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Key skills
JavaSQLShellBashKubernetesDockerJenkinsAnsibleOpenShiftOracleSQL ServerLDAPPrometheusGrafanaSplunkDynatraceAppDynamicsGitLoad BalancingChange ManagementCommunication
About this role
Our client is seeking an experienced WebSphere Specialist to support, administer, optimise, and maintain its IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) environment. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the availability, performance, security, and reliability of mission-critical enterprise applications hosted within the WebSphere infrastructure.
The ideal candidate will possess strong middleware administration experience, excellent troubleshooting capabilities, and a proven track record supporting large-scale enterprise environments.
Requirements
Key Responsibilities
- Install, configure, administer, and maintain IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) environments.
- Deploy, configure, and manage enterprise Java (J2EE/Jakarta EE) applications.
- Perform WebSphere upgrades, migrations, patching, and fix pack installations.
- Monitor application server performance and proactively identify optimisation opportunities.
- Configure and manage WebSphere clusters, node agents, deployment managers, and application deployments.
- Troubleshoot application, server, middleware, and infrastructure-related incidents.
- Support high availability (HA), disaster recovery (DR), and business continuity initiatives.
- Configure SSL certificates, security settings, authentication, and authorization.
- Monitor server logs and resolve application performance issues.
- Perform JVM tuning and memory optimisation.
- Collaborate with development, infrastructure, database, networking, and security teams.
- Prepare technical documentation, operational procedures, and knowledge transfer documentation.
- Participate in system upgrades, testing, release management, and production support.
- Provide after-hours support where required.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree or National Diploma in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related discipline.
- Minimum 5 years' experience administering IBM WebSphere Application Server.
- Experience supporting enterprise production environments.
- Strong understanding of middleware technologies.
- Experience working within large enterprise or government environments.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and within multidisciplinary teams.
Technical Skills
Essential
- IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS)
- IBM HTTP Server (IHS)
- IBM Installation Manager
- WebSphere ND (Network Deployment)
- JVM Performance Tuning
- Linux and/or Unix Administration
- Windows Server Administration
- Shell Scripting (Bash/Korn Shell)
- Application Deployment
- SSL Configuration
- LDAP Integration
- High Availability Configuration
- Clustering
- Load Balancing
- Performance Monitoring
- Log Analysis
- Incident Management
- Change Management
Preferred
- IBM MQ
- IBM Integration Bus (IIB) / IBM App Connect Enterprise (ACE)
- IBM Business Automation Workflow
- IBM DataPower
- IBM API Connect
- Red Hat OpenShift
- Docker
- Kubernetes
- Ansible
- Jenkins
- Git
- DevOps Practices
Database Knowledge
- Oracle Database
- IBM Db2
- Microsoft SQL Server
Operating Systems
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
- AIX
- Windows Server
Monitoring & Support Tools
- IBM Tivoli
- Dynatrace
- AppDynamics
- Splunk
- Grafana
- Prometheus
Desired Competencies
- Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
- Ability to work under pressure in a mission-critical environment.
- Strong documentation and reporting abilities.
- High attention to detail.
- Strong customer service orientation.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Team player with a proactive approach.
Certifications (Advantageous)
- IBM Certified System Administrator – WebSphere Application Server
- IBM Certified Application Infrastructure Specialist
- Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA)
- Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)
- ITIL Foundation
- IBM Cloud Certifications
- Kubernetes Certifications
- DevOps Certifications
Preferred Experience
Candidates with experience in the following environments will have a distinct advantage:
- Government departments or public sector organisations.
- Financial services or banking.
- Revenue collection systems.
- Large enterprise application environments.
- 24/7 production support environments.
- Enterprise integration and middleware platforms.
Contract Information
- Location: Hybrid (Pretoria/Johannesburg)
- Employment Type: Contract
- Experience Required: 5+ years
- Clearance: Ability to undergo security screening may be required.
This role is ideal for a seasoned WebSphere Specialist who is passionate about enterprise middleware technologies and has experience maintaining secure, high-performing IBM WebSphere environments supporting critical business applications.