[Shacs] Job Opportunity: Ascendant Technology

[Matthew D. Skrabanek]

Technical Consultant Position –


Ascendant Technology provides innovative IT business consulting services
and solutions to major clients of all industries around the U.S. We are a
premier IBM Business Partner, and specialize in providing custom Portal
and SOA solutions to help businesses meet challenges and take advantage of
new opportunities. Our Architects are solidly grounded in Enterprise Java
and experts in today’s cutting-edge technologies.  Our culture is part of
what separates us from other IT companies! We pride ourselves on a
relaxed, friendly environment, much like a ‘family’, while relying on
self-motivation, initiative, creativity, and encouraging each consultant
to develop their own area of expertise for our client’s needs.

Ascendant Technology is hiring a technical consultant for each of our
regions and is looking for the “Best of the Best”. If you enjoy solving
tough technical problems and stay up nights figuring out how technology
really works, we want to talk to you!  The ideal candidate should be
intelligent, hard working and flexible – with the ability to quickly
learn, apply cutting edge technologies, work within a team and have the
potential to grow into a stellar consulting Developer/Architect.

Your employment would begin with seven weeks, starting July 30, of
specialized technical training that introduces junior employees to
Ascendant and our technologies and is considered an excellent transition
into the fast-paced, challenging work environment at Ascendant.  Attendees
will work cooperatively and apply their newly acquired skills to solve a
real project scenario.  After completion of the training program, you will
apply your skills, solving real business problems for one of Ascendant’s
regional clients. Technologies taught last year were IBM’s Websphere
Content Management, Websphere Portlet Factory and Workplace Forms. The
latest technologies will be brought to the classroom right out of the
field and presented to you by our top technical in-house experts.

Qualifications:
•	Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, etc.
•	Courses in Java/Web/J2EE.
•	Strong written and verbal communication skills
•	Ability to travel inter-regionally frequently (Our employees can be
based out of anywhere in the United States)
•	Knowledge of XML, HTML, or SQL is helpful

Primary Responsibilities:
* Work within structured J2EE framework (security implementation, design
layout,
    graphical content) and project framework
* Design, build and deploy Java applications for the web
* Architect, develop and implement cutting-edge solutions and services

Benefits:
•	Base salary of 55k to 65k
•	On-going training to keep your skills sharp and up-to-date throughout
the year
•	Performance-based bonus plan and certification incentive plan
•	401(k) program (with employer match)
•	Medical, Dental, Vision, Life
•	Flexible Spending Account

Recent Ascendant projects used: AJAX, SOA, SOAP, WSDL, J2EE, Web Services,
BPEL, AXIS, Hibernate, Spring, AspectJ, Maven, Anthill, JSR-168, JSF,
MyFaces, Eclipse WTP, Custom User Management Portlets, RAD, End to end
SSL, RSS-XML feeds, Identity Management, MDD/MDA Business Integration, and
ESB/MOM. Our client list includes many Fortune 1000 companies, and has
included businesses such as New York Life, Haworth, UP, Triple AAA,
American United Life, Toyota Financial, Federal Reserve Board, Mercury
Insurance, Red Bull, Cisco Systems, BMC Software, The State of Texas,
Hallmark, Express Scripts, Austin Energy, Michaels Stores, Republic
Indemnity, Texas Mutual and Allstate Insurance.

Comments from those who participated in last year’s training:
“The training itself was an excellent asset. Many graduates may feel
anxiety over starting their first full-time position. This training can be
seen as an excellent transition into the work world as well as Ascendant
itself. The bootcamp was a great introduction to Ascendant’s in-demand
technologies.”
“Many Ascendant employees have participated in authoring Redbooks, and
that is very exciting!”
“The bootcamp was excellent! It’s intense. You get immersed in new
technology, and ways of thinking. You are taught not just about tools, but
about composure, and how to succeed independently, but with a team
supporting you. You spend 10 hours a day absorbing information, enjoying
good Texan food, funny moments, and getting to know your colleagues’
characters.”
“Travel, and a flexible workweek are real pluses!”

What some of our previous Bootcamp graduates did following graduation:
•	Traveled to Chicago and worked with an IBM team doing Workplace Forms
work for 7 weeks, followed by going to Maine for a month, working on a
Portal Migration, focusing on a particular portion of the porlet aspect of
the migration.
•	Taught two chapters of the new Websphere Content Management 6 Developers
course for a client at an IBM lab in Dallas.
•	Performed WCM development for a health insurance company.
•	Did development at a large health care account and was scheduled to
train developers for a major retail clothing company on Workplace Forms.
•	Used AJAX for a pre-sales effort in creating a very ‘cool’ real time
stock portfolio update to a portlet.
•	Developed portlets in Portlet Factory at a major pharmaceutical
manufacturer, followed by a demonstration using this technology at a
health care organization.

At Ascendant Technology, we pride ourselves on our stellar team of
consultants.  We stay on the cutting-edge of IBM technology, consistently
reinvesting in our employees through training.  We have an annual company
meeting / tech exchange, small company environment, and a great culture
with a proven management team.  Come and join Ascendant Technology! 
Ascendant Technology is an EOE. For immediate consideration, please submit
your resume to hr at atech.com!