Middleware Messaging DevOps Engineer

Chicago IL / Dallas TX (3 Days onsite) We are seeking a skilled Middleware Messaging DevOps Engineer to support and modernize enterprise messaging infrastructure within a dynamic IT environment. This role involves managing IBM MQ and related messaging systems, with a focus on automation, security, and cloud migration initiatives, including containerization and infrastructure modernization. Key Responsibilities

• Install, configure, and maintain IBM MQ software (Queue Managers, Clients) on RHEL.
• Perform version upgrades, apply fix packs, and manage patching cycles following best practices and security standards.
• Configure MQ objects such as Queue Managers, Queues, Channels, Listeners, Clusters, Topics, and Subscriptions.
• Monitor MQ system performance metrics, message throughput, and latency, and implement tuning adjustments.
• Analyze MQ logs and trace data to optimize configurations and troubleshoot issues.
• Provide expert-level troubleshooting for MQ connectivity, message delivery, security, and performance issues.
• Act as a primary contact for application teams regarding MQ connectivity and messaging concerns.
• Respond to incidents, diagnose root causes, and implement corrective actions, including participating in on-call rotations.
• Monitor resource utilization and forecast capacity needs to support business growth.
• Design and implement scalable MQ solutions, including clustering and distributed queuing.
• Develop, test, and maintain disaster recovery procedures for MQ environments.
• Configure and manage high availability solutions, including multi-instance Queue Managers and clustering.
• Implement MQ security configurations, including TLS/SSL, CHLAUTH, and OAM, ensuring compliance with security policies.
• Manage certificates and keystores for secure communication.
• Interface with IBM support for problem resolution and product guidance.
• Contribute to migration projects involving IBM MQ in AWS and containerized environments such as Docker and Kubernetes.
• Develop automation scripts using Shell, Python, Perl, and tools like Ansible and Terraform to streamline administration tasks.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of MQ architecture, configurations, and operational procedures.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including application developers, network engineers, and security teams.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 10+ years of hands-on experience administering IBM MQ in complex enterprise environments.
• Deep understanding of IBM MQ core concepts (Queue Managers, Queues, Channels, Clustering, Security).
• Proven troubleshooting skills for MQ issues, including connectivity, performance, and security.
• Experience with Linux/RHEL administration.
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Bash, Python, or Perl for automation.
• Strong knowledge of networking concepts (TCP/IP, DNS, firewalls, load balancers).
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with IBM MQ on RHEL and in containerized/cloud environments.
• Knowledge of advanced MQ features like MQ Appliances, Advanced Message Security (AMS), and Managed File Transfer (MFT).
• Hands-on experience migrating IBM MQ workloads to AWS.
• Familiarity with container orchestration tools such as Docker, Kubernetes, and OpenShift.
• Experience with infrastructure-as-code tools like Ansible and Terraform.
• Knowledge of enterprise monitoring tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, and Splunk.
• Working knowledge of Kafka and other messaging technologies.
• Experience working within Agile/DevOps methodologies.