Lead Mainframe Software Engineer

Location: Buffalo, NY (Onsite 4 days/week)
Engagement Type: Contract-to-Hire (12-24 months)
Openings: 1

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced Technical Lead Engineer to support a large-scale mainframe modernization initiative within our banking client’s Consumer Lending department. This role is a hands-on engineering lead position focused on the technical delivery of critical lending platforms and integrations, including systems such as loan servicing and core banking applications.

This is not a people management role . The successful candidate will lead technical design, development, modernization, troubleshooting, and delivery efforts as an individual contributor while partnering closely with architects, business stakeholders, developers, and support teams.

The ideal candidate combines deep traditional mainframe expertise with an understanding of modern engineering practices, integration patterns, DevOps, and modernization initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the technical design, development, enhancement, maintenance, and support of enterprise mainframe applications.
• Own technical decisions and delivery quality for assigned applications, platforms, and engineering workstreams.
• Design, build, and support secure, scalable, resilient, and maintainable solutions using enterprise mainframe technologies.
• Lead troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, performance tuning, and production support activities across batch and online environments.
• Review and approve solution designs, technical requirements, implementation approaches, code changes, and deployment readiness activities.
• Establish and oversee testing strategies, including batch validation, regression testing, data reconciliation, performance testing, and post-implementation verification.
• Ensure solutions align with enterprise architecture standards, security requirements, resiliency objectives, and SDLC governance practices.
• Drive technical improvements and modernization initiatives across mainframe and distributed platforms.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define integration patterns, implementation plans, and platform enhancements.
• Provide technical guidance and engineering leadership throughout the software development lifecycle.

Required Skills:

• 12+ years of experience in systems analysis, application development, or software engineering.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical initiatives, project deliverables, or engineering workstreams as a senior individual-contributor technical lead.
• Experience reviewing and approving solution designs, technical requirements, code implementations, and deployment strategies.
• Strong knowledge of SDLC processes, testing methodologies, deployment practices, security controls, resiliency standards, and change management.
• Experience with the following technical skills:
  • IBM z/OS,COBOL,CICS,JCL,VSAM,DB2 for z/OS,TSO/ISPF, SDSF,Easyretrieve+
• Experience with development & support Tools:
  • GitLab (source control and CI/CD pipeline management), Mainframe debugging and analysis tools includingFile-AID,Abend-AID,Xpediter,InterTest,or equivalent tool
• Integration & Enterprise Processing experience:
  • CA7,Control-M,MQ,Enterprise batch scheduling platforms,Enterprise integration technologies

Nice to Have

• Experience supporting mainframe modernization initiatives, includingz/OS Connect,API enablement,ZDIH,Event-driven integration,Data integration,Technical debt reduction,Platform resiliency improvements
• Experience with Main-chain DevOps practices and release‑ready....
• Exposure to automated testing frameworks and engineering automation.
• Experience using AI-assisted engineering tools where appropriate.
• Banking or Financial Services experience, preferably within Consumer Lending.