COBOL Programmer

COBOL Consultant

Our client is migrating from a legacy COBOL system to a new platform and requires a skilled COBOL Consultant to support and maintain existing applications during the transition. You will work closely with a small team of three COBOL programmers, providing operational stability and managing client data throughout the migration process.

This is a long-term contract (1–2 years) with the option for remote work. Local candidates in the NY/NJ/CT area are preferred, as occasional in-person meetings at the Manhattan office may be required.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing operational and production support for COBOL-based systems and applications.
• Implement small system enhancements, bug fixes, and performance optimizations.
• Work independently, often with limited documentation, to diagnose issues and deliver effective solutions.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to clarify requirements and provide practical, timely deliverables.
• Participate in a structured knowledge transfer process with the retiring team member.
• Support system integration or migration activities as the organization transitions to a new platform.
• Maintain strong coordination with internal IT, infrastructure, and business teams.

Required Skills & Experience

• Proven hands-on experience in COBOL development and support.
• Strong background in IBM mainframe environments (e.g., z/OS, MVS, VSE, or similar).
• Solid troubleshooting and analytical skills with the ability to solve complex issues independently.
• Comfortable working with minimal supervision in a legacy environment.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with business stakeholders.

Nice to Have

• Experience with VSE (preferred but not mandatory).
• Exposure to VMS or other legacy operating systems.
• Familiarity with system migrations, modernizations, or platform transitions.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive, self-driven, and able to manage workload with autonomy.
• Adaptable in a dynamic environment undergoing change.
• Detail-focused with strong problem-solving capability.
• Team-oriented with strong documentation habits and consistent communication.
• Client Facing