What are the responsibilities and job description for the Mainframe ZOS System Programmer position at IPolarity?
Job Title: Mainframe ZOS System Programmer
Location: Phoenix, AZ - Hybrid - 3 days Onsite - Contract
any Visa is fine
The Mainframe z/OS System Programmer is responsible for the installation, customization, maintenance, and optimization of IBM z/OS operating systems and associated system software. This role ensures the stability, performance, security, and availability of mission-critical mainframe environments, supporting large-scale enterprise applications.
Responsibilities:
System Administration & Maintenance:
Install, configure, and maintain IBM z/OS operating systems.
Perform system upgrades, migrations (e.g., z/OS version upgrades), and apply maintenance (PTFs, APARs, RSUs).
Manage IPL processes, system initialization, and configuration (PARMLIB, PROCLIB, SYS1 datasets).
Monitor system health and performance using tools such as RMF, SMF, SDSF.
Subsystem Support:
Install, configure, and support key subsystems:
JES2/JES3
TSO/E, ISPF
USS (Unix System Services)
RACF (in coordination with security teams)
Work closely with DB2, CICS, IMS, MQ, and Storage teams for integration and support.
Performance & Capacity Management:
Analyze system performance metrics and implement tuning improvements.
Support capacity planning and resource optimization (CPU, memory, I/O).
Evaluate hardware upgrades (e.g., CPU/MIPS growth, z-series enhancements).
Problem Management & Troubleshooting:
Diagnose and resolve system-related issues, including system abends and failures.
Perform root cause analysis for outages and major incidents.
Work with IBM and vendors on problem determination and fixes.
Automation & Scheduling:
Develop and maintain automation using tools such as:
System REXX, CLIST
SA z/OS, NetView
Support job scheduling tools (e.g., CA7, Control-M where applicable).
Security & Compliance:
Support system-level security configurations aligned with RACF policies.
Ensure compliance with audit, regulatory, and enterprise security standards.
Assist in vulnerability remediation and patching activities.
Change & Release Management:
Execute changes through ITIL-based processes (ServiceNow or equivalent).
Prepare implementation plans, backout procedures, and validation steps.
Support weekend maintenance windows and IPL activities.
Documentation:
Create and maintain technical documentation, including:
System configurations
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Disaster Recovery plans
Job Title: AS400 /IBM i Infrastructure Analyst
Location: Phoenix, AZ - Hybrid - 3 days Onsite - Contract
any Visa is fine
As the AS400 (IBM i) Infrastructure Analyst you will be responsible for the administration, stability, performance, and security of the IBM i (AS/400) infrastructure. This role ensures high availability of critical business applications by managing system operations, capacity, upgrades, backup/recovery, and incident resolution, while working closely with application, database, and operations teams.
IBM i / AS400 System Administration
Administer, monitor, and support IBM i (AS/400) systems in production, development, and test environments.
Perform system configuration, upgrades, PTF management, and OS releases.
Manage system objects, libraries, user profiles, authorization lists, and security settings.
Monitor system performance, job queues, subsystems, disk usage, and system logs.
Manage high availability (HA) and disaster recovery (DR) solutions (e.g., PowerHA, MIMIX, iCluster).
Perform capacity planning and performance tuning.
Execute backup and recovery procedures and conduct regular restore testing.
Incident, Problem & Change Management
Troubleshoot and resolve system-level incidents and performance issues.
Support change management processes, including patching and infrastructure changes.
Work collaboratively with service management tools (e.g., ServiceNow).
Security & Compliance
Enforce IBM i security best practices, user access controls, and audit requirements.
Support internal and external compliance audits (SOX, PCI, etc.).
Monitor system access, review logs, and remediate vulnerabilities.
Automation & Continuous Improvement
Develop and maintain CL, RPG, or scripting solutions to automate operational tasks.
Identify and implement infrastructure improvements and optimization opportunities.
Create and maintain technical documentation, runbooks, and operational procedures.