Application Management Specialist

Job Summary We are looking for a skilled Application Management Specialist, who is typically an enterprise-level front-end specialist, focuses on the web/application front-end layer in a large-scale Application Services or managed-services environment. The person should work within a consulting or application maintenance context. This means a strong emphasis on maintaining and optimizing web servers, application platforms, and front-end environments to ensure high availability, performance, and security of enterprise applications. Roles and Responsibilities: 1. Web/Application Server Management & Deployment * Configure and Administer Web Servers: Install, configure, and maintain IIS servers for .NET applications in all environments. Handle new IIS instances, ASP.NET app deployment, and related services or components. * Application Deployment & Patching: Coordinate and execute deployments of application releases (front-end components) to various environments. Perform routine updates, patches, and configuration changes on front-end servers to keep systems up-to-date and secure. * Platform Monitoring & Maintenance: Monitor front-end servers and solutions (web portals, CMS, etc.) for performance and uptime using enterprise tools. Track metrics like CPU, memory, and response times, addressing issues proactively. Ensure front-end environments are scalable and reliable for large user bases. 2. Troubleshooting & Support (Application Services Context) * Issue Ownership & Resolution: Own customer-reported front-end issues from intake to resolution. Investigate web application problems, diagnose errors (server, configuration, or performance), and apply prompt fixes or workarounds. * Root Cause Analysis: Troubleshoot web servers and front-end apps by reviewing IIS/Apache logs, application logs, errors, and system metrics to find incident causes. Recommend long-term fixes, such as configuration changes, code updates with developers, or infrastructure improvements. * Escalation & Collaboration: Use ITIL/ITSM processes for incident and problem management. Escalate unresolved issues to relevant teams with clear details, keep ownership until resolution, and act as a link between users and technical staff. * 24×5 Support & On-Call Rotation: Operate in an enterprise 24×5 support model, including rotational shifts or on-call duties for managed services or consulting delivery. Maintain rapid incident response for front-end systems outside business hours to meet SLAs and uptime requirements. 3\. Scripting, Automation & Optimization * Automation & Tools: Use PowerShell or Bash scripts to automate routine maintenance, deployments, monitoring, and integrations. Automate tasks like site restarts, log rotations, and configuration checks to reduce manual work and errors. * Performance Tuning: Monitor front-end performance and apply optimizations, such as adjusting server settings, enabling caching or CDN, refining load balancer configurations, or recommending code improvements for scalable results. * Continuous Improvement: Keep up with current front-end and web infrastructure technologies. Suggest and implement updates or tools to boost stability, security, and efficiency—such as enhanced monitoring dashboards, improved CI/CD pipelines, or containerization for easier scaling. 4\. Security & Compliance * Web Security Configuration: Apply security best practices to front-end servers and apps according to enterprise standards. Manage SSL/TLS certificates for web portals, configure secure protocols (HTTPS, TLS), and maintain required encryption like PGP for file transfers. * Access & Firewall Management: Collaborate with network teams to set up firewalls, DNS, and load balancers for web applications. Understand networking concepts (ports, protocols, VPNs) and apply security controls, including correct authentication and least-privilege access for front-end systems. * Compliance & Documentation: Follow organization and client policies, including change management and data protection. Keep thorough documentation of deployments, configurations, and troubleshooting to support team knowledge and audits. 5\. Cross-Functional Collaboration * Team Coordination: In an Application Services Platform, the resource should collaborate with infrastructure, backend/database, network/security teams, etc. and client IT staff to resolve issues and implement changes while minimizing impact on front-end systems. * Client & User Communication: Serve as the front-end contact for the service delivery team, communicating with end users and client stakeholders to resolve issues and provide updates. Responsibilities may include writing post-incident reports and contributing to weekly status reports. * Process Improvement: Engage in process reviews and service improvement plans. For instance, contribute to developing runbooks, maintenance schedules, and disaster recovery procedures for front-end application components. The ASP FE's expertise on recurring issues and performance helps drive ongoing service enhancements. Technical Skills and Minimum Qualifications: Technical Skills & Experience * Web/Application Server Expertise: Extensive 6 -7 years of experience with Microsoft IIS for enterprise web hosting, including configuration, security, troubleshooting, and URL rewrites. Windows Server OS (2012/2019 and latest) administration required; familiarity with Linux/Unix and Apache preferred. * Application Deployment & Support: 6 -7 years of experience in deploying and supporting ASP.NET web applications or similar technologies in production. Knowledgeable about the software development lifecycle, front-end packaging and release, source control, and CI/CD tools (e.g., Jenkins or Azure DevOps). * Scripting & Automation: 5 – 6 years of skilled experience in PowerShell and Bash to automate tasks, support DevOps, and create scripts for monitoring, deployment, and tool integration. * Networking & Security Knowledge: 5 – 6 years of skilled and solid understanding of network protocols and firewall concepts (HTTP/S, FTP/SFTP, TCP/IP) as they relate to web application delivery. Experience configuring SSL/TLS, managing certificates, and ensuring secure communications for web platforms. Knowledge of authentication methods and encryption standards (e.g., SSO, OAuth, PGP for file transfers) is often required in regulated enterprise environments. * Troubleshooting & Performance Tuning: Strong diagnostic skills in investigating logs, error codes, and performance metrics on front-end systems. Experience with application performance monitoring (APM) tools, load testing, or profiling front-end performance is valuable for proactively identifying bottlenecks. * Enterprise Tools & Domain Knowledge: In a consulting role, familiarity with ticketing systems (SOM tools), documentation platforms, and domain-specific tools is useful. Domain experience in the industry of the client (e.g., healthcare domain for health plan applications) is also advantageous, as it aids in understanding the context of the applications being supported. Professional Skills * Problem-Solving & Ownership: The team members must independently handle complex issues under pressure, think analytically and creatively to resolve front-end incidents, and ensure problems are fully resolved with end-to-end responsibility. * Communication & Collaboration: Team members must communicate clearly with stakeholders by writing documentation, reporting status updates, explaining technical issues simply, and cooperating with various teams. * Adaptability & Continuous Learning: The resource needs to work with diverse technologies and legacy systems, so being adaptable and willing to learn is essential. They keep up with advances in front-end and DevOps/Cloud tech to enhance operations. * Customer-Focused Mindset: In a service-driven role, team members must stay aware of customer SLAs and satisfaction. They address issues by priority, communicate promptly, minimize downtime for end-users, and maintain a professional attitude when supporting enterprise clients. Nice to Have: * Good to have knowledge on Jenkins or similar CI/CD tools. * Good to have knowledge on GoAnywhere MFT (Managed File Transfer) projects development and implementation. * Good to have knowledge on EDI viewers * Good to have experience on asp.net based application deployment and troubleshooting * Health Care Domain or Health Plan experience