Senior Mainframe COBOL Developer

About the role

The Office of Financial Management (OFM) seeks a Senior Mainframe COBOL Developer to support the critical statewide mainframe accounting system, Agency Financial Reporting System (AFRS), and Capital Asset Management System (CAMS).

Responsibilities

• Provide expert consultation and specialized analysis, design, development, programming, testing, troubleshooting, and/or problem resolution for the AFRS mainframe application.
• Develop and maintain batch and online applications.
• Develop and maintain JCL (Job Control Language) and support CICS-based online applications.
• Work with IBM z/OS environments, DB2 and/or VSAM file structures.
• Apply knowledge of development and processes to advise teams on the readiness of software applications to be implemented in a production environment.
• Solve software/hardware problems, including defining and analyzing the problem, performing impact analysis, identifying and testing solutions, choosing and implementing the best solution, documenting the changes as needed, and evaluating the outcome.
• Develop and implement standards, methods, tools, procedures, and processes.
• Review, monitor, and report development progress and results following established standards, guidelines, and procedures.
• Serve as a technical mentor to other system developers in resolving complex technical issues.
• Use bug tracking tools such as Azure DevOps, Excel, and Microsoft Word to create spreadsheets, log issues and bugs, and create documentation.
• Produce and ensure that internal technical and procedural documentation is current.
• Follow IT change and release management processes.
• Analyze business requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
• Modify existing programs to enhance functionality or resolve defects.
• Take independent action to correct problems encountered during systems operations, 24/7.
• Provide level 2/3 support, monitor, and resolve production incidents.
• Work closely with System Analysts to resolve customer-reported production issues.
• Troubleshoot batch failures and performance issues.
• Participate in after-hours standby rotation.
• Perform unit testing and support integration/system testing.
• Participate in defect resolution and root cause analysis.
• Ensure adherence to coding standards and secure coding practices.

Requirements

• Recent application development experience in a mainframe environment using COBOL, JCL, CICS, VSAM, IBM z/OS.
• Expertise in COBOL (batch and online programs), including debugging and performance tuning.
• Strong experience with structured programming and legacy code maintenance.
• Advanced ability to write, modify, and troubleshoot JCL.
• Strong ability to manage batch jobs, datasets, and utilities.
• Strong understanding of job scheduling concepts.
• Ability to develop and maintain CICS online transactions.
• Understanding of VSAM and file handling – KSDS, ESDS, RRDS file structures, file definitions, and access methods.
• Mainframe environment knowledge (z/OS Operating System – Dataset management, ISPF usage, etc.; Utilities and Tools – SORT utilities, File-AID, etc.; Job Scheduling Tools – CA-7, etc.; Source Management - Endevor).
• Ability to perform unit, integration, regression testing, and code reviews.
• Ability to independently perform after-hours standby support.
• Advanced ability to problem-solve in legacy environments.
• Strong documentation experience.
• Strong verbal and written communications.
• Able to learn complex processes and information quickly.
• Demonstrated commitment to teamwork, customer service, and working under tight deadlines.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to meet the needs of others.

Qualifications

• Recent application development experience in a mainframe environment using COBOL, JCL, CICS, VSAM, IBM z/OS.
• Expertise in COBOL (batch and online programs), including debugging and performance tuning.
• Strong experience with structured programming and legacy code maintenance.
• Advanced ability to write, modify, and troubleshoot JCL.
• Strong ability to manage batch jobs, datasets, and utilities.
• Strong understanding of job scheduling concepts.
• Ability to develop and maintain CICS online transactions.
• Understanding of VSAM and file handling – KSDS, ESDS, RRDS file structures, file definitions, and access methods.
• Mainframe environment knowledge (z/OS Operating System – Dataset management, ISPF usage, etc.; Utilities and Tools – SORT utilities, File-AID, etc.; Job Scheduling Tools – CA-7, etc.; Source Management - Endevor).
• Ability to perform unit, integration, regression testing, and code reviews.
• Ability to independently perform after-hours standby support.
• Advanced ability to problem-solve in legacy environments.
• Strong documentation experience.
• Strong verbal and written communications.
• Able to learn complex processes and information quickly.
• Demonstrated commitment to teamwork, customer service, and working under tight deadlines.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to meet the needs of others.