IBM z/OS Mainframe Storage Engineer

On-Site Location: Chandler, AZ
Schedule: Hybrid (3 days/week in office)
Pay Rate: Up to $54.59/hour

About the role

The Mainframe Storage Engineer contractor supports mission-critical IBM Z storage platforms, ensuring high availability, resiliency, data protection, and regulatory compliance. The role focuses on BAU operations, automation, cyber-resilience, and delivery of storage services that enable parallel development, testing, and production workloads.

Responsibilities

• Operate and support IBM DS8000 (Gen9/Gen10) and associated mainframe storage environments
• Design, implement, and support Metro Mirror, Global Mirror, Global Copy, and HyperSwap
• Support continuous availability, GDPS-managed replication, and multi-site resiliency architectures
• Implement and maintain Safeguarded Copy / immutable backups and cyber-resilient recovery designs
• Execute and validate DR tests, recovery automation, and control evidence
• Support parallel dev / test / prod environments without compromising controls
• Perform BAU risk routines, capacity management, and storage provisioning
• Address audit, regulatory, and security baseline requirements
• Support automation, tooling, and modernization initiatives
• Partner with application, platform, and infrastructure teams to reduce lead times

Requirements

• 7-12+ years of hands-on experience supporting enterprise mainframe storage environments
• Proven experience in 24x7, mission-critical, highly regulated production environments
• Experience operating at scale (multi-data center, multi-region, global firms)
• Strong experience with IBM Z / zOS mainframe storage
• Hands-on expertise with DS8000 Copy Services and GDPS
• Experience with FICON, SAN concepts, and enterprise storage controls
• Knowledge of DR, resiliency, cyber-recovery, and immutable backup patterns
• Familiarity with regulated environments (financial services preferred)
• Ability to operate independently in a contractor / delivery role

Skills

• Strong understanding of z/OS I/O architecture (CHPIDs, control units, paths)
• FICON protocols and multi-pathing concepts
• I/O performance diagnostics (RMF, SMF, DCOLLECT)
• Experience working closely with z/OS systems programmers
• Python
• Automation scripting (REXX, Python, Ansible, or vendor tooling)
• Assembler (ability to understand and modify if/as needed)
• ACC/SRS, CA1, DFHSM, DFSMS, IBM Utilities/Exits, ICF Catalogs
• DB2 and IMS (Storage Admin perspective)
• REXX

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with storage modernization or large-scale migrations
• Exposure to audit, regulatory exams, and control evidence management
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
• Advanced technical certifications and vendor training preferred