Middleware Platform Architect

Role: Middleware Platform Architect
Location: Phoenix, AZ (Onsite)
Domain: Banking
Employment Type: Long-Term Contract

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Middleware Platform Architect to lead the architecture, design, and modernization of enterprise middleware platforms for a large-scale banking environment. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in middleware technologies, cloud integration, platform engineering, and enterprise application integration, with a strong focus on security, scalability, and high availability.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, architect, and implement enterprise middleware platforms supporting mission-critical banking applications.
• Define middleware architecture standards, best practices, and governance across multiple environments.
• Lead modernization initiatives involving hybrid cloud and cloud-native middleware solutions.
• Design highly available, scalable, and secure integration platforms.
• Work closely with application, infrastructure, security, DevOps, and business teams to deliver enterprise integration solutions.
• Architect API management, messaging, and event-driven integration frameworks.
• Implement automation for middleware provisioning, deployment, monitoring, and configuration management.
• Troubleshoot complex middleware and integration issues while driving root cause analysis and long-term solutions.
• Ensure compliance with banking security, audit, and regulatory requirements.
• Mentor engineering teams and provide technical leadership throughout the software development lifecycle.

Required Skills

• 12+ years of experience in Middleware Administration, Platform Engineering, or Middleware Architecture.
• Strong expertise with one or more middleware platforms:
  • IBM WebSphere Application Server (Traditional & Liberty)
  • IBM MQ
  • Apache Tomcat
  • JBoss/WildFly
  • Oracle WebLogic
• Strong experience with enterprise messaging technologies (IBM MQ, Kafka, JMS).
• Experience designing API and integration solutions using REST, SOAP, API Gateway, and Microservices.
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform).
• Strong understanding of Kubernetes, Docker, OpenShift, and containerized middleware deployments.
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible, CloudFormation).
• Knowledge of CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or Azure DevOps.
• Strong scripting skills using Shell, Python, or PowerShell.
• Experience implementing observability using Splunk, Dynatrace, AppDynamics, Grafana, or Prometheus.
• Strong understanding of networking concepts, SSL/TLS, Load Balancers, Firewalls, DNS, and Identity & Access Management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Banking or Financial Services domain experience is highly preferred.
• Experience with Zero Trust architecture and enterprise security frameworks.
• Exposure to event-driven architecture and cloud-native integration patterns.
• Experience with Agile/Scrum delivery methodologies.
• Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Nice to Have

• IBM WebSphere, IBM MQ, AWS, Azure, Kubernetes, or Terraform certifications.
• Experience with payment platforms, digital banking, fraud prevention, or core banking systems.
• Familiarity with regulatory standards such as PCI-DSS, SOX, FFIEC, or NIST.