Senior Architect in FSS sector

Working for GBS currently in the Financial Services Sector (FSS) where I am working with clients on a wide range of projects from Cloud adoption to transformation and research projects. Currently project is lead architect on the largest cloud migration of a retail bank, where I am responsible for the largest single area of migration, leading teams both onshore and offshore to solve issues around both simple and complex migrations using a number of methods, predominantly Agile. I encourage and have sponsored close working practices with the client's architect team, to enable understanding of the client/supplier relationship, which has resulted in an increase in design throughput. I am the deputy to the overall chief architect, in the day to day running of the account, hosting architectural calls, deputising at important client meetings, etc.I am responsible for producing architectural processes/artifacts for migrating disparate UNIX systems to LINUX to introduce both commodity and standardisation to the Bank and this has also led in turn to working on pattern standards and use cases. A number of process improvements have been undertaken to ensure designs meet client requirement in a more timely manner.I have also been exposed to the Fintech Thought Machine, where I have received training and in-depth discussion around the overall solution.Currently a member of IBM's Academy of Technology Emerging Technology team, where I have been heavily involved in producing research around FOG/Edge/5G and Quantum AI.I am certified in TOGAF, Agile and IBM's Team Solution Design, Mosaic Method and Architectural Thinking.

Transferred to IBM UK, currently working;- Ensuring that CPW/BBE Architecture and roadmaps map to business requirements.- Defining Business and IT requirements for Cloud Architecture- Virtualisation projects (Intel & Systemp)

Responsible for setting strategy for various Enterprise strategies, Tasks have included ;- Charging Models- Roadmaps (Including Cloud Strategies)- Presentations to The Architecture Board- Business Case comparison- Negotiating with vendors- ITIL Aligned strategies- Managing maintenance budgets- Helping various parts of the business make cost-efficient decisions on IT- Working with partnersI am Togaf v8 vertified and SOA trained.

Responsible for setting strategy for various Enterprise strategies, Tasks have included ;- Charging Models- Roadmaps- Presentations to The Architecture Board- Business Case comparison- Negotiating with vendors- ITIL Aligned strategies- Managing maintenance budgetsI am Togaf v8 vertified and have recently completed SOA training.

I was responsible for the main server and database teams (UNIX, Oracle & VMS) in CPW support (approx 25 people). I was one of the main SME's who were responsble for outsourcing L1/L2 capability, including definition of scope/processes and what support was. In depth technical knowledge of LINUX/AIX. Working knowledge of Solaris and various storage options (IBM ESS/DS/Fastt/3Par). Frequently asked to provide Director level presentations based on new technologies/lessons learnt. Dealt compitently with all levels of management from CTO to 3rd party resource. Additional budgetry responsibilities included maintenance (Hardware & software).

Responsible 3 members of staff and all aspects of day-to-day running of the AIX/UNIX/Tivoli section involving - Work schedules- Planning of maintenance work & upgrades- Problem resolution- Mentoring new members of staff.- Training and personal development plans for staff. Environment comprises of - 5 x p670’s- 4 x HMC’s- 2 x p660’s- 4 x p650’s - numerous P610 & P630 servers, 2 x IBM ESS fibre attached (Shark) disk systems. Responsible for all aspects relating to AIX, pSeries, ESS, Tivoli Framework, Workload Scheduler, TEC, Software Distribution and Storage Manager. Installation of machines and manipulation of LPARs. Work done on IBM ESS & Fastt systems. Installation of additional audit software. Implementation of Audit proposals. Administration of P670 HACMP cluster. Responsible for D/R strategy, including TSM implementation. Project planning roles have included AIX updates, firmware updates, HMC updates, security audit and resolution and Tivoli fixpack updates. Work done on db2 using TDP for ESS & TDP for SAP backup and restores. Various scripts written to aid system security and system administration. Work done on latest versions of AIX. Responsible for all Tivoli implementations, including maintenance and installation of of TEC, Configuration manager, monitoring for applications and ITM. Inventory and endpoint administration and upgrade policy. Troubleshooting of all Tivoli products providing tracing etc to Tivoli.

Responsible for cluster maintenance of 2 x M80’s, SSA attached disk and various standalone RS/6000’s. Performance tuned cluster and RS/6000’s to standard for maximum Sybase performance. Created technical website using Apache, integrating Sybase, perl, javascript and AIX functionality allowing OPS to monitor machines and processes from the web. Sybase and AIX logging scripts written. Responsible for making recommendations on disk/memory/CPU upgrades. Planned and carried out maintenance level upgrades for HACMP and AIX. Worked with AIX levels from 4.3.1 – 5.2, Migration installations performed from 4.3.3 to 5.2. All machines fully documented and information placed on the website, including technical manuals. TSM server and client experience with both AIX & windows servers/clients.

Responsible for setting up a number of machines from H80s to M80s as clusters and designing BCP fail over position using EMC SRDF and fully documenting process. Responsible for building S80 & re-building BCP SP, testing of disaster recovery solutions to their successful conclusion and fully documenting. Part of a team of 7 responsible for day-to-day maintenance and running of over 100 different AIX servers from P690 to SP, to standalone machines. 3rd level support Europe wide on different levels of AIX from 3.2.5 to 5.1, for a variety of financial applications including equities, fidessa, global markets, electronic banking, day to day trader systems & SWIFT. Responsible for initial development of intranet site. Experience of using Apache, with HTML, Javascript & Perl. Advisory role to business, as to purchase of disk, memory, CPU & hardware requirements for UK & Europe. Build of SWIFT gateway and communication boxes and problem resolution with installed software, including MQSeries and firewall access. Involved in setting up Tivoli monitoring of all servers and creating ad-hoc scripts for additional HACMP events & daemon monitoring. Responsible for making adapting NIS domain software to allow flexibility & portability within any country. Involved in auditing requirements, using ESM to keep all application boxes within security guidelines, produced exception reports as required. Responsible for working with internal audit on security issues for AIX machines. Tasks include checking user accessibility and frequency, removal of services deemed to be a security risk, altering file permissions and ownerships, checking network/firewall options to secure standard. Experience of firewalls and connectivity issues, some work on E10000/Solaris and veritas with Solaris SA, ADSM/TSM, Tivoli/Netcool Monitoring, Sybase, Oracle, Linux, Windows NT/2000/XP/98 & EMC attached storage provision. Provide 24x7 oncall on a weekly shift basis.

Responsible for installation and administration of three IBM RS/6000 SP systems & numerous RS/6000 standalone boxes. Day to day duties include support of hardware, operating system and security aspects for both the UK and Europe, including on-call 24x7 on a weekly shift basis. Operating system monitoring software and internal intranet for the UK, including embedded SQL within perl intranet scripts to keep intranet up to date automatically. Security work on SP and standalone boxes using COPS. Additional duties include acting as advisory role to users where needed to help make decisions on hardware and software purchases for both the UK & Europe. Database experiences include Sybase 11.9.2 & Oracle V6 & V7. Experience with ADSM user interface. Responsible for setting up AIX side of Infospeed data mover. Responsible for setting up NIS domains under AIX 4.3.2. Responsible for upgrading nodes and standalone machines in the UK & Europe from AIX 4.1.5 to AIX 4.2.1 and setting up S7A as a switch attached frame in the UK. Work with standalone solaris machine.Experience of Windows 95/98/NT & Linux installations & BMC Patrol.

Responsible for setting up standalone RS/6000 systems to take the Chairman software developed and marketed by Debug Holdings PLC. Responsible for AIX build control, AIX upgrades, Chairman upgrades, machine migrations and setting up standalone networks. Also responsible for setting up Crystal Reports reporting software, using ODBC connections to the Chairman software. Helpdesk support and face to face support on and off user site. Educated users in basic AIX and networking principles, set up proxy connections to the internet and e-mail.