Mainframe zOS System Programmer

Role :
Mainframe z/OS System Programmer

Location :
Salisbury NC/Boston MA/Frisco TX

7-10 years of hands‑on experience as a Mainframe Systems Programmer.

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Mainframe z/OS Systems Programmer to join our dynamic IT team. The successful candidate will be responsible for the installation, maintenance and upgrade of the z/OS operating system as well as various Independent Software Vendor (ISV) products. This role requires deep technical expertise in mainframe technologies, a strong understanding of system performance tuning, problem diagnosis and a commitment to ensuring the stability, security and efficiency of our critical mainframe infrastructure.

• z/OS Upgrades and Maintenance:
  • Plan, prepare and execute z/OS operating system upgrades (e.g. from z/OS 2.x to z/OS 3.x) including pre‑installation checks, customization, testing and post‑upgrade verification.
  • Apply IBM PTFs (Program Temporary Fixes) and APARs (Authorized Program Analysis Reports) to maintain system integrity and resolve reported issues.
  • Perform regular IPLs (Initial Program Loads) and system restarts as required for maintenance and upgrades.
  • Monitor z/OS system health, performance and resource utilization using tools like RMF, SMF, Omegamon, etc.
• ISV Product Management:
  • Install, configure, upgrade and maintain a wide range of Independent Software Vendor (ISV) products (e.g. Broadcom/CA, BMC, IBM, Rocket Software etc.). This includes products for security (ACF2, Top Secret RACF), performance monitoring, job scheduling (CA‑7 TWS) and storage management (SMS, CA‑Disk, FDR/A ), database (DB2, IMS, VSAM) and other utilities.
  • Collaborate with vendors for problem resolution, licensing and technical support.
  • Ensure compatibility and integration of ISV products with the z/OS environment.
• System Maintenance and Support:
  • Perform system IPLs, reconfigurations and PARMLIB updates.
  • Manage and maintain critical system datasets (e.g. SYSRES page datasets, SMF datasets).
  • Provide expert‑level support for mainframe incidents, including problem determination, diagnosis and resolution in a timely manner.
  • Participate in on‑call rotation for 24/7 support of critical systems.
• Performance Tuning and Optimization:
  • Analyze system performance data to identify bottlenecks and recommend improvements.
  • Tune various z/OS components (WLM) and ISV products to optimize resource utilization and application performance.
• Automation and Scripting:
  • Develop and maintain REXX, JCL and other scripts for system automation, monitoring and administrative tasks.
• Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity:
  • Participate in planning, testing and execution of disaster recovery procedures for the mainframe environment.
  • Ensure high availability and recoverability of critical systems.
• Documentation and Best Practices:
  • Create and maintain comprehensive system documentation including installation guides, configuration details, operational procedures and troubleshooting guides.
  • Adhere to ITIL best practices for change management, incident management and problem management.
• Collaboration and Mentorship:
  • Work closely with application development teams, database administrators, operations staff and other infrastructure teams.
  • Mentor junior systems programmers and share knowledge effectively.
• Security and Compliance:
  • Implement and enforce security best practices within the z/OS environment and for ISV products.
  • Ensure compliance with internal security policies and external regulations.

• 7‑10 years of hands‑on experience as a Mainframe Systems Programmer.
• In‑depth knowledge and hands‑on experience with z/OS operating system installation, configuration and maintenance.
• Proven experience with major z/OS upgrades (e.g. from one version to another).
• Strong proficiency in JCL, TSO/ISPF, SMP/E, JES2/JES
  3.
• Extensive experience with the installation and support of various ISV products from vendors such as Broadcom/CA, BMC, IBM and Rocket Software. Specific product experience includes:
• Security: RACF, ACF2 or Top Secret
• Performance Monitoring:
  Omegamon, RMF, SMF
• Scheduling: CA‑7 TWS/OPC
• Storage Management: SMS, DASD management tools…