z/OS Mainframe System Programmer

Job Description

Job Title : z/OS Mainframe System Programmer

Onsite will start day 1 of the contract, failing to go onsite first day, they will be let go.

Location: chandler, Arizona (Local Candidate)

Onsite: 3 days a week

Rate: $70/h w-2

Contract: 6-18 months

Eligibility : USC, GC, GC-EAD, and H4-EAD

Status: no h1b

Interview process: 2 video interviews to hire

Must have: z/os expert, mainframe, cobol, and unix

Role Overview

This position involves the design, engineering, and maintenance of z/OS platform tools and services in alignment with enterprise architecture standards and security policies. The role serves as a subject-matter expert for z/OS infrastructure, providing technical consultation to various teams. The specialist will translate business requirements into technical designs, develop automation to improve efficiency, and support a high-availability enterprise environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, engineer, and maintain z/OS platform tools and services.
• Provide subject-matter expertise and technical consultation on z/OS infrastructure.
• Translate business and operational requirements into technical designs, standards, and runbooks.
• Develop and enhance automation, scripts, and tooling to improve system reliability.
• Create reusable templates and playbooks for system builds, configuration, and deployment.
• Evaluate and validate third-party mainframe software and tools for enterprise adoption.
• Identify opportunities to improve system performance, resiliency, and operational processes.
• Support risk management, change management, and problem resolution.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to junior staff members.

Required Qualifications

• Experience configuring, maintaining, and supporting the z/OS operating system, including installation, maintenance, and management of PTFs, APARs, and USERMODs using SMP/E.
• Proficiency in developing system utilities, exits, and automation using REXX and Basic Assembly Language (BAL/Assembler).
• Experience administering z/OS UNIX System Services (USS), including file system management, scripting, and zFS configuration.
• Experience configuring and supporting JES2, including job class definitions, initiator management, and workload controls.
• Working knowledge of TSO/ISPF for system programming and operational tasks.
• Experience configuring and managing logical partitions (LPARs) and processor resources using the Hardware Management Console (HMC).
• Ability to diagnose and resolve system-level issues using tools such as IPCS, EREP, and RMF.
• Knowledge of IBM Enterprise COBOL for z/OS & OS/390.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Hardware Configuration Definition (HCD) for server, storage, and network hardware.
• Background in mainframe security administration, including defining and maintaining RACF profiles and controls.