Senior Middleware Engineer

Job Title: Senior Middleware Engineer

Job Location: Hybrid [2-3 days in office]- Riverwoods, IL, USA

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Senior Middleware Engineer with deep expertise in IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS), IBM MQ, Apache, Tomcat, and Middleware Infrastructure Architecture. The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing, administering, supporting, and optimizing enterprise middleware platforms that support critical business applications. This role requires strong troubleshooting capabilities, Linux administration skills, monitoring expertise, and the ability to collaborate across infrastructure, application, and business teams to deliver reliable and scalable middleware solutions.

Salary and Other Compensation:

The annual salary for this position is up between $100K- $115K depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect, install, configure, administer, and support enterprise middleware environments including IBM WebSphere Application Server, Apache HTTP Server, Tomcat, and IBM MQ.

• Monitor, maintain, and optimize WebSphere Application Server environments to ensure high availability, reliability, performance, and security.

• Perform application deployments, server configuration, patching, upgrades, and environment migrations across development, testing, and production platforms.

• Troubleshoot complex middleware, application, and infrastructure issues, conducting root cause analysis and implementing preventive measures.

• Collaborate with application development, cloud, infrastructure, network, and security teams to gather requirements and deliver middleware solutions.

• Design and implement middleware architecture standards, best practices, and operational procedures.

• Utilize monitoring and observability tools such as Datadog to proactively identify and resolve performance bottlenecks.

• Manage incident, problem, and change management activities in compliance with ITIL processes using ServiceNow (SNOW).

• Develop and maintain automation scripts to improve operational efficiency and reduce manual efforts.

• Create and maintain technical documentation including architecture diagrams, operational procedures, support guides, and knowledge articles.

• Participate in capacity planning, performance tuning, disaster recovery planning, and environment health assessments.

• Communicate effectively with stakeholders and leadership teams regarding project delivery, operational status, and risk mitigation.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for middleware platforms and operational processes.

Required Qualifications

• 10-12+ years of hands-on experience in Middleware Administration and Architecture.

• Strong experience with:

  • IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS)

  • IBM MQ

  • Apache HTTP Server

  • Apache Tomcat

• Experience with installation, configuration, administration, performance tuning, and troubleshooting of WebSphere environments.

• Strong understanding of Middleware Architecture, clustering, load balancing, failover, and high-availability solutions.

• Experience supporting mission-critical enterprise applications.

• Strong Linux/Unix administration knowledge.

• Experience with shell scripting and automation.

• Hands-on experience with Datadog monitoring and observability tools.

• Working knowledge of ServiceNow and ITIL service management practices.

• Excellent troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred Skills

• Experience working in large-scale enterprise environments.

• Exposure to cloud-hosted middleware platforms.

• Knowledge of DevOps practices and CI/CD implementations.

• Experience with enterprise monitoring, logging, and performance management solutions.

• Industry certifications related to IBM Middleware, Linux Administration, ITIL, or Cloud Technologies are desirable.

Benefits: Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance

• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off

• 401(k) plan and contributions

• Long-term/Short-term Disability

• Paid Parental Leave

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Work model:

At Cognizant, we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible, and we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring 2-3 days in office at client location in Riverwoods, IL, USA.

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.