Solutions Architect

This is a contract that may change to contract to hire depending upon performance and budget.  This project is in New Orleans, LA but the resource does not have to reside there.  Our client has agreed to pay an hourly rate that will be all inclusive of travel and lodging during the term of the contract.

Position Responsibilities

• Responsible for determining system specifications, input/output processes and working parameters to meet business requirements and hardware/software compatibility.
• Performs complex analysis in the design and implementation of software applications for computer-based systems.
• Establishes operational objectives and assignments and may delegate assignments to subordinate staff.
• Establishes and recommends changes to policies or processes that affect organization.
• Works on complex problems and may determine methods and procedures to be used to design highly complex solutions.
• May manage large teams of multi-functional personnel to ensure congruence of the various hardware, software, communications and interface approaches.
• May be responsible for the technical direction, leadership, and training of less experienced staff.
• Regularly interacts with management on matters concerning several functional areas, divisions, and/or customers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in related technical discipline and 8+ years experience.
• Experience in PMI Project Management lifecycle required; from Business Analysis, Requirements Gathering, Project Scoping/Planning, Resource Management, to Functional/Load Testing.
• Candidate must also have background knowledge in SOA practices.
• Experience must include significant experience in solution design, implementation and operational planning.
• Deep knowledge in hardware and software architectures.
• Specific experience/background in the Utility Industry.
• Candidate must also have experience developing and implementation highly complex solutions across a wide range of application technologies including: ERP Applications (PeopleSoft), J2EE, .NET, Portal, Enterprise Document Management, Enterprise Application Integration, Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence.

Technical Architect

This is a contract to hire position with the initial contract term being 6 months.

Position Summary:

This position is responsible for driving the technical architecture for our customers.  The resource must have technical prowess in many areas of technology including storage, servers, and virtualization.  This resource must have vast experiences in cross data center migrations.

Responsibilities:

• Create and define technical landscapes and architecture for large enterprise systems
• The ability to manage multiple technical projects with local and remote colleagues domestically and internationally.
• Serves as single point of contact for other project managers, functional team leads and managers.  Must interface with upper management.
• Must also interact with the customer directly to obtain technical details and requirements.
• Consistently displays model leadership qualities for team constantly enhancing performance and driving efficiency throughout the team.
• Supports and adheres to management of contractual agreements in compliance with company policies.
• Create a technical direction based on customer and internal direction.
• Aligns on-site team with central resources and other regional team leads to foster best practice, collaboration and mutual support.
• Up to 30% travel visiting client sites and datacenter locations

Business Skills and Knowledge:

• Ability to direct and coordinate efforts and actions across different functional service lines both domestically and internationally including virtualized teams.
• Exceptional verbal and written communications skills; expertise in setting and managing customer expectations
• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills at all management levels
• Strong knowledge and understanding of business needs, with the ability to establish and maintain a high level of customer trust and confidence in the functional teams
• Ability to translate business needs into technical requirements
• Solid project management skills with ability to multitask and manage multiple small to large projects in a cross functional environment
• Best Practices experience or certification desired (ISO, ITIL, COBIT, Six Sigma), including regulatory compliances (SOX, SAS, HIPAA)
• Proven written and oral communications and presentation skills
• Experience with Disaster Recovery procedures
• Ability to successfully manage customer relationships, uncover needs and provide solutions support
• Maintaining vendor relationships and staying abreast of best practices and new technologies
• Ability to consult on best practices and solution options

Technical Qualifications:

Minimum of 10 years of relevant job experience required to date.  Experience should include exposure to large systems and data center migrations with a large exposure to heterogeneous environments.  Holding multiple current technical certifications in storage and virtualization is a plus.

• Expert level expertise on VMWare, ESX and the supporting tools including Virtual Center, SRM, HA\DRS, Capacity planner.
• The ability to design large scale virtual environments and migration strategies.
• Experience with storage virtualization, data migration solutions and best practices
• Experience with NetApp devices in multiprotocol environments
• Extensive NetApp experience including all Data OnTAP utilities and software
• Knowledge of Sun StorageTek, HDS and HP, EMC and IBM storage solutions
• Experience in architecture of Storage networks with all storage protocols
• Experience with all major operating systems, and the administration fundamentals
• Knowledge of Network (LAN/WAN) technologies and IT Security standards.

Applications Systems Engineer

This is a 6 month initial term contract.  Most resources are renewed for continuing terms, 6 months at a time.

Position Description:

• Provides technical consultation and support in the development of computer applications and programs.
• Analyzes business requirements, designs and writes technical specifications to design or redesign computer solutions.
• Develops original and/or complex code or provides coding guidance to less experienced staff.
• Leads and/or performs modeling, simulations and analysis efforts.
• Verifies program logic by overseeing the preparation of test data, testing and debugging of programs.
• Participates in overall systems testing.
• Leads the migration of applications to production.
• Develops new documentation, participates in the development of department technical procedures and designs user guides.
• As an escalation point for application support and troubleshooting, provides guidance and direction to less experienced staff in resolution of escalated issues and/or complex production, application or system problems.
• Leads projects, including assignment of tasks, and provides direction and guidance to less experienced staff.
• Assures quality, security and compliance requirements are met for supported area and oversees updating and testing of the business continuation plan.

Requirements:

• 4 year degree and 5+ years experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with software development project methodology & standards
• Works well in a team environment and be able to effectively drive cross-team solutions that have complex dependencies and requirements.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.

Experience with some/any of the following is desired:

• IBM WebSphere MQ
• Practice Object oriented design
• Microsoft SQL Server 2005/2008 administration experience or training
• Microsoft SQL Reporting Services
• ModPerl

Business Intelligence Technical Analyst

The Business Intelligence Technical Analyst III is a member of the Information Delivery team within the Information Technology organization.  This BI Tech Analyst III designs and develops enterprise-wide data analysis and reporting solutions against data warehouse repositories and has extensive knowledge about the workings and implementation of Business Objects Enterprise toolsets.  This individual also leads small reporting projects and mentors other developers.  This position requires an individual with strong business acumen and an ability to communicate.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate proactively with functional users, analysts and other team members to gather business requirements.
• Understand business requirements, determine implementation strategy and translate into reports that sustain current needs and support future growth.
• Create technical design specifications and develop analytical reports using Crystal Reports or other Business Objects reporting tools.
• Proactive participation in collecting and communicating universe requirements to the data architects.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues.  Debug, tune and optimize report performance.
• Analyze and modify existing reports as per change requests.
• Understand and develop business know-how.
• Effectively communicate with other team members to exchange information, ideas and answer inquiries.
• Develop a cooperative environment that fosters knowledge sharing and encourages innovation.
• Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of staff to exchange information, ideas, and answer inquiries.
• Develop clear and concise insights, implications and recommendations, thinking and acting strategically

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Engineering, Mathematics or other related discipline with 3-5 year of Information Technology experience.
• 3+ years of advanced Crystal Reports with 2+ years of Crystal XI development experience a must.
• Familiarity with Crystal Reports 2008 features a plus.
• Business Objects Enterprise XI Web Intelligence, Voyager and ad-hoc reporting experience a must.
• Xcelsius knowledge a plus.
• Business Objects Enterprise XI architecture knowledge a plus.
• Strong advanced SQL writing skills (transaction, definition and control functions) and relational database knowledge (tables, keys, dimensional models, etc.), preferably with Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Database and Analysis Services engines, is required.

Customer Support – Post Rollout

Vista & Office 2007 Migration – Floor Walker

A new version of our client’s Group Infrastructure – Desktop (GI-D) will be rolled out globally to complete in 2010. This version will be known as GI-Desktop Version 2, and will be based on Microsoft Vista and Microsoft Office 2007. The rollout of GI-Desktop Version 2 is being coordinated by a group of projects known as the GI-Next Generation Programme (GI-NG).

Floor Walkers will be used to improve the consumer experience and help productivity immediately after a customer migrates to Vista & Office 2007 from GIDv1 (Windows 2000).

Floor walkers will be located on site and given a customer base to look after during the migration to ensure that the customer quickly overcomes any technical issues and becomes quickly familiar with Vista & Office 2007.

This requirement is for all business and locations migrating from GIDv1 (Windows 2000) to Vista & Office 2007.  Each request will specify the number, location and time each resource is required in the sections below.

A Floor Walkers (FW) responsibilities will be:

• Present on site throughout working hours to:
  • Assist customer with technical issues faced after migrating to Vista.
  • Assist customers with configuring settings such as printers and screen resolution
  • Assist customers getting familiar with Vista and Office 2007 e.g. new ribbons
  • Direct users on where to turn for further help or training.
• Provide feedback to migration team on the progress and learning from the site migration.
• Provide feedback on recurring errors experienced by users to the migration team.
• Coordinate and work with appointed site focal point during the migration phase.

FW will follow predefined Checklist.  The  assistance to customers is to include but not limited to:

• Ad-Hoc familiarisation – What’s new in Vista
• Ad-Hoc familiarisation -What’s new in Office 2007 including a briefing on the Office Button and explanation of Ribbons
• Assist Users in adjusting Screen Resolution/Colour Scheme
• Assist Users in adjusting the layout of Outlook to meet user requirements ie preview pane location etc
• Assist Users in setting up Printers
• Assist Users in Backup Restore if required including  .PST Files
• Assist Users in setting up additional Mailboxes in Outlook if required
• Assist Users in setting up multiple calendars if required
• Brief Users in navigation of Folders
• Brief Users on where to seek additional help; i.e. CBT Training Modules, Pocket Guide, GI-NG Website, On-Line Help, Super Users (If applicable)as a last resort the Helpdesk
• Brief Users on Remote Connectivity and how to connect via VPN (Laptop Users only)
• For Users experiencing Profile Migration Issues the FW will assist in escalation to the Helpdesk and if required speak on behalf of the User

The FW is the “human face” of the GI-NG Programme and must adapt their behaviour accordingly. The FW must at all times:

• Regularly check on Users Scheduled for Deployment at D0 to D+10 (or beyond)
• Provide regular updates to any users who are waiting on the FW to provide assistance, and/or who are waiting on an update to an Issue
• Be Polite
• Be Approachable
• Be Professional
• Be Positive
• Wear the provided “uniform” of GI-NG FW’s

Start Date: January 11, 2010

End Date Estimated:  June 30, 2010
Contact me if you are interested. Questions can be posed as a comment below or directly to me.

Systems Analyst

Work Description:

• Product Stewardship Data Management and Technical Support, principally for project activities.
• Data analysis, reporting and integration using SQL on complex relational databases (Oracle).
• Systems analysis, development and implementation of applications, primarily in batch server environment.
• Data and technical consultation on operational support activities.

Java Developer

This is a long term contract position in Frisco, TX.

Job is to provide support for JAVA apps in SAP environment. We need a strong senior person.

Position Summary:
The Sr. JAVA Developer is responsible for participating in the design, development, maintenance, and enhancement of business applications. The individual in this position is assigned to project teams and may work on various web and client/server applications. The individual must collaborate with customers, staff, IT colleagues, vendors, and other stakeholders to identify requirements, assess available technologies, recommend and provide solutions.

Responsibilities:

• Provides analysis and JAVA programming expertise within a team on assigned projects
• Ensures that application systems are developed in compliance with architectural standards and established methodologies and practices
• Develops documentation for assigned systems
• Performs unit testing on completed development tasks and participates in other testing as required
• Regularly troubleshoots problems with applications or systems for which they are assigned responsibility
• Fosters and maintains good relationships with customers and IT colleagues to meet expected customer service levels

Required Experience:

• Minimum 3 years as JAVA Developer – 5 to 10 years overall
• Strong knowledge and experience with JAVA in SAP environment
• CRM and ISA experience preferred but not required
• Excellent communication skills
• Consulting experience preferred.

Contact me if you are interested. Questions can be posed as a comment below or directly to me.

Mainframe Applications Supervisor

This is a direct hire job in Houston, TX.  This client has a turnover rate below 5% in their IT group and has made a commitment to the mainframe platform for the foreseeable future.  They also have annual bonuses and have a long term incentive plan that pays cash in addition to the annual bonus.  They pay dollar for dollar match on their 401(k) and have immediate vesting in the plan.  Their modified work week means you work nine hours Monday through Thursday and have a half day off every Friday.

JOB DESCRIPTION

A. Scope

Provide hands on supervisory and technical leadership to project teams for requirements gathering, schedule coordination and application development to support and develop applications. As a hands-on team participant, this position requires the ideal candidate to specialize in IBM z/OS Mainframe applications development, support and maintenance with additional experience in client-server and web based applications. The Applications Supervisor must be competent at the highest level of application development techniques, methodologies, and administration in leading multiple projects.

B. Responsibilities

• Functional and administrative team supervision including salary reviews, performance appraisals and assisting in hiring staff
• Daily responsibilities include mentoring developers, project initiation, planning, issue tracking, change management, presenting updates in status meetings and preparing status reports.
• Relationship responsibilities include working with mainframe outsourcing provider to stay abreast and engaged in all mainframe related change control requests.
• Work with developers and other Development Managers, Project Leaders/Supervisors, network administrators, data base administrators and Service Desk personnel to develop new systems and resolve problems with existing systems.
• Assists in the definition, development, and documentation of software’s business requirements, objectives, deliverables, and specifications on a project-by-project basis in collaboration with internal users and departments.
• Develops project plans, which include, but not limited to, defining scope, scheduling, and implementation.
• Conduct research on emerging application development software products, languages, and standards in support of procurement and development efforts.
• Responsible for all aspects of the SDLC for mainframe, client/server and web applications.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

A. Education and Training

• Bachelor degree in the field of computer science, information systems, or software engineering is preferred.

B. Technical and Other Position Requirements

• Proven track record of 10+ years of overall applications development experience including supervision of project teams
• Minimum of 7 years hands on experience in developing and supporting z/OS mainframe based applications using MVS JCL, IMS, CICS or DB2, COBOL II, PL/1 and Easytrieve Plus.
• Minimum of 2 – 3 years hands on experience using client server and web based applications
• Prior experience with supervising a staff of 4 or more employees
• Proficiency in a variety of programming languages
• Use of Microsoft Office is required
• Prior experience interviewing end-users for insight on functionality, interface, problems, and/or usability issues.
• Able to communicate effectively with non-technical staff and with members of interdisciplinary teams.
• Aptitudes to accept complex assignments, analyze problems and generate effective solutions, as well as possess and apply a comprehensive knowledge of application development to the completion of difficult assignments.
• Flexible and adaptable in regards to learning and understanding new technologies.
• Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Highly self motivated and directed; requires minimal supervision
• Keen attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.

C. Work Conditions

• On-call for assigned applications with other staff
• Overtime hours may be required to support production problems and meet project deadlines.
• Some travel may be required for gathering business requirements, training field users, project meetings, etc.

Relocation assistance is not available for this position.
Contact me if you are interested. Questions can be posed as a comment below or directly to me.

Project Manager (Infrastructure Background)

This is a 6 month+ contract in Dallas, TX.

Type of Project: This type of project secures that IT services and solutions are available in new office environments.

Project description: Office integration projects occurs when new office environments are set up and comprise planning and establishing of workspaces (workstations, terminals), connectivity & access to applications, file servers, print services and voice solutions.

Typically, one project manager can work with more than one office project in parallel.

Skills & Requirements

Competence category:  Project Manager

Languages:  Good skills in written and spoken English language

Technical skills:  General understanding of IT-infrastructure and network solutions e.g.

• networks (LAN, WAN)
• servers, routers, workstations
• routing
• firewalls
• VPN

Other required competences:

• Master/Bachelor of Science, Master/Bachelor of Engineering or equivalent

• Experience with deployments involving multiple service providers
• Experience of projects in complex environments
• Ability to take personal responsibility for the project
• Capable of planning and managing the project to the assigned goals from the initiation to the termination
• Understanding of the enterprise IT infrastructure
• High tolerance for uncertainty, capability to work independently in a volatile environment
• Ability to works with other project managers, program management, line organization and other interest groups to solve problems

Required traveling:  Readiness to travel to customer sites. Some international traveling may also be required.

Job Description

An office integration project comprises the following tasks:

• Make project plan (in cooperation with real estate, business owner and service experts) which covers

1. Workspaces (workstations, terminals)
2. Connectivity solution (WAN, LAN, WLAN)
3. List of applications
4. Office equipment (work stations, faxes, printers)
5. File servers
6. Print services
7. Voice solutions
8. Office move schedule

• Execute the project plan – service realization phase

1. Order needed hardware and service
2. Supervise that realization is taking place according to plan, take corrective actions when needed

• Secure that all needed services are available at office move time
• Verify status of moved people during minimum one week after office move
• Project documentation and reporting according to requirements from project owner
• Communication with various stakeholders

Database Administrator

Our client is looking fro three DBAs.  The positions will be based in Houston, but will be required to work with global teams in different geographies. Some late night or early morning conference calls are expected as part of the job.

Description of Role

• Responsible for collecting, converting and transfer data from existing environment to the SwapKit environment.
• Perform data consolidation for Transition Service Agreement
• Perform databases conversion, migration and transfer from environment to the SwapKit environment.
• Analyze data structure and relationship on different levels and areas of applications.
• Perform data migration between databases on different platforms: Oracle, MS SQL Server, MySQL and MS Access.
• Work closely with the Program Infrastructure team, and DS BAMs to prioritize migration approaches, change strategies, to determine requirements, develop high level design, and test plans.
• Coordinate and prepare testing resources for DS BAMs & end users to test the target solutions.
• Follow up with DS counterparts to ensure timely and thorough testing, document findings, and migration plans, and perform performance tuning and optimization, if necessary.
• Optimize execution plans for more efficient data retrieval.
• Clone and refresh databases and schemas for different business and testing purposes.
• Document data and business process changes, if necessary.
• Maintain technical documentations in project repository, and ensure they are up-to-date.
• Provide training/transition support to new owner.
• Provide technical consulting/training/transition as database expert to the buyer.

Around 200 different applications using various flavors of database will have to be transitioned into the SwapKit environment.

Technical Skills and Experience:

Required:

• MCDBA or Certified Oracle 10g/9i/8i/8.x or IBM DB2 Administrator preferrable, not mandatory.
• Databases: Oracle 10g/9i/8i/8.x/7.x, IBM DB2, MS SQL 2000/2005, MySQL
• Operating Systems: i5/OS, Linux, Sun Solaris, Windows 2000/2003
• File systems: Oracle Cluster File System (OCFS) 1/2.0, Network File Systems (NFS).
• Tools: Oracle SQL Developer, Oracle Enterprise Manager (OEM), RMAN, SQL*Net, SQL*Loader, SQL*Plus, TOra, – Crystal Report 8.0/8.5, MS Office, Visio
• Languages: SQL, PL/SQL, Unix shells, DOS shell, Perl
• Experience serving as Systems Analyst/DBA in at least 1 major application and data migration/remediation project through its entire life cycle, or equivalent
• Application development experience in at least one of following languages: VB, Java, Perl, C#, or C/C++

Preferred:

• At least 5 year IT/DBA Consulting experience
• Experience in Downstream (or Oil and Gas) business or ERP applications

Soft Skills and Experience:

• Required Languages: English, French (preferable but not mandatory).
• Clear communicator
• Strong stakeholder management skills, can operate effectively with senior business stakeholders and in detailed IT discussions
• Thinks creatively, identifies new, quicker, better ways of doing things
• Responds quickly to change
• Can focus on delivering fit for purpose solutions on time as opposed to gold plated solutions
• Previous experience with other business portfolio projects would be beneficial although not mandatory

Contact me if you are interested. Questions can be posed as a comment below or directly to me.