Senior Mainframe CICS Systems Programmer

Salary: $114,080 - 218,030 per year Requirements:

• We require a bachelors degree, or an additional 4 years of relevant experience in place of a degree.
• We need at least 6 years of infrastructure experience, including 2 years supporting complex deployments and infrastructure management in a systems operations environment or comparable IT role.
• We require 4 years of experience building, modifying, and sustaining infrastructure and individual system components.
• We look for strong business acumen in operations, risk oversight, industry practices, and emerging technology trends.
• We need demonstrated ability to design scalable IT infrastructures, implement system changes, and automate service delivery and maintenance activities.
• We expect experience working with cloud technologies and related tools.
• We prefer 7–10+ years of hands-on experience as a CICS Systems Programmer in a z/OS mainframe environment.
• We want deep knowledge of CICS Transaction Server, CTG, and CPSM architecture, internals, and system exits.
• We require proficiency in CICS installation, configuration, maintenance, and complex ISV upgrades.
• We look for strong scripting and programming capability in JCL and REXX, with COBOL, Assembler, and PL/I experience considered an advantage.
• We need experience using SMP/E to install and maintain software.
• We expect in-depth expertise with z/OS operating systems, including configuration, maintenance, and performance tuning.
• We value experience with performance monitoring and tuning tools such as RMF, Intellimagic, and BMC Mainview.
• We prefer knowledge of related z/OS subsystems, including DB2, MQ, JES2, z/OS Connect, IMS, and TCP/IP.
• We require familiarity with CICS security practices, including RACF or similar tools.
• We value experience in automation, scheduling, and disaster recovery planning and testing.
• We look for understanding of mainframe hardware and architecture to help optimize system performance.
• IBM Certified Specialist – CICS Transaction Server for z/OS certification is desired.

• We independently design scalable infrastructure solutions and provide oversight for system changes, reserving complex implementations for specialized execution.
• We automate service delivery and maintenance work, while setting direction for monitoring and tooling efforts.
• We resolve highly complex production issues and lead end-to-end troubleshooting across multiple systems.
• We analyze system failures across environments and recommend effective solutions to business leaders.
• We explore new technologies and operating patterns to improve our platform capabilities.
• We help define and strengthen engineering best practices, standards, and design patterns with our peers and business partners.
• We focus on customer needs and proactively identify innovative ideas and improvements for our products and business.
• We mentor and coach engineers on system design, development, and ongoing support.
• We build software-defined infrastructure in code within CI/CD pipelines.
• We ensure business risks are identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in line with our risk and compliance requirements.
• We install, configure, upgrade, maintain, and tune IBM CICS on z/OS mainframe systems.
• We monitor CICS performance, investigate bottlenecks, and adjust regions to meet service-level expectations.
• We troubleshoot and debug complex system and application problems, including analysis of system dumps and coordination with developers and vendors.
• We support application teams by setting up CICS regions and defining required application resources.
• We integrate CICS with other mainframe subsystems such as DB2 and MQ.
• We implement and maintain CICS security controls and support disaster recovery planning, testing, and execution.
• We create automation scripts, such as REXX, to streamline system administration and improve efficiency.

• CI/CD
• Cloud
• COBOL
• Hardware
• IBM
• Support
• Security
• TCP/IP

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We are USAA, and our mission is to help our members achieve financial security through competitive products, exceptional service, and trusted guidance. We are especially committed to serving the military community and their families, and our values of honesty, integrity, loyalty, and service shape how we work with each other and our members. This senior Mainframe CICS Systems Programmer role sits on our Mainframe Infrastructure team and is based in San Antonio, TX or Plano, TX, with a flexible work arrangement that requires being in the office 4 days per week. We support active-duty military spouses with possible remote or hybrid flexibility in line with policy and business needs. We offer best-in-class benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k), pension, life insurance, parental benefits, adoption assistance, paid time off, paid holidays, volunteer time, wellness programs, and continuing education support. Relocation assistance is not available, and visa sponsorship is not offered for this role.

last updated 36 week of 2026