What are the responsibilities and job description for the Mainframe MQ Systems Programmer (z/OS) position at Odyssey Information Services?
We are hiring a Mainframe MQ Systems Programmer to support a large-scale z/OS environment, focused on IBM MQ administration, configuration, and system-level support.
This role is highly hands-on and involves MQ infrastructure ownership, including upgrades, performance, and integration across multiple applications.
What you ll do
MQ Administration & Support
- Provide day-to-day support for IBM MQ on z/OS across multiple applications
- Configure and manage:
- Queue Managers
- Queues
- Channels and other MQ objects
- Support application connectivity and troubleshoot messaging issues
System Programming & Upgrades
- Plan and execute MQ upgrades, maintenance, and patching
- Install and support z/OS and third-party (ISV) software
- Manage MQ environments within SYSPLEX / clustered configurations
- Support queue sharing groups for load balancing and high availability
Design & Integration
- Support MQ design, integration, and implementation across systems
- Collaborate with application and infrastructure teams on messaging solutions
- Contribute across the full software lifecycle (design delivery)
Performance & Optimization
- Monitor MQ performance and system health
- Perform tuning activities (SMF or similar tools preferred)
- Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks
What you need
Core Requirements
- 5 10 years of experience with IBM MQ on z/OS
- Strong understanding of:
- Queue Managers, queues, channels
- MQ clustering and queue sharing groups
- Experience with:
- MQ installation, upgrades, and maintenance
- z/OS systems programming fundamentals
- Familiarity with:
- SYSPLEX environments
- RACF or ACF2 security
Technical Skills
- Experience with one or more:
- JCL, REXX
- Python, Java, or similar scripting languages (nice to have)
- Understanding of APIs, integration patterns, or modern architectures is a plus
Nice to Have
- Experience with MQ performance tuning (SMF or reporting tools)
- Exposure to automation tools (Ansible, zOSMF workflows)
- Understanding of cloud or hybrid environments
What makes this role different
- Focus on core MQ on z/OS (not application development)
- Highly hands-on systems programming work
- Exposure to enterprise-scale messaging infrastructure
- Collaborative role across infrastructure and application teams
Important Notes
- This role is on-site in one of the listed locations
- Candidates must be comfortable working in a large, complex mainframe environment