Mainframe Logical Security Engineer

Mainframe Logical Security Engineer

Duration: 6 months contract to hire Work Location: Phoenix, AZ, Plano, TX, Charlotte, NC, Richmond, VA, Jacksonville, FL, Pennington, NJ and Chicago, IL (Hybrid – 3days onsite, 2days WFH)

The Role: We are seeking a skilled Mainframe Logical Security Engineer to design, implement, and manage security controls across IBM z/OS environments. The role ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of enterprise systems and data by enforcing robust access controls and complying with regulatory requirements.

* This role requires employees to live in or around the Phoenix, AZ area. You will be responsible to be onsite 3 days a week. We will consider candidates who are willing to relocate to the area.

Responsibilities:

• Administer and maintain RACF security environment across z/OS systems
• Create, modify, and revoke: User IDs, Groups, Resource profiles, Dataset and subsystem access permissions
• Implement and maintain least-privilege access controls for: Datasets, Applications (CICS, DB2, IMS, MQ), System resources

Security Controls & Compliance

• Configure and maintain security policies aligned with enterprise standards
• Perform periodic access reviews, audits, and compliance checks
• Support regulatory compliance (e.g., SOX, PCI, HIPAA where applicable)
• Implement data protection controls and access monitoring mechanisms

Monitoring & Incident Response

• Analyze security logs and reports: SMF records, RACF reports, SIEM alerts
• Investigate: Access violations, Unauthorized access attempts, Security incidents
• Troubleshoot and resolve: Authorization failures, RACF-related abends or access issues

Security Architecture & Integration

• Secure mainframe subsystems and integrations: CICS, DB2, IMS, MQ, TCP/IP, USS
• Support integration with: Enterprise IAM solutions, Single Sign-On (SSO) / MFA (where applicable)
• Define and maintain RACF classes, profiles, and rules for system-wide protection

Encryption & Advanced Security

• Support: Digital certificates, TLS/SSL configuration, ICSF (crypto services) at a high level
• Ensure secure key management and encryption practices

Required Qualifications:

• Strong hands-on experience with: RACF administration on z/OS
• Deep knowledge of: RACF profiles, classes, and dataset security, User/group management and access control models
• Experience with: SMF data analysis, Security reporting and audit tools
• Strong understanding of: z/OS security concepts and system internals

Preferred Experience:

• Experience in banking or financial services environments
• Exposure to: ACF2 or Top Secret (nice to have), SIEM tools (Splunk, QRadar, etc.)
• Experience with: Automation (REXX, Python), Identity governance tools
• Experience with enterprise-wide security transformations or IAM integration
• Knowledge of Zero Trust or modern security frameworks
• Experience supporting regulatory audits in large enterprises