Assistant Manager - Technology - Middleware & Platforms (Mashreq Global Network Pakistan)

This role requires a skilled professional with expertise in supporting critical production issues and strong domain knowledge in system administration. The candidate will be responsible for managing and maintaining IBM API Connect environments both in cloud and on-premises virtual machines. The position demands hands-on experience in installation, configuration, deployment, and monitoring of API management platforms, ensuring high availability and optimal performance of APIs. The individual will also engage in incident resolution, root cause analysis, and collaborate with technical teams to maintain system integrity and security.

Key Responsibilities

- Install, configure, deploy, administer, and monitor IBM API Connect on cloud platforms and on-premises virtual machines.
- Continuously monitor the health and performance of the IBM API Connect environment to ensure API availability.
- Lead and participate in incident resolution calls, providing expertise to identify and resolve root causes.
- Analyze system logs to detect and troubleshoot issues within the IBM API Connect ecosystem.
- Configure and manage backup and restoration processes for IBM API Connect subsystems and configuration data.
- Maintain and optimize CI/CD pipelines for building and deploying APIs within IBM API Connect.
- Manage the API lifecycle using the API Management Portal across multiple API catalogs.
- Perform consumer maintenance tasks including creating users, groups, roles, and managing security configurations.
- Customize the IBM API Connect Developer Portal through administrative menus, including Drupal theme adjustments and content updates.
- Integrate third-party tools such as Elastic to capture analytics events for customer dashboards.
- Utilize Splunk expertise to create advanced search queries, monitor system health, and set up alerts for failures.
- Configure security settings using TLS profiles and native OAuth2 mechanisms to ensure a secure environment.
- Apply product maintenance patches, interim releases, and upgrades as necessary.
- Provide technical architecture information, support discovery sessions, and assist architects or team leads with infrastructure and security-related queries.
- Understand hardware specifications, networking requirements, and storage sizing relevant to IBM API Connect.
- Liaise with IBM Technical Support and IBM Technical Sales to resolve technical issues and clarify product-related questions.

Required Qualifications

- 5 to 8 years of experience in application domain support and system administration.
- Strong expertise in IBM API Connect installation, configuration, deployment, and monitoring.
- Proven ability to lead incident resolution and perform root cause analysis.
- Experience with backup and restoration procedures for IBM API Connect.
- Skilled in maintaining CI/CD pipelines for API deployment.
- Proficient in managing API lifecycle and consumer security configurations.
- Experience with IBM API Connect Developer Portal customization and Drupal theme management.
- Familiarity with third-party analytics tools such as Elastic.
- Advanced knowledge of Splunk for monitoring, alerting, and query construction.
- Strong understanding of security configurations including TLS and OAuth2.
- Experience applying software patches, upgrades, and interim releases.
- Ability to provide technical architecture support and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
- Knowledge of hardware, networking, and storage requirements for API management platforms.
- Effective communication, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to manage all phases of the software development lifecycle, including analysis, design, testing, and support.

Preferred Technical Skills

- IBM API Connect – Strong (Must)
- IBM App Connect Enterprise – Strong (Must)
- Oracle and SQL Databases – Medium (Must)
- IBM MQ – Strong (Must)
- Azure Cloud – Strong (Must)
- DevOps CI/CD – Strong (Must)
- Core Java – Medium (Optional)
- Microservices Architecture – Medium (Optional)
- AIX/UNIX Operating System Knowledge – Strong (Optional)

This role offers the opportunity to work with cutting-edge API management technologies and collaborate with technical teams to ensure seamless integration and operation of enterprise-grade API solutions. Candidates with a strong technical background and problem-solving mindset will thrive in this dynamic environment.