Job Description
Job DescriptionJob Title: Software Engineer II Location: Buffalo, NY Hire Type: Contingent Pay Range: $70.00/hour Work Type: Full-time Work Model: Hybrid – Monday through Thursday onsite; Friday remoteWork Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours/week; after-hours releases and rotating on-call support requiredRecruiter Contact: Samantha Marranca | smarranca@imaginegroup.com Nature & Scope:Positional Overview The Imagine Group is recruiting for a Software Engineer II on behalf of our client, a leading financial organization in Buffalo, NY. Despite the job title, this position is primarily a hands-on Systems Engineer / Systems Administrator role supporting Commercial Servicing Technology. The team maintains established enterprise applications and their Linux and Windows environments while preparing for future application upgrades, replacements, and modernization. This role combines Linux and Windows Server administration, production support, SQL and PowerShell troubleshooting, and CI/CD deployment activities. The engineer will investigate complex issues independently, support releases and integrations, collaborate with vendors and business stakeholders, and adapt as the technology environment evolves. New application development is limited; the team does not own the source code for its core supported applications. Role & Responsibility:Tasks That Will Lead to Your Success
- Administer and support enterprise application environments across Red Hat Linux and Windows Server, with particular emphasis on strong hands-on Linux expertise.
- Investigate and resolve complex production incidents, application issues, and cross-system dependencies with minimal supervision.
- Use SQL and PowerShell to troubleshoot systems, analyze data, and support administration and operational activities.
- Support CI/CD pipeline design, deployment processes, application releases, and controlled production changes.
- Participate in a rotating on-call schedule (approximately every third week) and respond to production incidents outside normal business hours.
- Support scheduled after-hours releases, fixes, server patching, and maintenance; scheduled changes often occur around 8 p.m.
- Maintain reliable operation of existing enterprise applications, including older systems undergoing evaluation for upgrade or replacement.
- Coordinate integrations, data feeds, file creation, and related changes involving interfacing applications.
- Collaborate with engineering, infrastructure, operations, vendors, and business partners to diagnose problems and implement solutions.
- Document technical environments, troubleshooting steps, production changes, and support procedures.
- Contribute to future modernization, migration, upgrade, or replacement initiatives as application requirements evolve.
- Work within Agile processes and use Jira, Confluence, and relevant change-management tools.
- Lead or participate in meetings with business stakeholders and vendors; clearly communicate technical issues, risks, and resolutions.
- Exercise independent judgment, structured problem-solving, and initiative in unfamiliar technical situations.
- Follow established development, operational, security, risk, regulatory, and internal control standards.
- Identify operational risks and escalate incidents or control issues to appropriate management.
- Support technical planning, testing, validation, and implementation of system enhancements.
- Recommend practical improvements to reliability, processes, automation, and application support.
- Perform other related systems engineering and production support duties as needed.
Skills & ExperienceQualifications That Will Help You Thrive
- Minimum of an Associate’s degree and 5 years of systems analysis/application development experience, or a combined minimum of 7 years of higher education and/or work experience, including at least 5 years in systems analysis/application development.
- Strong hands-on Linux systems administration experience, preferably Red Hat Linux; this is a top hiring priority.
- Proficiency administering and troubleshooting Windows Server environments.
- Experience supporting business-critical applications in production and resolving complex incidents independently.
- Working knowledge of SQL and PowerShell for troubleshooting, scripting, and systems support.
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines, deployment processes, and production releases.
- Availability for an approximately every-third-week on-call rotation and off-hours releases, incidents, and maintenance.
- Strong analytical troubleshooting skills, sound judgment, and ability to identify solutions without extensive direction.
- Ability to work across applications, operating systems, infrastructure, and integrated systems.
- Clear verbal and written communication, including facilitating meetings with vendors and business stakeholders.
- Strong organization, documentation, collaboration, and time-management skills.
- Ability to work onsite in Buffalo Monday through Thursday, with Friday remote.
- Exposure to GitLab, Ansible, ServiceNow, Jira, Confluence, and Agile delivery practices.
- Experience with SQL Server, Oracle, API design, SSIS, or enterprise data integrations.
- Familiarity with .NET, C#, JavaScript, or VB in environments supporting established applications.
Education and Experience Preferred:
- Experience supporting legacy or vendor-managed applications through modernization, upgrade, migration, or replacement.
- Advanced experience troubleshooting Red Hat Linux and Windows application/server environments.
- Experience with server patching, change management, deployment automation, and incident response.
- Knowledge of financial services or commercial servicing technology environments.
- Experience coordinating with external software vendors and business partners.