Senior Developer – IBM z/OS Connect

• The Senior Developer IBM z/OS Connect is responsible for exposing mainframe-based services (CICS, IMS, DB2, COBOL) as RESTful APIs using IBM z/OS Connect Enterprise Edition (EE).

• This role plays a key part in mainframe modernization, enabling digital, cloud, and API-based consumption of trusted system-of-record data while ensuring performance, security, and reliability.

• The role combines deep z/OS technical expertise with modern API and integration practices, and often acts as a technical lead for mainframe API initiatives.
  

Key Responsibilities:

z/OS Connect & API Development:

• Design, develop, and deploy REST APIs using IBM z/OS Connect EE.

• Expose CICS, IMS, COBOL, and DB2 assets as reusable services.

• Create and maintain service and API specifications (Swagger/OpenAPI).

• Implement request/response mappings using JSON, data binding, and API descriptors.

• Support synchronous and asynchronous service interactions.

Mainframe Integration:

• Develop and maintain COBOL programs and interface logic to support APIs.

• Integrate APIs with CICS Transactions, IMS Transactions, and DB2 stored procedures.

• Collaborate with application teams to refactor or enable programs for API exposure.

• Ensure minimal impact to legacy workloads and SLAs.

Security & Governance:

Implement API security controls including:

• o RACF-based authentication and authorization

• o TLS/SSL configuration

• o Integration with enterprise IAM and API gateways

• Apply enterprise API governance standards including naming, versioning, and error handling.

• Support auditing, logging, and compliance requirements.

Performance & Reliability:

• Tune z/OS Connect middleware for throughput, latency, and scalability.

• Troubleshoot issues across z/OS Connect, CICS/IMS, and network layers.

• Ensure APIs meet availability and resiliency standards.

• Monitor and analyze SMF, logs, and performance metrics.

DevOps & Modernization Support:

• Support CI/CD pipelines for mainframe-based APIs.

• Participate in automation initiatives using tools such as urbanCode, Jenkins, Git, or Ansible.

• Assist in modernization programs integrating z/OS with cloud and distributed platforms.

• Promote API-first thinking within traditional mainframe development teams.

Technical Leadership:

• Serve as a subject matter expert for z/OS Connect and mainframe APIs.

• Provide guidance and mentoring to junior developers.

• Participate in design reviews and modernization planning.

• Collaborate with architects, API platform teams, and distributed application teams.
  

Required Qualifications:

Mainframe & z/OS Expertise:

• 7 years of experience in z/OS mainframe development.

• Strong experience with COBOL, JCL, and z/OS utilities.

• Hands-on experience with CICS and/or IMS.

• DB2 SQL and stored procedure experience.

z/OS Connect & APIs:

• 3 years of experience with IBM z/OS Connect EE.

• Strong understanding of RESTful API design and JSON data formats.

• Experience creating and consuming OpenAPI/Swagger definitions.

• Familiarity with API lifecycle management concepts.

Middleware & Security:

• Experience with WebSphere Liberty on z/OS.

• Knowledge of RACF, TLS, certificates, and mainframe security principles.

• Understanding of network concepts relevant to API communication.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience integrating z/OS APIs with API gateways (Apigee, Azure APIM, DataPower, etc.).

• Exposure to cloud or hybrid integration architectures.

• Experience with DevOps for mainframe and automation tooling.

• IBM certifications related to z/OS, CICS, or z/OS Connect.

• Background in regulated industries (banking, insurance, government).
  

Soft Skills:

• Strong communication skills across mainframe and distributed teams.

• Ability to bridge legacy systems with modern digital platforms.

• Analytical problem-solving skills.

• Comfortable working in complex, enterprise-scale environments.
  
  

The pay range that the employer in good faith reasonably expects to pay for this position is $43.92/hour - $68.62/hour. Our benefits include medical, dental, vision and retirement benefits. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.

Tundra Technical Solutions is among North America’s leading providers of Staffing and Consulting Services. Our success and our clients’ success are built on a foundation of service excellence. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Unincorporated LA County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: client provided property, including hardware (both of which may include data) entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all portable client computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon completion of the assignment, and; maintain the confidentiality of client proprietary, confidential, or non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected client information technology systems and related data security obligations.

Salary : $44 - $69