What are the responsibilities and job description for the COBOL Developer position at Meridian Cooperative?
Meridian Cooperative is looking for a skilled COBOL Developer to help support and evolve a mission-critical utility ERP platform running on Red Hat Linux and Oracle. This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of legacy stability and modern development practices—enhancing a large-scale COBOL environment while collaborating closely with .NET teams on integrated solutions.
In this role, you’ll work hands-on with Micro Focus Visual COBOL across multiple versions, compiling directly on Linux servers using custom scripts, and contributing within a SAFe Agile environment. If you enjoy solving complex problems, working across technologies, and being part of a collaborative, high-impact team, this role offers the chance to make a meaningful difference in a critical enterprise system.
What You’ll Do
Develop & Maintain
What We Offer
We were formed in 1976 by a group of Electric Membership Cooperatives with a vision for a single enterprise solution provider to serve data processing, IT, and operational needs to cooperatives, public utility districts, and municipal utilities. Through carefully curated acquisitions and partnerships, Meridian Cooperative has unified multiple leading-edge companies under its umbrella to truly execute that vision. Today, the Meridian Suite serves over 500 utilities across the country with industry-leading enterprise software solutions.
In this role, you’ll work hands-on with Micro Focus Visual COBOL across multiple versions, compiling directly on Linux servers using custom scripts, and contributing within a SAFe Agile environment. If you enjoy solving complex problems, working across technologies, and being part of a collaborative, high-impact team, this role offers the chance to make a meaningful difference in a critical enterprise system.
What You’ll Do
Develop & Maintain
- Maintain and enhance a large-scale COBOL codebase (batch and interactive programs)
- Work directly with source files via shared file systems and compile on Linux servers using custom scripts
- Troubleshoot, debug, and resolve production and development issues
- Develop and maintain embedded SQL using Oracle Pro*COBOL
- Write and optimize SQL statements (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, cursors)
- Support integrations between COBOL systems and .NET applications, including interfaces and service interactions
- Participate in Agile ceremonies within a SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) environment, including Program Increment (PI) planning
- Collaborate cross-functionally with .NET developers, QA, and business stakeholders
- Contribute to design, development, testing, and documentation efforts across the SDLC
- Perform daily development on Red Hat Linux
- Work with and modify shell scripts used for compilation, batch processing, and job execution
- Manage dependencies including copybooks, libraries, and multi-module builds
- Strong experience with COBOL (ANSI 85 / COBOL 2002) in enterprise environments
- Hands-on experience with Micro Focus Visual COBOL (multiple versions, e.g., v6 and v9)
- Experience compiling COBOL programs on Linux using custom scripts (non-IDE environment)
- Experience with Rocket Software (post–Micro Focus acquisition) tools and support (preferred)
- Background in batch processing, reporting, and file/spool output (preferred)
- Experience with client-server architectures and enterprise ERP systems (preferred)
- Familiarity with multi-module builds and version control discipline
- Proficiency with Oracle Pro*COBOL embedded SQL (EXEC SQL, SQLCA/ORACA, host variables, cursors)
- Experience working with Oracle databases in a Linux environment
- Solid understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
- Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills
- Ability to read, understand, and modify shell scripts
- Experience working with copybooks, shared libraries, and structured build processes
- Experience working in Agile/SAFe environments, including PI planning
- Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a team
- Strong communication skills for cross-team collaboration, especially with .NET teams
What We Offer
- Outstanding Medical/Dental/Vision
- Education/Training Reimbursement
- On-Site Education Courses
- Flexible Spending Account
- Health/Wellness Reimbursement
- Excellent Life and AD&D insurance
- Paid Time Off: Eligible to begin accrual from date of hire; accrual amount based on years of service. Beginning accrual rate equivalent to 22 days per year. 9 holidays which include the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve. Up to 240 hours of PTO can roll over to the following year.
- Volunteer Time: 8 hours per year
- Retirement: Robust 401K. Following one year of eligible service, the Company contributes in two ways: (1) match of 100% of each dollar you contribute on the first five percent (5%) of eligible compensation, and (2) Employer basic contribution of 4% of base salary (with increases in basic contribution percentage based on years of service). Employees are 100% vested in Company funded contributions from the date they enter the plan.
We were formed in 1976 by a group of Electric Membership Cooperatives with a vision for a single enterprise solution provider to serve data processing, IT, and operational needs to cooperatives, public utility districts, and municipal utilities. Through carefully curated acquisitions and partnerships, Meridian Cooperative has unified multiple leading-edge companies under its umbrella to truly execute that vision. Today, the Meridian Suite serves over 500 utilities across the country with industry-leading enterprise software solutions.