Senior COBOL Programmer
Senior COBOL Programmer Location: Remote duration: 12 months
Job Description
Key Responsibilities Architecture & System Design: Architect, refactor, and implement scalable online and batch solutions across IMS DB/DC, DB2, and COBOL/TELON environments, establishing reusable design patterns and system frameworks. Batch Frameworks & Orchestration: Engineer modular JCL PROCs, automated restart/recovery workflows, and optimized scheduling configurations (CA-7 / Control-M) to compress critical batch processing windows. Performance Tuning & Optimization: Conduct deep system diagnostics to resolve high-severity abends, optimize DL/I and SQL database access paths, tune DFSORT memory allocation, and minimize overall resource utilization. Re-Platforming & Emulation: Champion off-host testing, workload emulation, and CI/CD pipelines using MicroFocus Enterprise Developer/Server. Technical Leadership & Governance: Establish enterprise coding and security standards, lead rigorous code reviews, direct root-cause analyses (RCA), and provide continuous technical mentorship to junior and mid-level developers. Required Skills & Qualifications (Must-haves) · Experience: 12+ years of hands-on software development and technical architecture experience in enterprise IBM z/OS environments. · Languages & Core Tech: Expert proficiency in COBOL and TELON · Batch Control & Utilities: Advanced JCL, cataloged PROCs, and system utilities (IDCAMS, DFSORT/SYNCSORT, IEBGENER, ICEGENER). · Diagnostics & Monitoring: Deep experience with advanced diagnostic tools, including XPEDITER, Abend-AID, and IBM DEBUG. Advanced ability to diagnose and solve complex coding problems. · Lifecycle & SCM: End-to-end familiarity with mainframe change management tools (Endevor, Panvalet, ChangeMan). Optional Skills & Qualifications (Nice-to-haves) · Languages & Core Tech: Expert proficiency in EZTrieve, IMS DB/DC (DL/I calls, PSB/PCB generation, transaction processing). · Data Integration: Proven track record building enterprise ETL/ELT pipelines and handling data conversions (EBCDIC to ASCII/Unicode, COMP-3 packed fields) across IMS, DB2, SQL Server, and Oracle. Expertise in Virtual Storage Access Method (VSAM) is needed for file management and ensuring data integrity. · Modern Tooling: Hands-on experience with MicroFocus Enterprise Developer/Server for cross-platform modernization and testing. · CICS: Familiarity with CICS, commonly used for online transaction processing in mainframe environments, facilitates troubleshooting of transaction-related issues. · Telon-to-COBOL modernization exposure: Although the focus is on sustainment, experience with Telon migration prepares the team for potential future transitions.