MQ Administrator

Maximus; Maryland; On-site; USD 110,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Maximus seeks an experienced MQ Administrator to support a federal client in mission-critical defense systems. You will manage IBM MQ environments, monitor performance, enforce security, and document processes to ensure high availability and compliance.

The role is on-site, requires an active Secret clearance, and involves on-call rotations to meet 24x7x365 uptime requirements. Candidates must be US citizens with no dual citizenship.

Qualifications

• Active Secret clearance required.
• US citizenship with no dual citizenship.
• 7+ years of MQ administration experience or related field.
• Ability to participate in rotational on-call schedule for 24x7x365 operations.

Responsibilities

• Operational monitoring of MQ environments for uptime and performance.
• Manage MQ security: access controls and permissions for MQ users.
• Provide first-line troubleshooting and coordinate with teams for MQ issues.
• Schedule, test, and apply routine updates and configuration changes.
• Oversee backup and recovery operations and participate in DR drills.
• Document MQ configurations, permissions, and troubleshooting steps.

Skills

MQ Administration

Security best practices

Incident response

Monitoring & performance

Tools

IBM MQ

WebSphere

Job description

Maximus is seeking an experienced MQ Administrator to support a federal client in their mission-critical defense systems for Homeland Security. In this role, you will be responsible for the daily operations and administration of IBM MQ environments, ensuring secure, reliable message flow across applications. Key responsibilities include monitoring system performance, maintaining security protocols, and documenting processes to uphold high availability and compliance standards. If you have a detail-oriented approach and proven expertise in managing MQ systems, we invite you to be part of our dedicated team working to protect our nation’s critical infrastructure.

This position is on-site and requires an active secret clearance.

Maximus TCS (Technology and Consulting Services) Internal Job Profile Code: TCS219, T3, Band 6

Job-Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Operational Monitoring: Regularly monitor MQ systems for uptime, performance, and potential issues; ensure smooth operation of queues, channels, and other MQ objects.
• Security Administration: Manage security access and permissions for MQ users, implement necessary security protocols, and ensure that data transmissions remain secure.
• Incident Resolution: Provide first-line troubleshooting for MQ-related issues, coordinate with support teams when needed, and respond to alerts to maintain system availability.
• Maintenance and Updates: Schedule and apply routine updates, patches, and configuration changes to maintain a stable and secure MQ environment.
• Backup and Recovery: Follow established procedures to manage backup and recovery operations, participate in disaster recovery drills, and ensure recovery plans are documented.
• Documentation & Compliance: Maintain accurate records of MQ configurations, permissions, and troubleshooting steps; ensure all changes comply with IT policies and industry regulations.
• Resource Monitoring & Capacity Support: Track usage of MQ resources, monitor system capacity, and identify when adjustments are needed to meet operational needs.
• Support Collaboration: Work closely with other IT teams and users to resolve MQ issues, answer questions, and provide guidance on MQ system usage.
• Documentation & Compliance: Maintain accurate records of MQ configurations, permissions, and troubleshooting steps; ensure all changes comply with IT policies and industry regulations.
• Resource Monitoring & Capacity Support: Track usage of MQ resources, monitor system capacity, and identify when adjustments are needed to meet operational needs.
• Support Collaboration: Work closely with other IT teams and users to resolve MQ issues, answer questions, and provide guidance on MQ system usage.

Job-Specific Minimum Requirements:

• Active Secret clearance is required.
• Due to agency and contract requirements, candidates must be U.S. citizens with no dual citizenship.
• This contract supports systems that require 24x7x365 uptime. Candidates must be willing and able to meet recall requirements, including participation in a rotational on-call schedule.
• This individual must be able to accommodate a rotational on-call schedule as needed.
• 7 or more years of experience in a MQ Administrator role or in a related field
• Experience with WebSphere
• Additional tasks to be assigned as needed.

EEO Statement

Maximus is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics.

Pay Transparency

Maximus compensation is based on various factors including but not limited to job location, a candidate's education, training, experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value analysis including seniority and merit systems, as well as internal pay alignment. Annual salary is just one component of Maximus's total compensation package. Other rewards may include short- and long-term incentives as well as program-specific awards. Additionally, Maximus provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and paid time off. Compensation ranges may differ based on contract value but will be commensurate with job duties and relevant work experience. An applicant's salary history will not be used in determining compensation. Maximus will comply with regulatory minimum wage rates and exempt salary thresholds in all instances.

Accommodations

Maximus provides reasonable accommodations to individuals requiring assistance during any phase of the employment process due to a disability, medical condition, or physical or mental impairment. If you require assistance at any stage of the employment process—including accessing job postings, completing assessments, or participating in interviews,—please contact People Operations at [e-mail] .

TCS219, T3, Band 6