Mainframe Architect Performance & Capacity Management

Mainframe Senior Architect Performance & Capacity Management
Position Type: Full-Time
Fully Remote

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Mainframe Senior Architect specializing in IBM Mainframe Performance and Capacity Management. This is a highly technical, hands-on role focused on maintaining and optimizing the performance, scalability, stability, availability, and cost efficiency of a large-scale IBM z/OS / IBM Z environment.

The role is approximately 80% Performance Management and 20% Capacity Planning.

The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on expertise in z/OS performance tuning, Workload Manager (WLM), SMF/RMF analysis, CPU and zIIP optimization, and large-scale Parallel Sysplex environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor, analyze, troubleshoot, and optimize IBM z/OS performance across large and complex environments.
• Perform real-time analysis of CPU, memory, storage, workload, and transaction performance.
• Identify performance bottlenecks and determine root causes during critical and high-volume processing periods.
• Configure and tune Workload Manager (WLM) policies and workloads.
• Analyze SMF and RMF data to identify performance trends and optimization opportunities.
• Evaluate the performance impact of Db2, CICS, IMS, and MQ workloads.
• Support and optimize multi-LPAR and Parallel Sysplex environments.
• Analyze and optimize general processor and zIIP utilization.
• Perform capacity forecasting and modeling based on workload trends, business growth, and anticipated demand.
• Forecast future MIPS/MSU and infrastructure requirements.
• Support mainframe cost optimization and IBM software/infrastructure cost analysis.
• Perform SCRT (Sub-Capacity Reporting Tool) processing and analysis.
• Develop performance reports, dashboards, and analytics using tools such as SAS/MXG, OMEGAMON, Excel, IntelliMagic, REXX, and JCL.
• Collaborate with application developers, DBAs, infrastructure teams, DevOps, and leadership to communicate performance findings and recommendations.
• Develop proactive strategies to maintain system stability, availability, and low latency during peak workloads.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring in mainframe performance and capacity management.

Required Qualifications

• Extensive hands-on experience in IBM Mainframe Performance Management and Tuning.
• Strong expertise in IBM z/OS and IBM Z architecture.
• Experience with large-scale multi-LPAR and Parallel Sysplex environments.
• Strong knowledge of WLM configuration and tuning.
• Extensive experience analyzing SMF and RMF performance data.
• Experience with CPU, memory, storage, and workload utilization analysis.
• Strong understanding of Db2, CICS, IMS, and MQ workloads.
• Experience troubleshooting complex mainframe performance issues in real time.
• Strong hands-on experience with REXX and JCL.
• Experience with performance tools such as OMEGAMON and SAS/MXG.
• Strong knowledge of MIPS, MSUs, capacity planning, workload forecasting, and capacity modeling.
• Understanding of IBM mainframe software pricing and cost optimization.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with the ability to present technical findings to both technical and executive audiences.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred Skills

• Grafana experience for performance monitoring, dashboards, visualization, or operational reporting.
• ZPCR
• Macro4 Freezeframe
• BMC Thruput Manager
• TADz
• IntelliMagic
• SAS programming for reporting and analytics.
• Experience creating executive dashboards and operational reporting.
• Experience supporting highly transactional, large-scale enterprise environments.

Education

A Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline is preferred but not mandatory.

Candidates without a Bachelor's degree may be considered based on the strength and depth of their relevant IBM Mainframe Performance experience.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a true IBM Mainframe Performance and Capacity Management specialist, rather than a general Mainframe Architect with limited performance exposure.

Strong candidates will have significant experience with:

• z/OS Performance Monitoring and Tuning
• WLM, RMF, and SMF
• Real-time performance troubleshooting
• CPU and zIIP optimization
• Parallel Sysplex and multi-LPAR environments
• Db2, CICS, IMS, and MQ workload analysis
• OMEGAMON, SAS/MXG, IntelliMagic, or similar tools
• MIPS/MSU forecasting and capacity planning
• Mainframe cost and infrastructure optimization
• Grafana-based performance monitoring and dashboards