Mainframe Patch Lead – z/OS SMP/E Expert (Scarborough)

Cognizant; Toronto; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognizant is hiring in Scarborough, Ontario for a Mainframe Infrastructure Patch Lead, an onsite senior role in our CIS Practice. The incumbent guides patch strategy for IBM z/OS, directs offshore teams, and ensures patches are applied safely and in compliance with security and audit requirements.

The successful candidate will own SMP/E maintenance, coordinate calendars with IBM delivery cycles, and drive remediation through runbooks, tests, and CAB processes.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in IBM z/OS systems programming or mainframe infrastructure operations.
• Hands-on with SMP/E maintenance, PTFs, APARs, and RSU/CSI management.
• Experience coordinating with offshore teams and enforcing standards.

Responsibilities

• Own the IBM z/OS patch management strategy and SMP/E maintenance.
• Define patch calendars aligned to IBM cycles and change windows.
• Triage maintenance and patching priorities, including HIPER and security PTFs.
• Oversee offshore team patch installs, regression testing, and validation.
• Enforce patching standards, runbooks, and quality checkpoints.
• Review testing results, rollback plans, and go/no-go decisions.
• Coordinate patch windows with security, CAB, and application teams.
• Track compliance and report vulnerabilities and remediation timelines.
• Escalate incidents and perform root cause analysis with offshore teams.
• Collaborate with InfoSec and audit on regulatory findings and controls.
• Maintain patching documentation and knowledge transfer materials.
• Bridge time-zone gaps with structured handoffs and clear procedures.

Skills

SMP/E

z/OS maintenance

Offshore coordination

ServiceNow

Vulnerability management

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Communication

Job description

Cognizant is hiring in Scarborough, Ontario for a Mainframe Infrastructure Patch Lead, an onsite senior role in our CIS Practice. The incumbent guides patch strategy for IBM z/OS, directs offshore teams, and ensures patches are applied safely and in compliance with security and audit requirements.

The successful candidate will own SMP/E maintenance, coordinate calendars with IBM delivery cycles, and drive remediation through runbooks, tests, and CAB processes.