Mainframe Technical Lead

Location: DFW, TX – Local / Client-Facing
Duration: 12 Months Contract
Work Arrangement: Primarily Onsite / Client Data Center Support

Job Summary

We are seeking a Senior Mainframe Technical Lead with strong hands-on experience in VSE-to-z/OS migration and legacy mainframe modernization. The ideal candidate will have deep IBM mainframe expertise and direct experience migrating applications from VSE 6.2 to z/OS 3.2.

This is a hands-on technical role focused on application-level migration, development, testing, and integration. The resource will work closely with technical stakeholders to drive migration activities and accelerate delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead application-level migration activities from VSE to z/OS.
• Own the development, testing, and integration workstream.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership throughout the modernization and migration process.
• Analyze and support migration of legacy mainframe applications.
• Work with technical teams to identify application dependencies, issues, and migration risks.
• Troubleshoot technical issues related to application migration and integration.
• Coordinate technical discussions and provide regular migration status updates.
• Act as a technical liaison between client stakeholders and delivery teams.
• Work closely with existing technical leadership to execute migration activities.
• Support testing, validation, defect resolution, and production-readiness activities.
• Help track migration progress, dependencies, and technical blockers.

Required Skills

• Direct VSE-to-z/OS migration experience – MUST HAVE
• Strong IBM Mainframe experience.
• Hands-on experience with VSE and z/OS.
• Experience with VSE 6.2 and/or z/OS 3.2 environments.
• Experience with legacy application modernization and migration.
• Strong knowledge of COBOL, JCL, Easytrieve, RPG, and Assembler.
• Hands-on experience with application development, testing, and integration.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and technical coordination abilities.
• Ability to work directly with client and technical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with large-scale mainframe modernization or mainframe exit programs.
• Experience migrating legacy applications from mainframe environments to distributed/open systems.
• Experience working in client-facing technical leadership roles.
• Experience supporting development, integration, testing, and migration validation.
• Ability to work effectively with distributed technical teams across multiple time zones.

Important Notes

• VSE-to-z/OS migration experience is the most important requirement.
• This is not a cloud replatforming or infrastructure support role.
• Focus is on application-level migration, development, testing, and integration.
• Candidates should be local to the DFW, TX area and able to support client-facing activities.
• Some travel to the Dallas/McKinney area may be required.
• Candidates must be comfortable working in a hands-on technical lead capacity rather than an architecture-only or program management role.