Platform Engineer

Background

The client is running an initiative to modernise approximately 300 IBM ACE integration applications.

Given the scale of the estate and the platform decisions still to be finalised - container platform, compute model, and the per-application migration approach - a contained pilot, rather than a big-bang rollout, is the next step to prove the pattern before wider adoption.

This engagement resources a two-person pilot team to take a small, representative set of ACE workloads from the ~300-application estate, containerise them, and produce a proven, reusable pattern that the wider modernisation programme can adopt.

Purpose of the Engagement

• Prove a containerisation pattern for migrating IBM ACE integration workloads onto AWS container services, implemented in Go and/or Java.
• Deliver pilot workload(s) into a running state on AWS, replacing or wrapping selected existing ACE integration flows.
• Produce reusable platform scaffolding and a migration playbook - reference architecture, CI/CD pipeline templates, and a Go-vs-Java decision framework - so the pattern can be applied across the remaining ~300-application estate.

Scope of Work

In scope

• Platform architecture: confirm target container platform (ECS and/or EKS) and compute model (Fargate vs EC2) for the pilot, building on the platform team's existing ECS-vs-EKS evaluation.
• Go vs Java decision framework: define selection criteria for choosing Go or Java per workload archetype (e.g. throughput, message-flow complexity, team familiarity, library/connector availability), and apply it to the pilot workloads.
• Pilot implementation: select 15 representative ACE workloads, reverse-engineer their integration logic, and re-implement or wrap them as containerised services.
• Platform scaffolding: base container images, CI/CD pipeline templates, configuration and secrets handling, and observability/logging integration for containerised workloads.
• Migration playbook: a documented, repeatable pattern (with worked examples from the pilot) that the wider ~300-application programme can follow.
• Documentation & knowledge transfer: architecture decision records (ADRs), runbooks, and a walkthrough session with the platform and integration teams.

Out of scope

• Migration of the full ~300-application estate - this engagement delivers the pilot and the reusable pattern, not the programme-wide rollout.
• Selection of the long-term target migration approach for the remaining ~300-application estate - that decision sits with the platform architecture team.
• Underlying AWS landing-zone, networking or IAM design outside what the pilot workloads require.

Roles & Responsibilities

Role ResponsibilitiesSenior Software / Platform Engineer (Lead)Owns the containerisation architecture and platform decisions (ECS vs EKS, Fargate vs EC2); defines the Go-vs-Java decision framework; builds platform scaffolding (base images, CI/CD templates, observability integration); defines the migration pattern and playbook; produces ADRs; provides technical direction and review for the Mid-level Engineer.Mid-level Software EngineerImplements pilot containerised workload(s) in Go or Java per the architecture pattern set by the Lead; ports ACE integration flow logic into the target implementation; writes unit and integration tests; contributes to CI/CD pipeline build-out; documents workload-specific migration steps.

Key Deliverables

#Deliverable DescriptionD1Platform reference architectureConfirmed container platform/compute model for the pilot, with supporting rationaleD2Go vs Java decision frameworkDocumented selection criteria, applied to the pilot workloadsD3Pilot workload(s) in production-ready stateSelected ACE workloads running as containerised services on AWSD4Platform scaffoldingBase images, CI/CD pipeline templates, config/secrets and observability integrationD5Migration playbookRepeatable pattern with worked pilot examples, for use across the ~300-app estateD6ADRs & handoverArchitecture decision records, runbooks and knowledge-transfer session

Required Skills & Experience

Lead Software / Platform Engineer

• Strong proficiency in Go and Java, with the judgement to choose between them per use case.
• Hands-on experience with AWS container services - ECS, EKS and Fargate - including production operation.
• Experience with, or fast ability to learn, IBM ACE / IIB integration flow concepts, sufficient to reverse-engineer existing flows.
• CI/CD pipeline design (e.g. GitHub Actions, AWS CodePipeline, or equivalent) and Docker/container fundamentals.
• Observability/APM integration experience; familiarity with Dynatrace is advantageous.
• Track record leading platform or application migrations at scale, ideally in a regulated/financial-services environment.

Mid-level Software Engineer

• Solid software engineering experience in Go or Java.
• Working knowledge of Docker and container fundamentals.
• Willingness and ability to learn IBM ACE integration concepts on the job.
• Experience with unit and integration testing practices.
• Exposure to AWS services; container-service experience advantageous but not required.

Engagement Governance

• Both roles report to the Architect / Platform Owner for the Integration & API Platform.
• Work is coordinated with the wider container modernisation initiative and the platform team's existing ECS/EKS evaluation.
• Progress reviewed on a regular cadence against the deliverables in Section 5.
• All code, configuration, pipelines and documentation produced are delivered as the client's property on completion or termination of the engagement.

Acceptance Criteria

• Pilot workload(s) running successfully in the target platform, functionally equivalent to the original ACE flow(s).
• Go vs Java decision framework documented and demonstrably applied to the workload selection.
• Migration playbook reviewed and confirmed as usable by the platform team for subsequent workloads.
• Deliverables reviewed and formally accepted by the Architect / Platform Owner.