IBM ACE Integration Architect

Job Title: IBM ACE Integration Architect

Work Location: Lake Forest, IL (Onsite - Hybrid)

Duration: Contract

Kafka is MUST TO HAVE

Job Description:

Role Overview:

We are seeking an experienced IBM ACE Integration Architect with strong expertise in IBM App Connect Enterprise (ACE), IBM API Connect, and Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) to design, develop, and govern enterprise scale integration solutions.

This role is critical in defining robust integration architectures that enable seamless data and service flow across heterogeneous systems. The ideal candidate will have deep middleware and API integration experience, along with strong domain exposure in Insurance (or regulated industries).

Key Responsibilities:

Architecture & Design

• Design end to end integration architectures using IBM ACE, API Connect, and CP4I
• Define integration patterns, standards, and best practices for enterprise integrations
• Contribute to solution architecture reviews and provide technical leadership

Development & Implementation

• Develop and maintain integration flows and services using IBM ACE
• Design and implement APIs using REST and SOAP, ensuring compliance with security and industry standards
• Perform data transformation and message handling using JSON and XML

Collaboration & Delivery

• Work closely with business, application, and infrastructure teams to understand integration requirements
• Guide development teams through design, development, and deployment best practices
• Support CI/CD and DevOps alignment for integration components

Support & Optimization

• Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues related to middleware, APIs, and message flows
• Ensure high availability, performance, and scalability of integration solutions
• Drive continuous improvement of the integration landscape

Required Skills & Qualifications

Core Technical Skills

• Strong hands on experience with:
• IBM App Connect Enterprise (ACE)
• IBM API Connect
• IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I)
• Expertise in:

o   REST, SOAP, WSDL

o   XML, JSON

o   JMS

o   TLS, OAuth 2.0 / API Security

• Strong understanding of the Insurance domain (policies, claims, underwriting, partner integrations)

• Experience in designing scalable, secure, and fault tolerant integration architectures
• Knowledge of integration patterns (synchronoasynchronous, event driven, API led connectivity)

• Experience with containerization and orchestration using Docker and OpenShift
• Exposure to hybrid and cloud native integration deployments
• Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines for middleware and API platforms

• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities
• Ability to mentor teams and influence architectural decisions