Websphere Specialist

Job Summary:

WebSphere Portal and HCL Connections Developer

The ideal candidate will be well-versed in full-stack development (Java and frontend), theme migration, profile customization, directory integration, and deeply familiar with tools like TDI (Tivoli Directory Integrator) and TDS (Tivoli Directory Server).

Key Responsibilities:

Migration & Upgrade Responsibilities:

• Lead or support end-to-end

  migration of WebSphere Portal 8.5 to HCL Digital Experience

  , including custom portlets, themes, and configurations.
• Plan and execute

  migration of IBM Connections to HCL Connections

  , preserving data integrity and minimizing downtime.
• Analyze existing customizations, extensions, and integrations to ensure compatibility post-migration.
• Refactor or rewrite deprecated portlets, themes, widgets, or APIs to meet newer platform standards.
• Work with infrastructure and DevOps teams to migrate environments across servers or cloud platforms as needed.

Portal & Portlet Development:

• Design and develop custom

  JSR 286-compliant portlets

  using Java, JSP, and Servlets.
• Integrate portlets with HCL Connections features (Activities, Profiles, Files, etc.).
• Build RESTful web services for data exchange between the portal and backend systems.

Frontend Development & UI Theming:

• Create and migrate

  Portal themes and skins

  , adhering to branding guidelines and responsive design principles.
• Develop rich UI components using

  HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript

  , and frameworks such as

  Dojo, jQuery

  .
• Ensure cross-browser compatibility and optimize front-end performance.

HCL Connections Customization:

• Customize HCL Connections

  Profiles, Communities, Activities, and Files modules

  .
• Create and manage

  custom widgets/iWidgets

  for integration with Portal or third-party systems.
• Develop and maintain

  Profile population scripts

  using TDI and configure TDS for LDAP integration.

Integration & Directory Services:

• Implement and troubleshoot

  TDI scripts

  for syncing user data from TDS (or other LDAP directories) to HCL Connections.
• Manage directory integration tasks such as user provisioning, attribute mapping, and error resolution.
• Work on SSO (Single Sign-On) integration and user authentication flows across Portal and Connections.

Maintenance & Support:

• Monitor and optimize performance of both WebSphere Portal and HCL Connections environments.
• Troubleshoot application issues across the stack (UI, portlet backend, directory sync, theme rendering, etc.).
• Create documentation, implementation guides, and migration runbooks.

Required Skills & Experience:

• 5+ years

  of hands-on experience in

  WebSphere Portal

  development (preferably 8.5 or later).

• 3+ years

  working with

  IBM/HCL Connections

  , including customization and integration.

• Strong experience in migration

  projects involving WebSphere Portal and/or IBM Connections.
• Proficient in

  Java/J2EE

  , JSP, Servlets, and JSR 286 portlet specifications.
• Solid understanding of

  frontend development

  : HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, Dojo, jQuery.
• Experience creating and migrating

  themes/skins

  in WebSphere Portal / HCL DX.
• Expertise in

  IBM Tivoli Directory Integrator (TDI)

  and

  Tivoli Directory Server (TDS)

  for user profile management and synchronization.
• Familiarity with

  LDAP

  , SSO integration, and federated identity management.
• Strong troubleshooting, debugging, and performance optimization skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with

  cloud-based deployments

  (IBM Cloud, AWS, Azure, etc.).
• Knowledge of

  CI/CD pipelines

  for deploying portlets or widgets.
• Familiarity with HCL Leap, Verse, or other HCL Digital Solutions products.
• Hands-on experience with

  Kubernetes/Docker

  for containerized deployment.
• HCL/IBM Certifications in Portal or Connections (preferred but not required).

Soft Skills:

• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Proven ability to work independently as well as part of a cross-functional team.
• Ability to manage time effectively and handle shifting priorities