.

Ive just come from a game where I crashed out, but in that game were gunners with Tesla Coils, Paladins with Rez, amongst others.. so these are level 10+ in a game with my level 7 gunner and some level 3 teammates. Ive also been in games with my IW (level 3) with Paladins who can rez and gunners with AP mines.

I dont think there is any balance check right now, and it makes for a terrible game.

Teslas and rez are available at level 10.

Right, but dont you think a level 3 put in with level 10s is unbalanced and hurts the level 3's team?

You were not the only 3lv player in the battle for sure.