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Role name: Senior Developer – IBM z/OS Connect Mainframe Lead
Work site: Columbus, OH or Nashville, TN (both locations would be for onsite work), US (ONSITE)
Job Type: C2C/W2/1099
Role Summary
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.
Job location: Columbus, OH or Nashville, TN (both locations would be for on site work)
________________________________________
Key Responsibilities
z/OS Connect & API Development
Required Qualifications
Mainframe & z/OS Expertise
Preferred Qualifications
Soft Skills
Role name: Senior Developer – IBM z/OS Connect Mainframe Lead
Work site: Columbus, OH or Nashville, TN (both locations would be for onsite work), US (ONSITE)
Job Type: C2C/W2/1099
Role Summary
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.
Job location: Columbus, OH or Nashville, TN (both locations would be for on site work)
________________________________________
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.
- 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.
- Implement API security controls including:
- RACF-based authentication and authorization
- TLS/SSL configuration
- Integration with enterprise IAM and API gateways
- Apply enterprise API governance standards including naming, versioning, and error handling.
- Support auditing, logging, and compliance requirements.
- 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.
- Support CI/CD pipelines for mainframe-based APIs.
- Participate in automation initiatives using tools such as urban Code, 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.