Senior Mainframe Systems Programmer – Advanced JCL, z/OS & SMP/E
Career Opportunities for People with Disabilities: Exclusively recruiting and Hiring people with disabilities for competitive career opportunities. Responsible for maintaining, installing, upgrading, and supporting IBM z/OS mainframe systems and associated software. Requires extensive hands-on JCL coding expertise, along with strong experience in mainframe software installation, SMP/E maintenance, and IBM utilities. Supports operating system maintenance, subsystem functionality, and production changes, with additional emphasis on Parallel Sysplex and Coupling Facility environments.
Responsibilities
Develop, troubleshoot, and maintain complex JCL for mainframe systems programming, software installation, maintenance, and operational activities. Install, configure, maintain, and upgrade IBM z/OS operating systems and related mainframe software. Manage software installation and maintenance using SMP/E, including applying vendor fixes, service updates, and system enhancements. Use IBM mainframe utilities to support installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and system administration. Support Parallel Sysplex environments, including Coupling Facility functionality and maintenance. Maintain and troubleshoot CICS and other mainframe subsystems to support system stability and availability. Plan and execute system maintenance, upgrades, and infrastructure changes across sandbox, test, and production environments. Validate changes in lower environments before promoting approved updates to production. Diagnose complex system issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions. Support production releases, technical change management, and system documentation. Collaborate with infrastructure and technical teams to resolve issues and maintain reliable mainframe operations.
Qualifications
Extensive hands-on JCL coding experience, including the ability to develop, troubleshoot, and maintain complex JCL for mainframe systems programming and operational tasks. Extensive experience with IBM z/OS systems programming, software installation, maintenance, and upgrades. Strong experience using SMP/E to install software and apply vendor maintenance, fixes, and service updates. Strong knowledge of IBM mainframe utilities and their use in systems programming. Hands-on experience supporting Parallel Sysplex environments and the Coupling Facility. Experience maintaining and troubleshooting CICS and other mainframe subsystems. Strong understanding of operating system maintenance, production change management, and software implementation across test and production environments. Knowledge of Assembler programming and mainframe system architecture. Ability to diagnose complex system issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions. Strong technical judgment, analytical skills, documentation practices, and communication skills. U.S. citizenship required. On-Call Requirements Participate in a rotating on-call schedule approximately every other week. Support includes production upgrades, infrastructure maintenance, and related changes during scheduled off-hours maintenance windows, including Sunday mornings from approximately 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Remote Work Eligibility This position is fully remote. Candidates must permanently reside in the United States and perform all work within the continental United States.
- Candidates must be able to work according to the Eastern Time Zone schedule, regardless of their local time zone.
No C2C, sponsorship, or relocation is available for this role. Hiring Process Guidelines To maintain the integrity and security of the hiring process, candidates must participate independently in interviews and assessments without AI assistance. Cameras must remain on during virtual interviews. Employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of a background check, which may include identity verification. ABOUT OUR COMPANY: With 30 over years of experience in supporting corporate and federal recruitment, workplace mentoring, and technology accessibility initiatives, Bender Consulting Services, Inc. is the leading national expert in disability employment solutions for private and public sector employers. To learn more about how to start your career with Bender Consulting Services, Inc., please visit our website.