Principal Mainframe Patch Lead - z/OS

Cognizant; Toronto; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognizant in Toronto seeks a Senior Mainframe Infrastructure Patching Lead to manage end-to-end patching for the IBM z/OS environment and lead an offshore team. You will set standards, oversee patch testing, and coordinate with security and audit to ensure compliant, timely updates.

The role requires deep IBM z/OS expertise, SMP/E experience, and strong communication to document procedures and drive changes across time zones. On-site in Toronto with weekend/after-hours support as needed.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in IBM z/OS systems programming or mainframe infrastructure.
• Hands-on SMP/E maintenance and IBM service delivery experience.
• Experience guiding offshore or distributed teams to standards.
• Familiarity with change management in regulated environments.
• Excellent runbook writing and procedures for offshore execution.
• Willingness to support off-hours and time-zone coordination.

Responsibilities

• Own the IBM z/OS patch management strategy including SMP/E and subsystem patching.
• Define rolling patch calendar aligned with IBM cycles and change windows.
• Assess maintenance applicability, triage PTFs for risk and priority.
• Provide oversight of offshore mainframe operations during patch installs.
• Review testing results, rollback plans, and go/no-go decisions.
• Coordinate with security and audit on vulnerabilities and fixes.

Skills

IBM z/OS

Mainframe patching

Offshore team leadership

SMP/E maintenance

ServiceNow change mgmt

Tools

SMP/E tooling

IBM zPCR

Job description

Cognizant in Toronto seeks a Senior Mainframe Infrastructure Patching Lead to manage end-to-end patching for the IBM z/OS environment and lead an offshore team. You will set standards, oversee patch testing, and coordinate with security and audit to ensure compliant, timely updates.

The role requires deep IBM z/OS expertise, SMP/E experience, and strong communication to document procedures and drive changes across time zones. On-site in Toronto with weekend/after-hours support as needed.