Senior Engineer, Application Engineering

ICE; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 113,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. seeks a Senior Systems Engineer to ensure high availability of middleware across SWIFT, IBM MQ, and reporting platforms. You will work in a mixed UNIX/Windows environment, contributing to production reliability, performance tuning, and automation efforts.

The role requires 5+ years of middleware experience, CSCF familiarity, and strong scripting and collaboration skills to support 24/7 operations and cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• 5+ years supporting enterprise middleware and financial messaging platforms including SWIFT and IBM MQ.
• Direct experience installing, configuring, and administering SWIFT Alliance Access and Alliance Gateway.
• Experience managing Windows Server 2019+ and RedHat Linux in regulated environments.
• Familiarity with CSCF controls and security attestations.
• Knowledge of SDLC tools like GIT and configuration management (Puppet).
• Ability to write scripts (Bash, Python, PowerShell, Perl, or JavaScript) and communicate clearly.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and deliver integrated messaging solutions across SWIFT, IBM MQ, and middleware.
• Identify bottlenecks and tune systems for reliability and throughput in production.
• Support a 24/7 production environment with on-call rotation and incident response.
• Troubleshoot issues across SWIFTNet, messaging flows, and integrations with back-office systems.
• Manage SWIFT, IBM MQ, and related middleware configurations, patches, and compliance.
• Own complex problems from root cause to resolution and share learnings with the team.
• Collaborate with developers, operations, and business teams to deliver practical solutions.
• Maintain documentation and enforce change management for SWIFT framework evolution.
• Mentor junior engineers and expand the team's overall capability.

Skills

SWIFT

IBM MQ

Tableau

Scripting

Windows Server

RedHat Linux

Puppet

GIT

CSCF

On-call support

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems

Tools

SWIFT Alliance Access

Alliance Gateway

IBM MQ

Puppet

Tableau

Job description

Job Purpose

We are on a mission as a team. We are problem solvers and partners, always starting with our customers to solve their challenges and create opportunities. Our start-up roots keep us nimble, flexible, and moving fast. We take ownership and make decisions. We all work for one company and work together to drive growth across the business. We engage in robust debates to find the best path, and then we move forward as one team. We take pride in what we do, acting with integrity and passion, so that our customers can perform better. We are experts and enthusiasts - combining ever-expanding knowledge with leading technology to consistently deliver results, solutions and opportunities for our customers and stakeholders. Every day we work toward transforming global markets.

Overview

The Application Engineering team provides top-tier support, maintenance, and solution design on multiple applications, including MFT (Sterling Integrator, Axway), message queueing (SWIFT, IBM MQ), and reporting platforms (Business Objects, Tableau). The Senior Systems Engineer is responsible for creating and maintaining availability and high-performance in mixed UNIX and Windows development, non-production, and production environments. This individual works as part of a results-oriented, service-delivery team and assists configuration analysts, release engineers, developers, and operations teams. Additionally, the Systems Engineer performs root cause analysis of problems, selects, and implements automation tools, and actively participates in deeply technical discourse.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and deliver integrated solutions across SWIFT, IBM MQ, and supporting middleware platforms from initial planning through production deployment
• Identify performance bottlenecks and tune systems to ensure reliability and throughput across financial messaging infrastructure
• Support a 24/7 production environment through hands-on incident response, proactive monitoring, and a weekly on-call rotation for after-hours support and planned change events
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues across the full stack, including SWIFTNet connectivity, messaging flows, and integrations with back-office systems, before and after they impact production
• Manage the day-to-day operations of SWIFT, IBM MQ, and related middleware including configurations, patch levels, upgrades, and compliance requirements
• Own complex technical problems from root cause through resolution, and share findings in a way that prevents recurrence and builds team knowledge
• Work closely with developers, operations staff, release engineers, and business teams to understand requirements and deliver solutions that actually work in practice
• Keep SWIFT infrastructure decisions well documented, contribute to change management processes, and make sure operational procedures stay current as the SWIFT framework evolves year to year
• Mentor junior engineers and operations staff, and take an active role in growing the team's overall capability

Knowledge And Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems or equivalent hands-on experience in Systems Engineering or Information Technology
• 5+ years supporting enterprise middleware and financial messaging platforms, with solid experience in SWIFT and IBM MQ
• Direct experience installing, configuring, and administering SWIFT Alliance Access and Alliance Gateway, with working knowledge of IBM MQ and Tableau
• Familiarity with the SWIFT Customer Security Controls Framework (CSCF) and experience supporting the annual Security Attestation process
• Comfortable administering both Windows Server (2019 and later) and Linux (RedHat preferred) in a regulated financial messaging environment
• Experience managing Hardware Security Modules within a SWIFT environment
• Working knowledge of SDLC processes and tools including GIT and configuration management platforms like Puppet
• Solid understanding of DR, BCP, and how to manage systems across production and non-production environments
• Able to write functional scripts in at least one language such as Bash, Python, PowerShell, Perl, or JavaScript
• Strong problem solver who stays calm under pressure and can work through ambiguous, high-stakes situations
• Clear communicator who can talk to engineers and business stakeholders equally well without losing either audience

Preferred Knowledge And Experience

• Experience building automation using Ansible, Puppet, or similar tools
• Experience with Tableau or other reporting and visualization tools
• Experience enforcing SWIFT security controls in line with CSCF requirements, across on-premises and cloud or hybrid environments
• Familiarity with newer SWIFT connectivity options like MicroGateway or Direct Link
• Experience with LDAP directory services
• SWIFT Certified Professional credential or comparable certification
• Good at managing priorities, staying organized, and keeping projects moving without needing a lot of hand-holding

Illinois Base Salary Range

The expected base salary for this role, if located in Illinois, is between $113,300 - $140,000 USD. The base salary range does not include Intercontinental Exchange’s incentive compensation. While we provide this range as general guidance, at ICE we compensate employees based on the skillset and experience of the individual. Regular full-time ICE employees are eligible for a suite of competitive employee benefits, including healthcare coverage (medical, dental and vision), a 401(k) plan, life insurance, time off, and paid leave for qualifying circumstances.

New York Base Salary Range

The expected base salary for this role, if located in New York, is between $135,000 - $159,700 USD. The base salary range does not include Intercontinental Exchange’s incentive compensation. While we provide this range as general guidance, at ICE we compensate employees based on the skillset and experience of the individual. Regular full-time ICE employees are eligible for a suite of competitive employee benefits, including healthcare coverage (medical, dental and vision), a 401(k) plan, life insurance, time off, and paid leave for qualifying circumstances.

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics.