Mainframe IDMS DBA

Role Description

This IDMS Database Administrator (DBA) position supports a high-visibility, complex state public health modernization initiative. Operating within a cooperative, distributed, startup-minded environment, the DBA provides critical database deployment, operations, and application support. This is a 12-month remote contract opportunity requiring mandatory criminal, credit, state law enforcement, and registry background checks.

Key Responsibilities

• Database Administration & Performance Tuning
  • Provide hands-on monitoring, deployment, and operational administration for enterprise-scale IDMS databases in accordance with system best practices.
  • Enable, configure, and tune IDMS platform features to optimize database performance within z/OS mainframe environments.
  • Generate, analyze, and interpret performance metrics to recommend and implement optimal courses of action for high-availability systems.
  • Coordinate with database administration teams to configure, support, and maintain test, staging, and production databases.
• Application & Integration Support
  • Advise application developers and product teams on the design, optimization, and implementation of required database model extensions and structural changes.
  • Collaborate with development teams on application programming interfaces for both native and SQL IDMS architectures.
  • Partner with third-party vendors, system providers, professional associations, and external state agencies to manage cross-platform integration points.
• Operations, Security, & Support
  • Support the deployment and configuration of IDMS security, protecting application structures, dictionary objects, and relational database objects.
  • Establish, document, and maintain operational runbooks, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and backup/recovery processes for database management.
  • Participate in a rotating 24/7 on-call technical support schedule to resolve database production incidents.

Qualifications

• 15 or more years of experience with IDMS database deployment and operations in a z/OS environment on a z-series IBM mainframe computer.
• 10 or more years of experience with the IDMS SQL option, including database creation and support under relational models using SQL syntax.
• 15 or more years of experience deploying IDMS security, including ADS/O application structures, Integrated Data Dictionary (IDD), and relational database objects.
• 15 or more years of experience with IDMS application programming (both native and SQL) utilizing COBOL and ADS/O development languages.
• 12 or more years of experience with IBM High Level Assembler on the z/OS operating system.
• 10 or more years of experience using IDMS Perfmon for online system monitoring and operational report generation.
• Bachelor's degree in a technical, business, or related field (or equivalent professional work experience).

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of mainframe RACF security frameworks.
• Experience in application change management methodologies.
• Professional experience in the healthcare industry, including the management of protected health information (PHI) and personally identifiable information (PII).
• Direct experience with Medicaid Management Information Systems (MMIS), Medicaid eligibility systems, or public sector social services systems.
• Master's degree in a computer science or business-related field.

Core Skills & Attributes

• Impeccable integrity with the confidence and courage to make correct decisions on high-visibility projects managing public funds.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical strategies and tasks to project management.
• Strong project planning capabilities, with experience in effort estimation and resource allocation for complex technical initiatives.
• Outstanding collaboration and interpersonal skills to engage effectively with distributed team members and diverse organizations on a continuous basis.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Remote location
• Expert Level (15 or more years of experience)