Mainframe Engineer

Mainframe Engineer

Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota (Hybrid) only on w2

• Looking for a senior engineer/architect with a DBA background focused on mainframe IMS, DB2 and z/OS.
• Need to have experience doing mainframe exits/mainframe modernizations.
• Will be moving to AWS so would be a big plus if they have done that before.

Role Overview

• An experienced IMS & DB2 Mainframe Engineer is sought to support a mainframe exit program.
• This role is central to understanding, stabilizing, and migrating enterprise data from IMS and DB2 on the mainframe to future-state platforms.
• The position requires a combination of hands-on mainframe engineering, modernization, migration, and architecture experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert-level support and engineering for IMS and DB2 environments on z/OS.
• Analyze and optimize database structures, access patterns, and performance.
• Support backup/recovery, data integrity, and availability of critical systems.
• Troubleshoot complex issues across IMS, DB2, application dependencies, and batch processing.
• Lead and contribute to data migration strategies from IMS and DB2 to distributed/cloud platforms.
• Develop and execute data extraction, transformation, and migration (ETL/ELT) strategies.
• Translate hierarchical (IMS) and relational (DB2) data models into modern data platforms.
• Collaborate with Application Development, Enterprise Architecture, and Data Engineering teams.
• Act as a subject matter expert for IMS/DB2 in modernization discussions.
• Assist with knowledge transfer, documentation, and dependency mapping.

Required Qualifications

Experience:

• 10 years of hands-on experience with IMS DB (DL/I, PSBs, ACBs, transactions) and DB2 for z/OS (database design, SQL, utilities, performance tuning).
• Experience with data migration from mainframe to distributed/cloud platforms is required.

Technical Skills:

• Deep expertise in the z/OS mainframe environment, including batch processing, job control (JCL), and system utilities.
• A strong understanding of database backup/recovery processes and data lifecycle management is necessary.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with mainframe modernization or exit programs.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) and modern data platforms.
• Familiarity with data integration tools such as Informatica.
• Knowledge of mainframe security, access controls, and audit considerations.
• Knowledge of enterprise data architecture and governance practices.