Mainframe Monitoring Specialist

Position Overview

We are seeking a Mainframe Monitoring Specialist (Night Shift, Thu-Mon) to provide continuous operational monitoring, problem determination, and technical support for enterprise mainframe environments at a large federal agency.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, diagnose, and resolve complex system, network, and hardware issues in real time.
• Analyze and troubleshoot problems using COMM dumps, stand-alone dumps, JES3 dumps, LOGREC, OPSLOG, RMF, and SYSLOG.
• Provide technical guidance on isolating and resolving hardware and software issues.
• Cook with software teams and vendors to resolve application and z/OS operating system issues.
• Create and update charts, graphs, floor plans, CAD drawings, procedures, and specialized reports.
• Attend facilities planning and coordination meetings with building management and security stakeholders.
• Install and uninstall IT equipment; provide status updates on installations and complete related change tickets.
• Prepare work orders for facility modifications for network or hardware installations.
• Recommend cabling and hardware placement; develop installation plans for review.
• Assist in supporting open systems environments using ITSM best practices.
• Provide oral status reports to management on system problems, outages, and resolutions.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee multi-vendor preventive maintenance, remedial service, and software testing.
• Reset systems, perform IMLs and IPLs before and after maintenance activities.
• Train other IT Specialists in problem resolution, maintenance planning, and proper documentation procedures.
• Update problem and change control records using SNOW.
• Cook with vendors, facilities, and internal support groups.
• Coordinate secure data center access for vendors in partnership with OPSS personnel.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree + 5 years’ experience.
• Experience supporting large scale mainframe environments and associated peripheral devices.
• Strong knowledge of z/OS MVS, JES3, MIM, Top Secret, and mainframe attached storage technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze systems dumps, logs, and performance data.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve complex hardware, software, and network issues under time-critical conditions.
• Experience using ServiceNow (SNOW) or comparable ITSM ticketing tools.
• Ability to create technical documentation, diagrams, and reports.
• Ability to coordinate with vendors, facilities, and internal support groups.
• Must be able to work fixed shifts in a 24x7 environment, including holidays and inclement weather conditions.
• Ability to provide clear written and oral communication to management.
• Expected to work onsite at our customer's location 5 days a week.
• Ability to work Thu Mon (3:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. Night Shift).

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with FICON directors, coupling facilities, and mainframe cloud storage technologies.
• Experience with CAD tools for facility layout and planning.
• Knowledge of IT service management best practices (ITSM, ITIL).
• Experience coordinating large scale maintenance, vendor support, and multi team operations.
• Experience supporting open systems environments (servers, storage, network equipment).
• Ability to produce detailed technical installation plans, work orders, and specialized reports.