z/OS System Programmer

Duration: 6 Months • Shift: 08:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST • Remote (US)

About the Role

We are seeking a highly experienced z/OS System Programmer to lead mainframe system programming initiatives, ensuring stability, performance, and continuous modernization of enterprise z/OS environments. The role demands strong technical depth combined with leadership capabilities to drive service excellence, automation, and operational transformation.

Responsibilities

• Platform Ownership & Technical Leadership
  • Own end-to-end z/OS platform architecture, stability, and service delivery
  • Provide deep technical leadership across MVS, JES2, Sysplex, and LPAR environments
  • Govern HCD/IODF configurations ensuring scalability and compliance
  • Lead performance tuning, capacity planning, and system optimization initiatives
• Maintenance, Upgrades & Lifecycle Management
  • Define and execute z/OS upgrade strategy and RSU maintenance roadmap
  • Establish and govern SMP/E processes and standards
  • Lead ISV product lifecycle management, including upgrades and vendor coordination
  • Ensure standardized, secure, and compliant platform management
• Incident Management & RCA Leadership
  • Act as escalation point for Sev1/Sev2 incidents
  • Lead end-to-end Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and preventive action planning
  • Drive proactive monitoring and reduce repeat incidents
  • Ensure SLA adherence and operational excellence
• Disaster Recovery & Resilience
  • Define and lead Disaster Recovery (DR) strategy and execution
  • Conduct DR drills, failover testing, and validation
  • Strengthen Sysplex-based high-availability design
  • Ensure business continuity readiness for critical workloads
• Automation & Transformation
  • Drive adoption of automation frameworks and system-level automation
  • Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce manual effort
  • Lead transformation aligned to Client Bridge / AIOps initiatives
  • Enable predictive and self-healing operations where applicable
• Customer & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Act as trusted technical advisor to clients
  • Lead discussions on stability, modernization, and risk management
  • Support solutioning, proposals, and business growth initiatives

Requirements

• Technical Skills
  • Strong expertise in z/OS System Programming
  • In-depth knowledge of MVS and JES2 architecture
  • Extensive experience with Sysplex environments and LPAR management
  • Hands-on expertise in HCD / IODF configuration and maintenance
  • Proficiency in SMP/E for software installation, maintenance, and patch management
  • Strong experience in z/OS Upgrades and RSU Maintenance planning and execution
  • Expertise in ISV Product Maintenance, including upgrades and vendor coordination
• Operational & Leadership Skills
  • Proven experience in Incident Management (Sev1/Sev2 handling)
  • Strong capability in leading Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and implementing preventive actions
  • Hands-on experience in Disaster Recovery (DR) support, including planning and execution
  • Demonstrated experience in Automation to improve operational efficiency and reliability

Qualifications

• 12–15+ years of experience in z/OS system programming
• Experience managing large enterprise mainframe environments
• Exposure to multi-client / global delivery models
• ITIL certification preferred
• Domain experience in Banking / Insurance is an advantage