What are the responsibilities and job description for the Mainframe System Administrator position at Synapse Business Systems?
Job Title: Mainframe System Administrator
Location: Arlington, VA (Hybrid)
Duration: Long Term Contract
Job Description:
We are seeking an experienced Mainframe System Administrator with strong expertise in z/OS storage management, disaster recovery operations, and mainframe infrastructure support. The ideal candidate will be responsible for maintaining and optimizing enterprise mainframe storage environments, supporting DR initiatives, performing system upgrades, and ensuring high availability of critical systems.
Key Responsibilities:
• Manage 16TB of z/OS disk storage and EMC DLm tape data including DASD backups, dataset allocation, monitoring, and storage management
• Administer and maintain storage tools/software such as CA 1, CA Vantage, CA Vtape, FDR/ABR, FATS/FATAR, and EMC Mainframe Enabler Suite
• Maintain and support z/OS environments (v2.2 & v2.4)
• Lead storage hardware upgrades and migrations including DLm2500, Data Domain 6400, and VMAX to PMAX migrations
• Support Disaster Recovery planning, testing, execution, and documentation in compliance with client and audit requirements
• Develop and maintain SOPs, technical documentation, operational procedures, and recovery guides
• Provide production support and participate in on-call rotations for storage operations and issue resolution
• Monitor system health, storage utilization, and overall platform performance
Required Qualifications:
• Strong expertise in z/OS mainframe storage administration, DASD, DFSMS, and EMC DLm
• Hands-on experience with storage upgrades, migrations, and disaster recovery operations
• Experience with CA 1, CA Vantage, FDR/ABR, EMC Mainframe Enabler Suite, and related storage tools
• Strong understanding of backup/recovery processes and storage lifecycle management
• 5–7 years of relevant mainframe administration experience
• Strong troubleshooting, documentation, and communication skills
• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative team environment
• Ability to obtain and maintain Public Trust clearance
Preferred Qualifications:
• Expertise in IBM System Managed Storage (SMS), storage groups, datasets, and class assignments
• Experience with automation tools such as IBM System Automation, REXX, CLIST, or equivalent scripting tools
• Familiarity with job scheduling and batch automation processes
• Experience designing and executing Disaster Recovery strategies and recovery testing
• Knowledge of GDPS or similar high-availability recovery frameworks
• Experience with performance monitoring and tuning tools such as RMF and OMEGAMON
• Familiarity with CICS, DB2, COBOL, JCL, and VSAM
• Experience working in regulated or mission-critical environments
Salary : $50 - $55