Senior Mainframe Developer

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Senior Mainframe Developer to design, develop, maintain, and enhance enterprise mainframe applications. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in IBM mainframe technologies, COBOL, JCL, DB2, CICS, and VSAM, along with experience in application development, production support, performance tuning, and troubleshooting. The candidate will collaborate with business analysts, architects, QA teams, and other developers to deliver reliable, scalable, and secure business solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain mainframe applications using COBOL, JCL, CICS, and DB2.

• Analyze business requirements and translate them into technical specifications and application solutions.

• Develop and maintain batch processing jobs, online transactions, and database programs.

• Write, optimize, and maintain SQL queries, DB2 stored procedures, and database structures.

• Create, modify, and troubleshoot JCL jobs, procedures, and batch schedules.

• Work with VSAM files, sequential files, and other mainframe data storage technologies.

• Perform application debugging, root cause analysis, and performance tuning.

• Provide production support, resolve incidents, and implement permanent fixes.

• Participate in code reviews, unit testing, system integration testing, and user acceptance testing.

• Maintain technical documentation, application design documents, and operational procedures.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time and within scope.

• Support application modernization, system integration, and mainframe migration initiatives.

• Ensure compliance with security standards, coding practices, and organizational policies.

Required Technical Skills

• Strong hands-on experience with IBM mainframe development.

• Advanced knowledge of COBOL and JCL.

• Experience with IBM DB2, SQL, and database performance optimization.

• Working knowledge of CICS and online transaction processing.

• Experience with VSAM datasets and file processing.

• Familiarity with mainframe utilities such as SORT, IDCAMS, and IEBGENER.

• Experience with debugging tools such as Abend-AID, Xpediter, or Fault Analyzer.

• Knowledge of mainframe scheduling tools such as Control-M or CA-7.

• Experience with source code management and change management tools such as Endevor, Changeman, or Git.

• Understanding of batch processing, transaction processing, and mainframe system architecture.

• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field.

• Typically 12+ years of experience in mainframe application development.

• Experience in banking, financial services, insurance, healthcare, or other enterprise environments.

• Familiarity with IMS DB/DC, MQ, REXX, and mainframe security concepts.

• Experience with mainframe modernization, cloud integration, API enablement, or migration projects.

• Knowledge of Agile and Scrum development methodologies.

• Experience with DevOps practices and automated testing for mainframe applications.

Soft Skills

• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

• Ability to work independently and mentor junior developers.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet project deadlines.

Key Deliverables

• High-quality, maintainable mainframe application code.

• Reliable batch jobs and online transaction processing solutions.

• Optimized database queries and application performance.

• Timely resolution of production issues.

• Accurate technical documentation and successful project delivery.

Experience Level

Senior-level professional, typically requiring 12+ years of relevant mainframe development experience.