Senior COBOL Engineer and AI Innovator

i4m; Brussel Hoofdstad; Hybrid; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

i4m is seeking an experienced Senior COBOL Developer to join its IT team and contribute to the development, maintenance and modernisation of a business-critical application landscape. This role blends hands-on coding with technical analysis, production support and solution design.

You will own critical applications, collaborate with analysts and stakeholders, and explore Generative AI and Microsoft Copilot to improve code quality, testing and developer productivity within a large enterprise

Qualifications

• Extensive COBOL application development experience.
• Strong SQL Server performance optimization.
• Experience in analysis, design, debugging and troubleshooting.
• Experience in testing, deployments and production support.
• Background in modernization/integration.
• Interest in Generative AI and Copilot.
• Experience in large IT organisation.
• Banking or insurance sector experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement robust, maintainable and high-performing technical solutions in collaboration with functional analysts and other stakeholders.
• Take ownership of critical applications, batch processes, production incidents and ongoing technical improvements.
• Perform technical analysis, debugging and troubleshooting, resolving complex implementation, performance and production issues.
• Ensure successful deployments across different environments and validate solutions through appropriate testing.
• Monitor and maintain the quality, stability and performance of the application landscape while anticipating the impact of new developments.
• Contribute to application modernisation initiatives and the long-term evolution of the technical environment.
• Provide guidance and technical coaching to less experienced colleagues, actively encouraging knowledge sharing.
• Explore and assess opportunities to leverage Generative AI, Microsoft Copilot and Intelligent Automation for analysis, documentation, testing, code quality and developer productivity.
• Translate promising AI concepts into practical, secure and measurable improvements within an enterprise IT environment.

Skills

COBOL development

SQL Server

Technical analysis

Debugging

Deployment processes

Production support

Solution design

Mentoring

Generative AI

Copilot

Intelligent Automation

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT

Tools

Git

CI/CD

Job description

Function

We're looking for an experienced Senior COBOL Developer to join our client's IT team and contribute to the development, maintenance and modernisation of a business-critical application landscape. This role offers a varied combination of hands-on development, technical analysis, production support and solution design, with the opportunity to explore how emerging technologies, particularly Generative AI and Microsoft Copilot, can enhance software development processes and improve overall application quality.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement robust, maintainable and high-performing technical solutions in collaboration with functional analysts and other stakeholders.
• Take ownership of critical applications, batch processes, production incidents and ongoing technical improvements.
• Perform technical analysis, debugging and troubleshooting, resolving complex implementation, performance and production issues.
• Ensure successful deployments across different environments and validate solutions through appropriate testing.
• Monitor and maintain the quality, stability and performance of the application landscape while anticipating the impact of new developments.
• Contribute to application modernisation initiatives and the long-term evolution of the technical environment.
• Provide guidance and technical coaching to less experienced colleagues, actively encouraging knowledge sharing.
• Explore and assess opportunities to leverage Generative AI, Microsoft Copilot and Intelligent Automation for analysis, documentation, testing, code quality and developer productivity.
• Translate promising AI concepts into practical, secure and measurable improvements within an enterprise IT environment.

Technical Profile & Experience

• Extensive experience in COBOL application development.
• Strong knowledge of SQL Server, including database performance and optimisation.
• Solid experience in technical analysis, solution design, debugging and troubleshooting.
• Proven background in testing, deployment processes and production support.
• Understanding of application modernisation and integration with other technologies.
• Genuine interest in Generative AI, Microsoft Copilot and Intelligent Automation, with the ability to identify relevant business and technical use cases.
• Experience within a large IT organisation, collaborating with multiple teams and transversal stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse complex business processes and translate them into reliable technical solutions.
• A Bachelor's degree in IT or an equivalent qualification through relevant professional experience.
• Experience in the banking or insurance sector is considered a strong asset.

The Ideal Candidate

You are a logical and analytical professional with excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills. You work in a structured, proactive and pragmatic way, taking ownership of your responsibilities and ensuring that tasks are delivered according to agreed priorities and deadlines. You are equally comfortable working independently and collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders across different teams.

With strong communication skills and a natural coaching mindset, you enjoy sharing your expertise and supporting the development of others. You remain composed under pressure, demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility and are curious about new technologies. Above all, you are eager to challenge established practices, explore innovative solutions and contribute to the continuous improvement and modernisation of a complex IT environment.

Contactperson & Reference

• Reference #: INW28725
• Pieter Messely
• [e-mail]