What is a Software Engineer at American National Insurance?

At American National Insurance, the role of a Software Engineer is pivotal to maintaining the financial strength and operational integrity of a company that has served clients since 1905. Whether you are working within the Service Oriented Architecture Team building modern APIs or ensuring the stability of critical Mainframe systems, your work directly supports the promise of security we provide to policyholders.

You will step into an environment that balances long-standing stability with a drive for modernization. Engineers here are not just coders; they are guardians of enterprise data and architects of digital transformation. Depending on your specific team, you might be modernizing legacy systems using IBM ACE/IIB to create seamless integration workflows, or you might be the expert keeping our z/OS environments robust and efficient.

This position offers a unique opportunity to work on high-impact projects—from designing scalable RESTful APIs to managing complex storage administration on enterprise-grade hardware. You will collaborate across infrastructure, QA, and operations teams to solve complex issues, ensuring that our technology stack remains agile, secure, and ready for future generations.

Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparation is key to navigating our interview process. We look for candidates who possess not only technical depth but also a commitment to our core values: Financial Strength, Integrity, Respect, Service, and Teamwork (FIRST). You should approach your preparation by focusing on how your technical skills can solve real business problems while maintaining system stability.

We evaluate candidates based on the following key criteria:

Technical Expertise & Domain Knowledge We assess your hands-on proficiency with the specific tools relevant to the role, whether that is IBM Integration Bus (IIB) and Java, or z/OS systems programming and storage administration. You must demonstrate a deep understanding of the underlying architecture, not just the syntax of a language.

Operational Maturity & Problem Solving In an insurance environment, uptime and reliability are non-negotiable. We evaluate how you approach troubleshooting, incident management (using tools like ServiceNow), and root cause analysis. We look for engineers who can remain calm under pressure, especially when dealing with production escalations.

Collaboration & Cultural Alignment (ACE) Our culture thrives on Agility, Collaboration, and Engagement (ACE). Interviewers will look for evidence of how you work within cross-functional teams, how you communicate technical concepts to non-technical partners, and how you contribute to a positive, inclusive work environment.

Adaptability & Continuous Improvement Technology at American National is evolving. We value self-starters who are eager to learn new tools, participate in Agile ceremonies, and drive improvements in legacy processes. We want to know how you stay current and how you apply new knowledge to improve existing systems.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process at American National Insurance is designed to be thorough yet efficient, ensuring we find the right technical and cultural match. Generally, the process begins with an initial screening by a recruiter to verify your background and alignment with the role's logistics (such as location and salary expectations).

Following the screen, you can expect a series of technical interviews. For Software Engineer roles, this often involves a deep dive into your specific domain—be it Mainframe logic or API development. You will likely speak with a hiring manager and potentially a panel of peers. These sessions are conversational but rigorous; expect to discuss your past projects in detail, explain your architectural choices, and walk through how you handle technical challenges.

Our process emphasizes a holistic view of the candidate. While technical skills are paramount, we place significant weight on behavioral questions to ensure you align with our collaborative culture. We want to see how you handle mentorship, conflict, and project management within an Agile framework.

The timeline above illustrates the typical stages you will navigate. Use this to pace your preparation: focus on high-level behavioral stories for the initial screens, and shift to deep technical review and system design concepts as you progress to the panel rounds. Note that specific technical assessments may vary depending on whether you are interviewing for the Mainframe or Integration track.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

To succeed, you must demonstrate competence in the specific technical stack of the role you applied for. Below are the primary evaluation areas based on our current engineering needs.

Enterprise Integration (IBM ACE/IIB Track)

If you are interviewing for the integration developer role, expect a heavy focus on middleware and API strategy. You need to show how you connect disparate systems securely and efficiently.

Be ready to go over:

• IBM Integration Bus (IIB) & App Connect Enterprise (ACE) – Deep knowledge of message flows, nodes, and troubleshooting within the IBM ecosystem.
• API Development – Designing and securing RESTful and SOAP-based APIs using IBM API Connect.
• Data Transformation – Expertise in mapping and transforming data formats like XML and JSON, including encryption and validation logic.
• Programming Languages – proficiency in Java, Go, or JavaScript for building custom connectors and orchestration components.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Describe a complex integration workflow you designed using IBM ACE. How did you handle error handling and rollback?"
• "How do you secure a REST API exposed to external partners? Walk us through the authentication flow."
• "Explain a scenario where you had to transform a legacy SOAP service into a modern JSON-based REST API."

Mainframe Systems Programming (z/OS Track)

For the systems programmer role, the focus shifts to stability, storage, and operating system internals. You must demonstrate that you can manage the "heavy lifting" of our infrastructure.

Be ready to go over:

• Storage Administration – Managing allocation, backup, and recovery using SMS, HSM, and tape services.
• System Maintenance – Experience with z/OS upgrades, third-party software tuning, and performance investigations.
• Tooling – Familiarity with tools like FDR, DS8000, and TS7700.
• Incident Management – Prioritizing and resolving support tickets via ServiceNow.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "How do you approach tuning a z/OS environment that is experiencing I/O latency?"
• "Walk us through your process for planning and executing a major third-party software upgrade on the mainframe."
• "Describe a critical production incident you resolved related to storage allocation failure."

Agile & DevOps Practices

Regardless of the specific tech stack, all engineers are expected to work within modern delivery frameworks.

Be ready to go over:

• CI/CD Pipelines – Designing pipelines for deployment with traceability (especially for cloud-native roles).
• Agile Ceremonies – Contributing to sprint planning, retrospectives, and backlog grooming.
• Collaboration – Working with QA to validate flows and ensure smooth environment transitions.

Key Responsibilities

As a Software Engineer at American National Insurance, your day-to-day work is a blend of strategic development and operational support. You will be responsible for designing solutions that are not only functional but also scalable and secure.

For Integration Developers, your routine involves building enterprise-grade workflows. You will spend time coding in Java or ESQL, configuring IBM API Connect, and ensuring that data flows seamlessly between internal and external systems. You will collaborate closely with the Service Oriented Architecture Team to maintain consistency in design patterns and service governance.

For Senior Systems Programmers, your focus is on the health of the Mainframe. You will manage support tickets through ServiceNow, handle storage allocations, and oversee backups and recovery. You will be the go-to expert for z/OS issues, often collaborating with infrastructure teams to perform upgrades and tuning.

In both tracks, you play a critical role in cross-functional initiatives. You are expected to participate in Agile ceremonies, provide architectural input on scalability, and mentor less experienced team members. You will also likely participate in an on-call rotation, ensuring that our critical systems remain available to our customers around the clock.

Role Requirements & Qualifications

We are looking for candidates who bring a mix of specialized technical skills and broad engineering experience.

Essential Technical Qualifications:

• For Integration Roles:
  • Minimum 5 years of experience with IBM IIB, ACE, and API Connect.
  • Strong proficiency in Java, SQL, XML/JSON, and web services (SOAP/REST).
  • Experience with CI/CD pipelines and cloud-native development tools.
• For Mainframe Roles:
  • Proven background in z/OS systems programming.
  • Hands-on experience with storage administration tools: SMS, HSM, DS8000, TS7700.
  • Experience with third-party software upgrades and performance tuning.

General Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in MIS, CIS, Computer Science, or a related technical field is preferred.
• Soft Skills: Strong analytical thinking, time management, and the ability to communicate complex technical ideas effectively.
• Agile Experience: Demonstrated success working in Agile/Scrum environments.

Nice-to-Have Skills:

• Familiarity with IBM MQ and message-oriented middleware.
• Knowledge of Go or scripting languages for automation.
• Experience with ServiceNow for incident management.

Common Interview Questions

The following questions are representative of what you might face. They are designed to test both your technical knowledge and your approach to problem-solving within the context of American National Insurance.

Technical & Architecture

• "What are the key differences between IIB and ACE, and how would you migrate a workflow from one to the other?"
• "Explain how you handle transaction management in a distributed system. How do you ensure data consistency?"
• "In a z/OS environment, how do you diagnose a job that is hung or looping?"
• "Describe your experience with IBM API Connect. How do you handle versioning and deprecation of APIs?"
• "How would you design a backup and recovery strategy for a critical mainframe storage group?"

Behavioral & Situational

• "Tell me about a time you had to troubleshoot a complex issue under a tight deadline. What was your process?"
• "Describe a situation where you disagreed with a team member on a technical approach. How did you resolve it?"
• "How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple critical tickets assigned to you in ServiceNow?"
• "Give an example of how you have introduced a process improvement or automation to your team."
• "Tell me about a time you had to explain a technical limitation to a non-technical stakeholder."

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the work arrangement for these roles? These positions are primarily onsite. Depending on the specific team, you will be based at one of our locations such as League City, TX, Springfield, MO, or Albany, NY. We value the collaboration that happens when teams are together.

Q: What is the dress code and culture like? Despite being a financial institution, we support a casual dress code. Our culture focuses on what you bring to the table—your skills and collaboration—rather than formality. We emphasize a healthy work-life balance while maintaining high professional standards.

Q: How technical are the interviews? Expect them to be quite technical. Because these are specialized roles (Mainframe or IBM Integration), interviewers will want to verify deep, hands-on knowledge. Be prepared to discuss specific tools, commands, and architectural patterns.

Q: Is there an on-call requirement? Yes. Both the Systems Programmer and Integration Developer roles typically involve an on-call rotation. Ensuring the availability of our systems is a shared responsibility, and you will be expected to handle escalations during your rotation.

Q: Does American National offer relocation assistance? Yes, relocation assistance is provided accordingly for eligible roles. If you are not local to the specific office hub, discuss this with your recruiter early in the process.

Other General Tips

• Know the Values: Familiarize yourself with our FIRST (Financial Strength, Integrity, Respect, Service, Teamwork) and ACE (Agility, Collaboration, Engagement) values. Weaving these into your answers demonstrates that you are a cultural fit.
• Highlight Stability: In the insurance industry, "move fast and break things" is not the motto. Emphasize how you balance innovation with risk management, testing, and system stability.
• Be Specific with Tools: Don't just say "I know middleware." Mention IBM ACE, MQ, or API Connect specifically. For mainframe, reference SMS or HSM. Specificity builds credibility.
• Ask Smart Questions: Ask about the team's current challenges with modernization or how they handle technical debt. It shows you are thinking like a senior engineer who cares about the long-term health of the codebase.

Summary & Next Steps

Becoming a Software Engineer at American National Insurance means joining a team that values stability, integrity, and technical excellence. Whether you are keeping the mainframe running smoothly or building the next generation of integration APIs, your work will directly impact the security and peace of mind of our customers. This is a place where you can grow your career in a supportive, stable environment that respects work-life balance while tackling complex technical challenges.

To succeed, focus your preparation on your specific domain expertise—be it z/OS internals or IBM integration patterns—and be ready to demonstrate how you collaborate in an Agile environment. Review your technical fundamentals, prepare your behavioral stories, and come ready to discuss how you can contribute to our culture of Agility, Collaboration, and Engagement.

The salary data above provides a general baseline. Actual compensation at American National Insurance is determined by a variety of factors including your specific experience, technical skillset, and the market demand for your specialization. We are committed to fair and competitive pay that reflects the value you bring to our organization.

For more insights and resources to help you prepare, visit Dataford. Good luck with your preparation—we look forward to potentially welcoming you to the team!