Hiring Lead Infrastructure Engineer (IBM DataPower/APIM) - Contract2 Hire & Hybrid in Reston VA

Seeking a Lead Infrastructure Engineer responsible for Configuration, Administration, troubleshooting and Maintenance of technology solutions, especially IBM DataPower/APIM. Provides technical support, Troubleshooting and Diagnostics, and performs scripting/programming to ensure stable and efficient operation of technology solutions. Essential functions: - Performs installation, monitoring, testing, configuration, migration, maintenance and troubleshooting of assigned technology
- Manages system/application environment and ongoing operations
- Ensures that the technologies are updated with current, stable, and compliant architecture and applications that meet enterprise standards
- Researches, designs, implements, and tests technology solutions
- Proactively monitors and reports performance and utilization of assigned technologies
- Troubleshoots software and/or hardware issues/failures
- Resolves alerts and performs remediation activities
- Manages problem or escalated tickets and tasks and out of cycle requests from systems/software owners
- Collects and presents data for reporting and planning
- Assists with developing tactical strategies, processes and procedures related to systems/application administration
- Determines migration and upgrade impacts and diagnose/resolve complex technology/application errors
- Collaborates with IT and business area partners on work groups and initiatives
- Determines best course of action for meeting business needs
- Provides input into infrastructure architecture designs
- Writes programming/scripting
- May participate in Disaster Recovery planning and exercises
- Ensures execution and alignment to architectural standards and blueprints.
- May contribute input to infrastructure architecture
- Performs on-call activities as needed for the environment and technologies Key responsibilities:
- DataPower Configuration:
Configuring DataPower appliances for security, traffic management, mediation, and data transformation policies.
- API Gateway Management:
Managing API gateways on DataPower, including access control, rate limiting, and throttling.
- Integration Development:
Integrating applications and systems using DataPower capabilities like XSLT, XPATH, and various messaging protocols.
- API Lifecycle Management:
Managing the full lifecycle of APIs from design to deployment, including versioning, documentation, and monitoring.
- Troubleshooting and Support:
Identifying and resolving issues related to API connectivity, DataPower configuration, and API performance.
Depending on the specific role and company needs, you might also be required to have experience with:
- Programming Languages: Java, JavaScript, Python
- Web Services Standards: SOAP, REST, JSON, XML
- Cloud Platforms: AWS, IBM SAAS
- Other IBM Middleware Tools: MQ Series, IBM Sterling Gateway, Tomcat, Control M,

<>Required Skills

Specific Required Skills:
a. This Role requires 6 years of DataPower and API Connect administration and Support.
b. Environment Infrastructure Build and Automation
c. Strong Scripting and Automation experience
d. Strong Hands-on Middleware experience
e. Extensive SDLC experience
f. Ability to analyze and trouble-shoot Mid-tier/Mainframe infrastructure issues.
Job Duties:
- Hands on technical and Architecture skills
- Exposure to a variety of other platforms and Technologies is a Plus, including IBM
- RHEL, TOMCAT, Cloud AWS, Ansible is a Plus
- Automation experience is a required
- Troubleshooting DataPower domain application issues and certificate crypto object issues
- Installation and configuration of DataPower Appliances.
- Experience automating the configuration of servers / virtual machines with solutions such as Ansible or equivalent
- Understanding of Middleware architecture and working knowledge of various Middleware application server integration
- Configure and administration of IBM API Connect and IBM DataPower appliances.
- Maintain working knowledge of API security standards and implementation (Oauth 2.0, OpenID, JSON, Web Token, JOSE, x509 certificates); Maintain knowledge of API security certification, authentication, authorization, IP security setup, and endpoint configuration.
- Good knowledge of Network concepts and F5 Load balancers
- Working knowledge on SSL certificates implementation
- Solid understanding of J2EE application deployment patterns and n-tier architectures
- Understanding of SOA and web services and their deployment in DataPower. Required Experience
- Expert knowledge of Scripting for automation (BASH, Python, or Ruby).
- Should have good product knowledge on the functionality and different components of the product. Experience on DP and APIC version 10.x is preferred.
- Extensive experience in configuration and administration of IBM DataPower and IBM APIM Appliances.
- Experience in IBM DataPower XI52 architectures.
- Configuring certificates / encryption decryption - filed level message level.
- Expertise in troubleshooting DataPower, channels, listeners, intercommunications (TCP/IP) and triggering.
- Experience in initializing/setup of IBM DataPower SOA appliances.
- Perform administrative tasks on IBM DataPower configuration, Interface design, development, maintenance and administrative activity.
- Working knowledge of general security concepts (Authentication, Authorization, Encryption, and Digital signatures), PKI concepts, and TLS.
- Good troubleshooting skills with overall knowledge on DataPower features/concepts.
- Strong UNIX/LINUX experience.
- The candidate should have a strong focus on IBM DataPower and would require extensive knowledge of various integration patterns and security standards, best practices, hands-on experience with administration and management of DataPower.
- Java/J2EE programming background is a plus.
- Experience with Mid-tier/mainframe platforms and their associated Operation Systems and Tools including:
o MQ Series
o Strong UNIX/scripting
o RHEL
o Tomcat