Legacy Mainframe / Z-Systems Specialist

Role Summary Operates, administers, programs, or migrates data on IBM Z/OS mainframe systems and adjacent legacy technologies (CICS, IMS, DB2, ADABAS). Covers the full spectrum from production job operations to senior systems programming/DBA work to legacy data conversion for modernization projects. This talent pool is shrinking industry-wide — treat as a standing sourcing priority, not a reactive one. Core Responsibilities Start, stop, and monitor mainframe system tasks and subsystems (transaction processing, database systems, OS) Perform orderly shutdown/startup ('restart operations') of production workloads Plan, install, configure, and upgrade Z/OS systems and core system software products Administer and tune hierarchical (IMS), relational (DB2), and file-based (ADABAS) databases Develop, debug, and maintain mainframe application code (COBOL, NATURAL, Assembler, REXX) Support data mapping, crosswalk analysis, and validation during legacy-to-modern data conversion Manage production job scheduling and troubleshooting (Control-M, JCL, Endevor) Maintain detailed documentation and ticketing records for audits and knowledge continuity Facilitate knowledge transfer/training to build succession depth on an aging skill set Requirements Skills Required Z/OS, CICS, IMS, DB2, ADABAS, ACF2, ENTIREX, SMP/E COBOL, NATURAL/SuperNatural, Assembler, REXX JCL, Control-M, CA Spool, TSO/ISPF, Endevor VTAM, TCP/IP, NetView, Tivoli Data conversion/ETL between legacy and relational/modern platforms Ticketing and production-control tooling (Cherwell or similar) Experience Required 5–7 years of experience in mainframe operations, systems programming, or application programming (role-dependent) For senior/lead roles: 3–5 years in a lead capacity 2–3 years working with legacy and relational data technologies (DB2, FOCUS, Oracle, SQL Server) for conversion-focused roles 1–2 years of automation of system monitoring/maintenance procedures for operator-tier roles Education / Training Bachelor's degree in an IT-related field or equivalent mainframe-operations experience Additional qualifying experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis