Middleware Platform Lead (MQ, SWIFT & EAI SME) - (NPW)

This is the technical and engineering lead for middleware and web services across GIC's global estate. The role owns the evolution of the integration layer — from legacy application-server and messaging platforms to cloud-native, open-source and AI/agent-enabled architecture — while guaranteeing the availability of low-latency, high-volume transaction flows, including SWIFT. Over a five-year horizon, this role is expected to turn GIC's middleware infrastructure into a differentiator for performance, scale, agility and insight.

The successful candidate combines deep technical credibility with architectural vision and the ability to partner across application, AI, analytics and operations teams.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy and architecture

• Own and drive a multi-year strategic roadmap for middleware and web services aligned to business goals — cloud migration, cost optimisation, latency SLAs and AI/ML readiness.
• Define the multi-year technical vision for GIC's global middleware, web services and SWIFT engineering.
• Provide deep expertise in application hosting technologies, with specialist emphasis on IBM: WebSphere and WebLogic Application Server, WebSphere Portal, WebSphere Liberty, WebSphere Process Server, WebLogic Forms and Reports, and IBM HTTP Server (IHS).
• Provide expertise across other web hosting technologies — Oracle Application Server, Apache, Tomcat and equivalents.
• Drive adoption of cloud-native patterns for web services and middleware on AWS, while sustaining the stability and security of critical on-premises applications and sensitive data.

Messaging, integration and SWIFT

• Design and maintain message-driven processes for low-latency, high-volume transaction environments — wires, ACH and instant payments.
• Own the management of SWIFT applications and the associated operational and control environment.
• Deliver API and integration capability across the estate, including IBM MQ and API gateway technologies (Kong or equivalent).

Automation, AIOps and reliability

• Drive adoption of AI, agentic and AIOps capabilities: anomaly detection, predictive maintenance, self-healing, auto-scaling of clusters and queue managers, and automated patching.
• Build end-to-end observability for middleware platforms using Grafana, Datadog or equivalent.
• Build secure self-service capabilities in the middleware space through UI- and API-based solutions consumable by end users and applications.
• Automate operational tasks and infrastructure changes using wsadmin, Python, Ansible or PowerShell.
• Develop, document and maintain comprehensive middleware disaster recovery plans and end-to-end runbooks for complex platform operations.
• Embed DevOps and Agile practice in day-to-day delivery.

Security, risk and compliance

• Enforce enterprise information security protocols, manage SSL certificates and execute vulnerability patching across middleware components.
• Analyse customer requirements to ensure information-security standards, policies and guidelines are upheld, and support routine compliance activity.
• Interpret information-security procedures and help implement them across IT and the business, applying sound judgement and decision-making.

Talent and culture

• Foster a culture of innovation, "build once, reuse everywhere", knowledge sharing, automation-first delivery and measured risk-taking.
• Set performance metrics and KPIs for reliability, throughput, latency, cost, error budgets and time to market.
• Build and inspire a high-performing global team of middleware, web services and SWIFT engineers and technical managers.
• Manage and optimise resource allocation to balance project delivery against operational stability.

Essential Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 18+ years in information technology, including 15+ years hands-on with middleware, web hosting and application server products in a large organisation — banking or financial services strongly preferred.
• Solid administration expertise across IBM middleware: WebSphere and WebLogic Application Server, WebSphere Portal, WebSphere Process Server, WebSphere Liberty, WebLogic Forms and Reports, IHS.
• Hands-on IBM MQ, SWIFT platform and EAI experience, with demonstrable observability capability across those layers.
• Hands-on experience with at least one public cloud — AWS, Azure or GCP.
• Scripting and development depth: WAS scripting, J2EE, XML, SQL, Shell/Perl; Python and Ansible for automation.
• Unix system administration and TCP/IP networking; proficiency across Linux/Unix and Windows.
• IT security compliance experience, including implementation and use of security protocols (SSL, server certificates).
• Familiarity with compliance and risk management frameworks and methodologies (ISO 27002, SDLC).
• DevOps and CI/CD pipeline experience using Jenkins or Spinnaker, with GitHub-based source control.
• Infrastructure as Code with Terraform — writing, testing and deploying clean, reusable modules.
• Support services and change management via ServiceNow.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting capability; excellent written and verbal communication with internal customers and team members.

Desirable

• Certification in a public cloud platform and in middleware products.
• Prior experience leading a middleware modernisation from legacy application servers to containerised or event-driven architecture.

Success Attributes

Initiative, composure under pressure, strong leadership and interpersonal skills, analytical problem-solving, and the ability to work autonomously and self-direct.