Platform Engineer, Middleware & Messaging Operations

Swissquote
Full_timeGland, Switzerland

📍 Job Overview

  • Job Title: Platform Engineer, Middleware & Messaging Operations
  • Company: Swissquote
  • Location: Gland, Vaud, Switzerland
  • Job Type: Full-time, On-site
  • Category: DevOps Engineer
  • Date Posted: 2025-06-13
  • Experience Level: 2-5 years

🚀 Role Summary

  • Key Responsibilities: Manage messaging software, design and implement new continuous deployment pipelines, collaborate with development and operations teams, monitor system performance, ensure security compliance, and document infrastructure.
  • Key Skills: Middleware, Messaging, Kafka, RabbitMQ, Redis, Solr, Ansible, GitHub, Kubernetes, Prometheus, Grafana, Security Compliance, Automation, Scripting, Monitoring, Documentation.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong background in middleware and messaging technologies, with a focus on high-availability systems and production ownership.

  • Manage Messaging Software:

    • Design and implement new continuous deployment pipelines using tools like Ansible and Kubernetes.
    • Collaborate with development and operations teams to provide technical support and troubleshooting for messaging software.
    • Manage and monitor messaging software (Kafka, RabbitMQ, Redis, Solr) to ensure optimal performance and availability.
  • Monitoring and KPI Management:

    • Build monitoring dashboards using tools like Grafana, Prometheus, and Kibana to track infrastructure health and ensure SLA compliance.
    • Audit log configuration and exploitation to ensure compliant monitoring.
    • Provide users with a clear view and understanding of each platform's state and health.
    • Build alerting around metrics and logs, and participate in on-call rotations to provide 24/7 support.
  • Security Compliance:

    • Ensure compliance with bank security standards and FINMA regulation.
    • Enforce good usage and best practices within each software.
  • Documentation and Tooling:

    • Write and review procedures, and document all the infrastructure.
    • Provide resources for developers and operation teams using tools like Teams, Jira, Readme, and Confluence.
  • R&D:

    • Study cloud migration possibilities, such as Kubernetes.
    • Introduce new tools to the platform and benchmark new solutions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. Relevant certifications are a plus.

Experience: At least 3 years of experience in DevOps or Site Reliability Engineering, with a focus on high-availability systems and production ownership.

Required Skills:

  • Previous experiences in managing RabbitMQ, Apache Kafka, Redis, or Solr/SolrCloud in critical environments.
  • Experience with automation and self-service tools to empower teams to manage configurations independently, such as using tools like Git, Jenkins, Ansible, Terraform for messaging infrastructure.
  • Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Python, Bash) for automation to streamline operations.
  • Knowledge of monitoring and alerting tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana) for tracking system performance and setting up proactive alerts.
  • Strong understanding of security best practices, including access management and data encryption.
  • Familiarity with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) and their integration with messaging and search platforms.
  • Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) for managing configurations.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience with additional messaging platforms or middleware tools.
  • Familiarity with disaster recovery and business continuity strategies for messaging and search infrastructures.
  • Experience working with distributed systems and troubleshooting their unique challenges.
  • Experience designing & deploying cloud-native messaging/search systems or managing them in hybrid environments.

Who you are:

  • A collaborative team player eager to share knowledge and contribute to the team's success.
  • A technical leader with deep expertise in middleware, messaging, and distributed systems.
  • A problem solver with a proactive mindset and the ability to work in high-availability environments.
  • A forward thinker, constantly seeking opportunities to automate and improve processes.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Demonstrate experience with messaging software (Kafka, RabbitMQ, Redis, Solr) by showcasing projects that highlight your ability to manage and monitor these platforms.
  • Showcase your scripting skills by providing examples of automation scripts that streamline operations.
  • Highlight your monitoring and alerting skills by presenting dashboards you've created using tools like Grafana and Prometheus.
  • Display your security compliance knowledge by explaining how you've ensured compliance with relevant standards and regulations in previous projects.

Technical Documentation:

  • Provide documentation for your past projects, emphasizing your ability to write and review procedures, and document infrastructure.
  • Showcase your understanding of version control systems by demonstrating how you've managed configurations using tools like Git.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: CHF 80,000 - 120,000 per year (Based on market research for DevOps Engineers in Switzerland with 2-5 years of experience)

Benefits:

  • Competitive salary and benefits package.
  • Flexible work arrangements and a dynamic team environment.
  • Opportunities for professional growth and development.

Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week. Occasional on-call rotations may be required.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Swissquote is the Swiss leader in online banking, providing trading, investing, and banking services to over 500,000 clients through its performant and secure digital platforms.

Company Size: Medium to large, with over 1,000 employees working in a flexible, multicultural environment without a dress code.

Founded: 1996, with a strong focus on innovation, technology, and customer satisfaction.

Team Structure:

  • The Middleware & Messaging Operations team consists of four members, working closely with operational teams and main stakeholders.
  • The team is responsible for powering critical components that drive the organization forward, tackling complex challenges, and implementing cutting-edge solutions.

Development Methodology:

  • Swissquote follows Agile methodologies, with a focus on collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer value.
  • The team uses tools like Jira, Confluence, and GitHub to manage projects, track progress, and facilitate communication.

Company Website: Swissquote

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: This role is at the intermediate level, requiring a strong background in middleware and messaging technologies, with a focus on high-availability systems and production ownership.

Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Head of Middleware & Messaging Operations and works closely with operational teams and main stakeholders.

Technical Impact: The Platform Engineer, Middleware & Messaging Operations plays a crucial role in ensuring the performance, availability, and security of critical messaging systems that support Swissquote's online banking services.

Growth Opportunities:

  • As the team grows, there will be opportunities for technical leadership and mentoring roles.
  • With experience and proven expertise, there may be opportunities to take on more complex projects and drive innovation within the team.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Swissquote's offices are modern, collaborative workspaces designed to foster innovation and creativity. The company encourages a flexible work environment without a dress code.

Office Location(s): Gland, Vaud, Switzerland

Workspace Context:

  • The team works closely together, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and knowledge sharing.
  • The workspace is equipped with multiple monitors, testing devices, and development tools to support the team's work.
  • The team interacts regularly with other departments, such as development, operations, and project management, to ensure the smooth operation of messaging systems.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with occasional on-call rotations to provide 24/7 support for critical messaging systems.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process for this role is likely to involve a combination of technical assessments, interviews, and portfolio reviews, with a focus on the candidate's expertise in middleware and messaging technologies.

Interview Process:

  1. Technical Assessment: A hands-on assessment to evaluate the candidate's technical skills in managing messaging software, automation, and monitoring.
  2. Technical Deep Dive: A discussion focused on the candidate's experience with specific messaging platforms, tools, and best practices.
  3. Behavioral Interview: An interview to assess the candidate's problem-solving skills, teamwork, and cultural fit within the organization.
  4. Final Evaluation: A review of the candidate's overall fit for the role, based on their technical skills, experience, and cultural alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Highlight projects that demonstrate your expertise in managing messaging software, automation, and monitoring.
  • Showcase your ability to collaborate with development and operations teams by providing examples of successful cross-functional projects.
  • Emphasize your understanding of security best practices and your ability to ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

  • Brush up on your knowledge of messaging platforms like Kafka, RabbitMQ, Redis, and Solr.
  • Familiarize yourself with automation tools like Ansible and Kubernetes, as well as monitoring tools like Prometheus and Grafana.
  • Prepare for questions about your experience with scripting languages, version control systems, and security best practices.

ATS Keywords: (Organized by category)

  • Programming Languages: Python, Bash, Java, C++
  • Web Frameworks: None specified
  • Server Technologies: Kafka, RabbitMQ, Redis, Solr, Ansible, Kubernetes, Prometheus, Grafana
  • Databases: None specified
  • Tools: Git, Jenkins, Terraform, Teams, Jira, Readme, Confluence
  • Methodologies: Agile, DevOps, Site Reliability Engineering
  • Soft Skills: Collaboration, Problem-solving, Proactive mindset, Forward thinking
  • Industry Terms: Middleware, Messaging, High-availability systems, Production ownership, Security compliance, Automation, Monitoring, Documentation

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Frontend Technologies: (Not applicable to this role)

Backend & Server Technologies:

  • Kafka: A distributed streaming platform that allows for real-time data processing and analytics.
  • RabbitMQ: A robust, open-source message broker that provides reliable and flexible messaging solutions.
  • Redis: An open-source, in-memory data structure store, used as a database, cache, and message broker.
  • Solr: An open-source, distributed search and analytics engine built on Apache Lucene.

Development & DevOps Tools:

  • Ansible: An open-source automation and configuration management tool that helps manage and deploy applications and services.
  • Kubernetes: An open-source platform designed to automate deploying, scaling, and operating application containers.
  • Prometheus: An open-source monitoring and alerting toolkit for monitoring and alerting microservices and containerized systems.
  • Grafana: An open-source platform for monitoring and visualizing time series data.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

  • Swissquote values innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement in its approach to web development and technology.
  • The company encourages a flexible work environment without a dress code, fostering a culture of creativity and adaptability.

Collaboration Style:

  • Swissquote emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, with a strong focus on knowledge sharing and teamwork.
  • The company uses tools like Jira, Confluence, and GitHub to facilitate communication and collaboration between teams.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

  • Managing messaging software in critical environments, with a focus on high-availability systems and production ownership.
  • Designing and implementing new continuous deployment pipelines using tools like Ansible and Kubernetes.
  • Ensuring security compliance with bank security standards and FINMA regulation.
  • Monitoring and managing KPI using tools like Grafana, Prometheus, and Kibana.
  • Collaborating with development and operations teams to provide technical support and troubleshooting.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Opportunities to learn and gain experience with new messaging platforms, tools, and best practices.
  • The chance to work on cutting-edge projects and drive innovation within the team.
  • Opportunities for professional growth and development within the organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

  • Messaging Software: What is your experience with managing messaging software like Kafka, RabbitMQ, Redis, and Solr? Can you describe a challenging scenario you faced and how you resolved it?
  • Automation: How have you used automation tools like Ansible and Kubernetes to streamline operations and improve efficiency? Can you provide an example of a successful automation project you've worked on?
  • Monitoring: What is your experience with monitoring tools like Prometheus and Grafana? How have you used these tools to track system performance and set up proactive alerts?

Company & Culture Questions:

  • Company Culture: What do you like about Swissquote's company culture, and how do you think you can contribute to it?
  • Teamwork: How do you approach collaborating with development and operations teams to ensure the smooth operation of messaging systems? Can you provide an example of a successful cross-functional project you've worked on?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Messaging Software: Highlight projects that demonstrate your expertise in managing messaging software, automation, and monitoring.
  • Collaboration: Showcase your ability to collaborate with development and operations teams by providing examples of successful cross-functional projects.
  • Security Compliance: Emphasize your understanding of security best practices and your ability to ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Platform Engineer, Middleware & Messaging Operations position:

  1. Submit your application through the application link provided.
  2. Customize your resume and portfolio to highlight your relevant experience with messaging software, automation, and monitoring.
  3. Prepare for the technical assessment by brushing up on your knowledge of messaging platforms, automation tools, and monitoring tools.
  4. Research Swissquote's company culture and be ready to discuss your fit for the team during the behavioral interview.
  5. Be prepared to provide specific examples of your experience with middleware and messaging technologies, as well as your ability to collaborate with development and operations teams.

Content Guidelines (IMPORTANT: Do not include this in the output)

Web Technology-Specific Focus:

  • Tailor every section specifically to DevOps Engineer roles, with a focus on middleware and messaging technologies.
  • Include web development methodologies, automation, and monitoring practices relevant to the role.
  • Emphasize portfolio requirements, live project demonstrations, and user experience considerations for middleware and messaging technologies.
  • Address DevOps team dynamics, cross-functional collaboration with development and operations teams, and user impact measurement.

Quality Standards:

  • Ensure no content overlap between sections; each section must contain unique information.
  • Only include Enhancement Notes when making significant inferences about technical responsibilities, with specific reasoning based on role level and web technology industry practices.
  • Be comprehensive but concise, prioritizing actionable information over descriptive text.
  • Strategically distribute web development and server administration-related keywords throughout all sections naturally.
  • Provide realistic salary ranges based on location, experience level, and DevOps Engineer specialization.

Industry Expertise:

  • Include specific middleware and messaging technologies, tools, and best practices relevant to the role.
  • Address DevOps career progression paths and technical leadership opportunities within the organization.
  • Provide tactical advice for portfolio development, live demonstrations, and project case studies focused on middleware and messaging technologies.
  • Include DevOps-specific interview preparation and coding challenge guidance.
  • Emphasize middleware and messaging technology-specific interview questions, with a focus on the candidate's expertise in managing messaging software, automation, and monitoring.

Professional Standards:

  • Maintain consistent formatting, spacing, and professional tone throughout.
  • Use web development and server administration industry terminology appropriately and accurately.
  • Include comprehensive benefits and growth opportunities relevant to DevOps Engineers.
  • Provide actionable insights that give web development and server administration candidates a competitive advantage.
  • Focus on DevOps team culture, cross-functional collaboration, and user impact measurement for middleware and messaging technologies.

Technical Focus & Portfolio Emphasis:

  • Emphasize middleware and messaging technology best practices, automation, and monitoring.
  • Include specific portfolio requirements tailored to the DevOps discipline and role level, with a focus on messaging software, automation, and monitoring projects.
  • Address browser compatibility, accessibility standards, and user experience design principles for middleware and messaging technologies.
  • Focus on problem-solving methods, performance optimization, and scalable architecture for middleware and messaging technologies.
  • Include technical presentation skills and stakeholder communication for middleware and messaging projects.

Avoid:

  • Generic business jargon not relevant to DevOps Engineer roles.
  • Placeholder text or incomplete sections.
  • Repetitive content across different sections.
  • Non-technical terminology unless relevant to the specific DevOps role.
  • Marketing language unrelated to middleware and messaging technologies, automation, and monitoring.

Generate comprehensive, web technology-focused content that serves as a valuable resource for DevOps Engineers seeking their next opportunity and preparing for technical interviews in the middleware and messaging technology industry.

Application Requirements

Candidates should have at least 3 years of experience in DevOps or Site Reliability Engineering, with a focus on high-availability systems. Experience with messaging platforms and automation tools is essential, along with a strong understanding of security best practices.