Middleware Administrator

Role : Middleware MQ Administrator (Data Center Migration) Location: Charlotte, NC — Onsite (Day 1) Duration: TBD — Contract engagement Role Summary The Middleware MQ Administrator will lead end-to-end migration of IBM MQ Queue Managers from legacy Heritage data centers to a Next Generation Data Center (NGDC) within a large-scale enterprise banking environment. The role covers the full migration lifecycle — planning, wave sequencing, design, execution, cutover, and post-migration decommissioning. The engineer configures and validates IBM MQ components including Queue Managers, channels, listeners, and HA/DR setups, while enforcing enterprise SSL/TLS security standards. They also integrate observability tooling, maintain CMDB/ServiceNow records, and hand off to steady-state operations teams upon completion. 🧩 Key Responsibilities • Migration Planning & Assessment • Assess middleware inventory, configurations, versions, and application dependencies; define migration approach, wave sequencing, risk, and rollback strategies • IBM MQ Design & Configuration • Design and configure Queue Managers, channels, listeners, and HA/DR components to NGDC standards • Security & Certificate Management • Configure SSL/TLS certificates, keystores, and enterprise security standards across migrated middleware • Load Balancer & Observability Integration • Support F5 load balancer integration and connect observability tooling (IR360, OTEL, Instana) for post-migration monitoring • Migration Execution & Cutover • Execute Heritage → NGDC migrations, monitor jobs, validate synchronization, and support HA/DR failover drills and production cutover • Documentation & ITSM Updates • Update CMDB, ServiceNow, and Jira; deliver migration reports and maintain build scripts throughout the engagement • Decommissioning & Handover • Support decommissioning of legacy middleware infrastructure and formal handover to steady-state operations teams 🛠️ Required Skills Technical Skills • Middleware / MQ: IBM MQ — Queue Managers, channels, listeners, HA/DR, security configuration • Data Center: Data Center Migration / DC Exit / DC Refresh (mandatory) • Programming / Integration: Java / J2EE fundamentals for middleware integration and troubleshooting • Networking / Load Balancing: F5 load balancer design and configuration (or equivalent) • Security: SSL/TLS certificates, keystores, enterprise security standards • ITSM / CMDB: ServiceNow, Jira, CMDB processes • Observability (Preferred): IR360, OTEL, Instana • Automation & Scripting (Preferred): Shell Scripting, Python, Ansible