Mainframe Programmer

Z/OS System Programmer /Mainframe System Programmer

Immediate need for a talented z/OS System Programmer /Mainframe System Programmer. This is a 12+ months contract opportunity with long-term potential and is located in Saint Louis MO (Remote).

Key Responsibilities:

• System Programming & Platform Management
• Lead installation, customization, and maintenance of z/OS operating system environments
• Manage core components including MVS, JES2, Sysplex, and LPAR configurations
• Administer and maintain HCD/IODF definitions for hardware and I/O configuration
• Perform system-level tuning and optimization to ensure high availability and performance
• Maintenance & Upgrades
• Plan and execute z/OS upgrades, RSU maintenance, and patching cycles
• Manage SMP/E for software installation, maintenance, and CSI handling
• Oversee lifecycle management of ISV products, including upgrades and vendor coordination
• Incident & Problem Management
• Provide L3 support for critical incidents, ensuring timely resolution of Sev1/Sev2 issues
• Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and implement preventive actions
• Ensure adherence to SLA commitments and service quality standards
• High Availability, DR & Resilience
• Support Disaster Recovery (DR) planning and execution, including drills and failover validation
• Ensure system readiness for business continuity through Sysplex resilience and redundancy
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams for infrastructure risk mitigation
• Automation & Operational Excellence
• Drive automation initiatives to improve operational efficiency and reduce manual effort
• Implement and maintain system automation frameworks for monitoring and recovery
• Continuously improve processes aligned to ITIL best practices
• Leadership & Stakeholder Management
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior system programmers
• Collaborate with application teams, infrastructure teams, and vendors for solution delivery
• Participate in customer discussions, audits, and transformation initiatives

Key Requirements and Technology Experience:

• Skills: Strong experience in z/OS System Programming
• MVS, JES2
• Sysplex, LPAR
• HCD / IODF configuration
• SMP/E
• z/OS Upgrade & RSU Maintenance
• ISV Product Maintenance
• Incident Management & RCA
• Disaster Recovery (DR) support
• System Automation tools/methodologies
• 10+ years of experience in z/OS system programming
• Experience in enterprise mainframe environments (Banking/Insurance preferred)
• Exposure to high-availability and mission-critical systems