Mainframe and Middleware Architect

Position Summary:
Responsible for providing highly advanced technical skills to an Area or Team. Contributes to the technology strategy, vision, requirements, and solutions for large-scale initiatives or as needed. Works with project teams to ensure technical quality of deliverables and adherence to the software implementation lifecycle (SILC), Capability Maturity Modelandreg; Integration (CMMI) and architectural standards. Considered a technical expert possessing expertise in technology architecture, system implementation and/or deep, specialized knowledge of applications. Leads and is accountable for knowledge capital development efforts. Requires highly advanced technical and analytical skills. May be required to manage a small group of team members.

For this specific position, the individual must also have specialized knowledge in the design and development of middleware for messaging and machine-machine transmission and is highly capable of supporting the design and development of those applications.


Principal Responsibilities:

Process Management

Assists in the development of estimates for projects
Contributes to defining time tables and project plans
Assists in the definition of milestones

Application Architecture

Drafts conceptual and logical architecture specifications at both the enterprise and project level
Assists project teams and Product Managers when documenting new functionality to assure compliance with Enterprise wide processes such as scenario based requirements analysis
Assists project teams during system design with the drafting of logical architectural models
Assists project teams during system design to promote the efficient re-use of IT assets
Advises project team during system development to assure compliance with architectural principles, guideline and standards
Assures that project teams meet the requirements of the SILC/CMMI
Ensures application designs meet the architectural blueprint for business applications
Provides technical guidance to cross-functional, cross-platform application development teams
Is highly familiar with application architecture requirements and issues as they related to automated processing and machine- machine interfaces for automated processing.
Familiarity with real-time banking and brokerage applications that process trans

Technology Architecture

Design and Architecture of middleware applications on both Mainframe and Unix environments
Familiarity with real-time middleware products (e.g WBI Message Broker, TIBCO)
Detailed knowledge of MQ Series on all platforms
Provide Design and Review of technical artifacts produced by team members
Familiarity with file transport protocols including ftp and NDM
Contributes to the technology strategy, vision, requirements, and solutions for large-scale middleware initiatives
Contributes to 'buy vs. build' analyses of proposed business solutions
Identifies, understands and documents extensions to, and variants from, architectural guidelines
Promotes the development of, and adherence to, processes which assure consistent methods for development of new or enhanced business capabilities by:
Representing the Domain to interested management committees
Interacting with the Architecture Office to help define, publish and maintain processes for compliance to Architectural principles, guidelines and standards
Interacting with the Architecture Office to help define, publish and maintain processes for software development and deployment, evaluation and selection of third party products, and retirement of obsolete technologies.

Application Design

Works with developers to determine software and hardware requirements and for planning and delivering business solutions
Researches and evaluates alternative solutions and recommends the most efficient and cost effective solution for system design
Analyzes and estimates feasibility, cost, time, and compatibility with hardware and other programs

Application Development

Provides senior level consulting services on process improvement projects designed to improve system development and operational effectiveness
Oversees the technical quality of development projects by:
Reinforcing adherence to SILC/CMMI processes
Promoting and actively participating in the Continuous Improvement process
Leads knowledge capital development efforts by:
Identifying the drivers, strategies and needs of clients' technology operations and leading internal change tosupport those operations
Designing innovative system solutions and software development techniques
Analyzes, defines and documents requirements for data, workflow, logical processes, hardware and operating system environment, interfaces with other systems, internal and external checks, controls and outputs
Oversees the technical implementation of projects as needed
Provides production support as necessary

Solution Engineering

Responsible for business requirement analysis and documentation in support of Solution Engineering projects
Performs functional and technical analysis and design
Maintains business case for solution engineering effort
Supports buy vs. build analysis by performing Request For Information (RFI) and Request For Proposal (RFP) processes with vendors

Experience:

Minimum of 12 years experience in application development and system analysis
Thorough understanding of the middleware and message protocols

Knowledge and Skills Required:

Possess a thorough understanding of the software implementation lifecycle (SILC)
Possess a thorough understanding of the software Capability Maturity Modelandreg; Integration (CMMI)
Technical skills include IBM Mainframe, IBM DB2, MQ, COBOL, CICS, JCL, FTP, NDM
Technical exposure and understanding of the Distributed architecture and web environment
Maintains current knowledge of marketplace changes, technology changes, and client businesses relevant to the Domain
Demonstrates advanced analytical skills
Securities industry background preferred
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Possess the requisite skills to design and architect middleware systems.
Specific experience managing developer who build and support middleware applications