Ascendum Solutions

Lead and manage large-scale modernization initiatives, coordinate cross-functional teams, and align technology strategies with business goals. | Extensive experience in software development and project management, preferably in financial services, with certifications like PMP or PMI-ACP being advantageous. | We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Program Manager to lead complex, cross-functional technology initiatives within company’s Brokerage Modernization program. This role is pivotal in driving strategic execution across multiple business units, technology teams, and vendor partners, ensuring alignment with company's broader modernization and digital transformation goals. The program manager will be utilizing mainframe, distributed, and cloud-based platforms for alerting and notification. Additionally, it is essential to consider the integration requirements with other systems or platforms within company to ensure seamless communication and functionality. Responsibilities • Lead end-to-end program management for large-scale, multi-year modernization initiatives across Brokerage Recordkeeping Technology, with a focus on Strategic Alerting and notification platforms for both B2B, B2C and B2B2C clients and customers. • Oversee project planning, execution, and delivery using Agile and hybrid methodologies tying to key measurable outputs that comprise business outcomes. • Manage cross-functional teams, including internal stakeholders, external vendors, and business partners. • Serve as a liaison between business users (trading desks, operations, money movement, etc.) and technology teams. • Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership, providing executive-level updates, roadmaps, and performance metrics. • Drive alignment across organizations, ensuring prioritization and resource optimization. • Partner with enterprise architects to ensure modernization efforts align with target-state architecture driving integration strategies across legacy and modern platforms, ensuring seamless data flow and service interoperability. • Ensure compliance with interim and strategic data strategies through tight facilitation and collaboration between business SMEs, technology teams, and data governance councils. • Establish and maintain governance frameworks, risk and dependency management protocols, and change control processes. • Identify, track, and mitigate program risks and critical path dependencies. • Collaborate with legal, risk, and compliance teams to ensure modernization initiatives meet evolving regulatory requirements. • Understand product landscape, capabilities and interaction points within the technology ecosystem, as well as the current and target-state architecture. • Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement across program teams. • Provide leadership and mentorship to project managers, analysts, enablement leads, and delivery leads. Qualifications • BA or BS degree • 10+ years of experience in the software development space, at least 5 as a project manager with extensive technical delivery experience with analysis, development, and QA • Certifications (preferred but not mandatory): PMP, PMI-ACP, or SAFe Program Consultant (SPC). • Experience in the financial services industry with a solid understanding of brokerage preferred • Proven success managing enterprise-wide programs with complex interdependencies and stakeholder landscapes. • Experience with cloud migration, digital transformation, and platform modernization initiatives. • Strong experience with software development methodologies (agile and waterfall) • Experience in leadership/influence and collaboration in a matrix-managed environment, and across multiple and diverse groups • Demonstrated ability to take initiative, drive decisions forward, and persist through ambiguity and obstacles. • Proactive and confident communicator with a strong sense of ownership and follow-through. • Must be able to communicate with various levels in and across the organization, from C-suite level to detailed developer to business SME • Influencing skills beyond organizational boundaries are a must.

Modernize and maintain core Microsoft stack applications including backend migrations, frontend Angular upgrades, IIS hosting management, and Azure service integrations. | Requires strong C#/.NET development experience, SQL Server expertise, AngularJS to Angular migration skills, IIS and Windows services knowledge, and Azure DevOps familiarity. | W2 candidates will only be considered, cannot work on 1099 or C2C basis. Description: We are seeking a software engineer to help modernize and maintain our core applications across the Microsoft stack. The role involves working with C# in both .NET Framework 4.8 and .NET 8, supporting migrations from legacy ASP.NET MVC/Web API patterns to modern solutions using EF Core and SQL Server. You’ll also contribute to front-end development as we transition from AngularJS to Angular, integrating with secure .NET Web API backends. The position requires familiarity with IIS hosting, background job orchestration, and Azure services such as Functions, Blob Storage, Key Vault, and Application Insights. Experience with performance tuning, DevOps practices, and secure configurations will be valuable in ensuring reliable, scalable systems. Technical Needs: Core platform • C# with .NET Framework 4.8 and .NET 8 (comfortable working in a hybrid solution) • ASP.NET MVC (Razor) and ASP.NET Web API (migrating patterns from 4.8 to .NET 8) • Entity Framework 6 and EF Core (migrations, performance tuning, parameterized LINQ, interceptors) • SQL Server 2019-2022 (T-SQL, indexing, query plans, performance troubleshooting) Frontend • AngularJS to Angular (v20) experience, solid TypeScript, but from an integrated MS Stack perspective • Familiarity with integrating Angular frontends into an .Net 4.8/8 Web API backend leveraging MSAL Windows/IIS & services • Understands the impacts of IIS hosting, ARR/load balancing, Windows Authentication/Entra ID transitions • Understands the impacts of Windows Services, Windows Scheduled Tasks, and Hangfire for background jobs Azure & DevOps • Azure Functions (.NET isolated preferred), Blob Storage, Key Vault, App Configuration • Azure AI Document Intelligence integrations are a plus • Application Insights (KQL, custom dimensions) and secure configuration practices

Develop, implement, and maintain mainframe security procedures using CA Top Secret and related tools, collaborate with technical teams, and support security compliance and audits. | Experience with mainframe security, CA Top Secret, scripting languages (JCL, Python, REXX), ITSM knowledge, and ability to work on-call in a hybrid environment. | Only W2 eligible candidates will be considered for this role, C2C or 1099 will not be considered Title - Mainframe Security Analyst Location – Westlake, Texas (hybrid) - on call work as needed Term - Contract Number of openings: 1 The Role This position is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining mainframe security procedures and processes using CA Top Secret and other support security products. Team The Enterprise Mainframe Operations Services Team is responsible for the Top-Secret Infrastructure, design and architecture while ensuring that mainframe security closely matches the risk management policies and procedures set by the Enterprise. We partner closely with systems teams, including but not limited to Operating Systems Programmers, CICS Systems Programmers, DB2 Mainframe System Programmers, WebSphere and Storage Management architects to design, build and support security permissions for new products. Primary Responsibilities • Under moderate direction, participate in 2-3 small, self-contained, concurrent technical projects working with developers and operation analysts • Build relationships with business and technical partners to improve on security control work • Working with a multi-functional team to ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability of mainframe environment via CA Top Secret • Implementing new and maintaining team tooling using JCL, Python, REXX and other coding techniques • Resolving access issues Skills • Knowledge of Information Security Principles Preferred • Experience in DevOps • Knowledge of z/OS including security management with CA Top Secret • Familiarity with CA Compliance Manager, CA Cleanup and CA Compliance Information Analysis products • Self-starter with the ability to work as part of a team and independently • Proven experience with IT troubleshooting skills • Understand ITSM processes. • In-depth understanding of mainframe system and the inter working components • Proven experience with cross platform technical skills (MVS, Linux, Unix) • Strong customer service skills with development teams and individual users • Working rotational, on-call 24x7 team • Forward thinking, continuous improvement approach • Provide reporting and data analysis to support the enterprise ITSM function • Develop and implement dashboards and data solutions to provide information across enterprise • Develop processes and standards and maintain process alignment • Define and continuously improve the audit process; manage and review the execution of periodic audits • Process communication and education across the organization Top Skills: - JCL, Python, REXX and other coding techniques - z/OS including security management with CA. Experience maintaining mainframe security procedures and processes