System Integration Specialist (Contract - 6 Months) at IndSAfri

• We are seeking a highly skilled Systems Integration Specialist to join our team within the banking sector. The Integration Specialist will play a crucial role in ensuring that all banking systems and applications work seamlessly together. This role involves designing, developing, and maintaining system integrations, leveraging the latest technologies to enhance banking services and ensure smooth data flow across platforms.
• The ideal candidate will have strong experience with integration platforms, API management, and middleware technologies, along with a deep understanding of banking systems and compliance requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and Implement Integration Solutions:
• Develop and implement integration solutions that connect various banking systems, applications, and third-party services.
• Use APIs, web services (SOAP/REST), and middleware platforms to integrate core banking systems with digital channels, payment gateways, and other external systems.
• System Integration Architecture:
• Design and document the integration architecture that ensures secure, scalable, and efficient communication between systems.
• Collaborate with the architecture team to define the integration strategies and best practices for the bank’s digital transformation.
• API Management:
• Manage the full lifecycle of APIs by developing, deploying, and maintaining them within the bank's ecosystem.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to integrate third-party services through well-designed, secure APIs.
• Middleware and Messaging:
• Implement middleware solutions (such as IBM WebSphere, MuleSoft, Dell Boomi, Tibco, or others) to connect various banking systems, ensuring data integrity and availability across platforms.
• Manage messaging services such as MQSeries, Kafka, RabbitMQ to facilitate asynchronous communication between applications.
• Troubleshooting and Support:
• Monitor and maintain integration services to ensure continuous uptime and performance of banking systems.
• Troubleshoot and resolve integration issues, minimizing service disruption and ensuring smooth operational processes.
• Data Integration and ETL Processes:
• Design and develop data integration solutions using ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes to move and synchronize data between systems.
• Ensure that data flow is secure, accurate, and complies with industry standards and regulations.
• Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams:
• Work closely with software developers, database administrators, network engineers, and business teams to understand requirements and deliver optimal integration solutions.
• Participate in technical discussions to ensure that integration solutions align with business objectives and regulatory compliance standards.
• Security and Compliance:
• Implement robust security protocols for system integrations to protect sensitive banking data.
• Ensure all integration processes comply with banking regulations, including data privacy (GDPR) and PCI DSS for payment systems.
• Testing and Validation:
• Perform unit testing, integration testing, and performance testing of integration solutions to ensure they meet functional and non-functional requirements.
• Work with QA teams to ensure the integration solutions are thoroughly tested and meet quality standards.
• Documentation and Best Practices:
• Document all integration designs, configurations, and changes to maintain comprehensive and accurate records of the integration environment.
• Establish and promote integration best practices, coding standards, and processes across the organization.
• Continuous Improvement and Innovation:
• Stay updated with the latest integration technologies and banking industry trends to recommend and implement innovative solutions.
• Continuously evaluate and improve existing integration processes to enhance performance and efficiency.

Key Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience as an Integration Specialist or in a similar role, preferably within the banking or financial services industry.

Technical Skills:

• Strong experience with integration platforms and middleware technologies such as MuleSoft, Tibco, WebSphere, Oracle SOA, Apache Camel, or Dell Boomi.
• Proficiency in designing and consuming SOAP/REST APIs, and working with API management tools like Kong, Apigee, or AWS API Gateway.
• Familiarity with message queuing systems such as IBM MQ, Apache Kafka, RabbitMQ, or ActiveMQ.
• Experience with ETL tools like Informatica, Talend, or SSIS for data integration.
• Knowledge of SQL and database management systems (Oracle, MySQL, SQL Server) for backend integration.

Banking Domain Knowledge:

• Understanding of banking applications such as core banking systems, payments, digital banking platforms, and financial compliance systems.
• Experience in integrating payment gateways, card services, regulatory compliance systems, and other banking-related platforms.
• Security and Compliance:
• Strong understanding of data security protocols, encryption, and compliance standards such as GDPR, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001.
• Ability to implement secure, compliant integration solutions that adhere to regulatory guidelines.

Soft Skills:

• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot complex integration issues.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively with technical and business teams.
• Project management skills to handle multiple integration projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery.

Preferred Qualifications:

Certifications:

• Relevant certifications such as MuleSoft Certified Developer, IBM Certified Integration Architect, or similar are preferred.

Cloud Integration Experience:

• Experience integrating with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, and familiarity with cloud-native integration tools.
• DevOps and CI/CD:
• Knowledge of DevOps principles and experience with CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, Bamboo) for deploying integration solutions.