Specialist IT Solutions

Detailed Description

1. API Design and Development (Architecture & Specs)
Design & Modelling: Design enterprise-level RESTful and SOAP APIs using OpenAPI specifications (Swagger) and RAML, ensuring strict adherence to microservices architecture principles.

Implementation: Build, configure, and publish complex APIs and loopback applications within the IBM API Connect ecosystem.

Custom Policies: Develop advanced custom policies and gateways utilizing DataPower Extension routing, User-Defined Policies (UDP), and custom JavaScript/GatewayScript.

2. Integration & Gateway Management (IBM DataPower)
Gateway Configuration: Configure and maintain IBM DataPower Gateways (IDG) to handle traffic routing, throttling, message transformation (XSLT, JSON-to-XML), and payload validation.

Backend Orchestration: Integrate APIs seamlessly with back-end enterprise systems including Databases (SQL/NoSQL), and legacy SOAP web services.

3. API Security & Governance
Security Enforcement: Implement robust API security policies including OAuth 2.0, JWT, Mutual TLS (mTLS), SAML, and custom client authentication certificates.

Governance & Lifecycle: Manage the end-to-end API lifecycle (Drafting, Publishing, Deprecating, and Retiring) and enforce API product management principles, including rate limiting and monetization plans.

4. DevOps, Deployment & Operations
CI/CD Automation: Build and optimize continuous integration and deployment pipelines for APIC artifacts using tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, Ansible, and APIC toolkits/CLI.

Cloud Architecture: Deploy and manage APIC instances deployed on containerized environments (Kubernetes, Red Hat OpenShift, Cloud Pak for Integration) or public cloud infra (AWS/Azure).

Monitoring & Analytics: Configure APIC Developer Portals and Analytics to monitor API performance, error tracking, usage metrics, and optimize payload caching.

Knowledge/Skills/Competencies

Must-Have Technical Skills:
Primary Tooling:

• Minimum 4+ years of dedicated, hands-on experience specifically working with IBM API Connect (including migrating or working with V10) and IBM DataPower Gateways.
• Security Protocols: Mastery of API security standards (OAuth2, mTLS, SSL, WS-Security).
• Coding & Transformation: Proficient in GatewayScript, JavaScript, XSLT, XPath, and XML/JSON transformations.
• API Specs: High proficiency in writing clean OpenAPI 2.0/3.0 (YAML/JSON) specifications.
• Protocols: Deep understanding of REST, SOAP, HTTP/S, WebSockets,  JMS.

Nice-to-Have / Preferred Skills:

• Hands-on experience with alternative API management tools (SAP PO, SAP CPI) for hybrid environments.
• Relevant IBM Certifications (e.g., IBM Certified Solution Developer - API Connect).

Soft skill & Leadership requirements:

• Problem-Solving: Proven ability to troubleshoot highly complex architectural, connectivity, and performance issues across distributed networks.
• Mentorship: Experience acting as a project Tech Lead, reviewing code for junior developers, and setting development standards.
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical integration concepts to non-technical stakeholders or product managers.

Physical Demands

• Duties of this position are performed in a normal office environment.
• Duties may require extended periods of sitting and sustained visual concentration on a computer monitor or on numbers and other detailed data. Repetitive manual movements (e.g., data entry, using a computer mouse, using a calculator, etc.) are frequently required.

Typical Experience

• 5 to 10 years; Experience in similar roles

Typical Education

• Bachelor Degree or consideration of an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Educational Requirements may vary by Geography

Notes

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees are held accountable for all duties of the job. Job duties and the % of time identified for any function are subject to change at any time.