IBM API Connect Lead

Apexon; Okemos (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Apexon seeks an experienced API Integration Lead based onsite in Okemos, Michigan. You will own API and integration initiatives, shaping solutions with engineering, architecture, and DevOps.

With 10+ years in enterprise integration and 5+ years with APIC, you will lead security, scalability, and production deployment efforts while mentoring teams and guiding governance in a cloud-native environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in enterprise integration, middleware, API engineering, or similar areas.
• At least 5 years hands-on experience with IBM API Connect (APIC).
• Strong experience developing and supporting RESTful and SOAP-based services.
• Hands-on knowledge of API authentication and security concepts (OAuth 2.0, JWT, OpenID Connect, TLS).
• Experience with XML, JSON, and XSLT.
• Practical experience deploying and supporting solutions using Kubernetes.
• Experience in containerized and cloud-native environments.
• Ability to translate business requirements into technical architecture and implementation approaches.
• Experience delivering complex enterprise integrations from design to production and support.
• Strong troubleshooting, communication, and technical leadership abilities.
• Experience mentoring technical team members.
• US Citizenship is required for this engagement.

Responsibilities

• Take technical ownership of API and integration initiatives and collaborate with engineering, architecture, and DevOps teams.
• Shape integration solutions, establish development standards, and ensure APIs are secure and scalable for enterprise use.
• Provide technical direction to developers, review solution designs, and troubleshoot complex integration issues.
• Move API solutions from development into production and support ongoing operations.
• Mentor development team members and contribute to governance and reusable integration practices.

Skills

APIC experience

REST & SOAP

Security concepts

Kubernetes

XML/JSON/XSLT

Leadership/mentoring

CI/CD/DevOps

Cloud-native

Technical architecture

US Citizenship

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT/Engineering

Tools

IBM API Connect (APIC)

IBM App Connect Enterprise (ACE)

IBM MQ

Red Hat OpenShift

AWS

Amazon EKS

CI/CD pipelines

Job description

We are seeking an experienced API Integration Lead with deep expertise in IBM API Connect (APIC) to support a large-scale enterprise technology environment. This position will be based onsite in Okemos, Michigan. Candidates should be located within commuting distance or be prepared to relocate for the assignment.

What You'll Do

In this role, you will take technical ownership of API and integration initiatives and work closely with engineering, architecture, and DevOps teams. You will help shape integration solutions, establish development standards, and ensure APIs are secure, scalable, and designed for long-term enterprise use.

You will also provide technical direction to developers, review solution designs, troubleshoot complex integration issues, and help teams successfully move API solutions from development into production.

What We're Looking For

The successful candidate should have:

• 10+ years of experience in enterprise integration, middleware, API engineering, or similar areas.
• At least 5 years of substantial hands-on experience with IBM API Connect (APIC).
• Strong experience developing and supporting RESTful and SOAP-based services.
• Hands-on knowledge of modern API authentication and security concepts, including OAuth 2.0, JWT, OpenID Connect, and TLS.
• Strong experience working with XML, JSON, and XSLT.
• Practical experience deploying and supporting solutions using Kubernetes.
• Experience working within containerized and cloud-native application environments.
• Ability to take functional or business requirements and develop appropriate technical architecture and implementation approaches.
• Experience delivering complex enterprise integrations from initial design through production deployment and support.
• Strong troubleshooting, communication, and technical leadership abilities.
• Experience coaching or mentoring technical team members.
• US Citizenship is required for this engagement.

Additional Experience That Would Be Valuable

Candidates with experience in IBM App Connect Enterprise (ACE), IBM MQ, Red Hat OpenShift, AWS, Amazon EKS, CI/CD pipelines, DevOps, microservices, or enterprise integration architecture will be particularly relevant.

Role Responsibilities

The API Integration Lead will be responsible for establishing technical approaches for enterprise APIs and integrations, developing and reviewing IBM API Connect solutions, and supporting teams throughout the delivery lifecycle.

The individual will collaborate across engineering and architecture groups to ensure integration solutions meet security, scalability, reliability, and enterprise design standards.

This role will also contribute to API governance and reusable integration practices, provide guidance on Kubernetes-based deployments, resolve complex technical issues, and mentor development team members.

Education

A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related technical discipline is preferred.