Senior Mainframe Technical Lead (Hybrid)

Cognizant; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 95,000 - 112,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Paid holidays

401(k) plan

Parental leave

Employee stock purchase plan

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking an experienced Mainframe Technical Lead in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This hybrid role requires 8–12 years in mainframe development and leadership across dev, production support, and delivery.

The candidate will design, develop, test, and optimize COBOL-based applications using DB2, JCL, and VSAM, mentor juniors, and drive SDLC activities in collaboration with analysts and QA teams.

Qualifications

• 8–12 years of hands-on Mainframe development experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related discipline.
• Strong programming in COBOL; extensive DB2 SQL design, development and tuning.
• Knowledge of JCL, VSAM, and Mainframe batch processing.
• Hands-on with TSO/ISPF and Mainframe utilities.
• Working knowledge of SAS for reporting and data analysis.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and debugging skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Analyze requirements and prepare technical design specs.
• Design, develop, test, and maintain Mainframe apps using COBOL, DB2, JCL, VSAM.
• Develop batch and online processing programs to meet business needs.
• Create and troubleshoot JCLs, PROCs, and batch schedules.
• Write complex DB2 SQL queries and optimize performance.
• Perform impact analysis, reviews, testing, and production deployment.
• Support production incidents and implement permanent fixes.
• Use Mainframe tools (TSO/ISPF, SDSF, File-AID, SPUFI) for development.
• Collaborate with analysts, testers, and stakeholders across the SDLC.
• Prepare technical docs, implementation plans, and procedures.
• Participate in Agile ceremonies and release activities.
• Mentor junior developers and share knowledge.

Skills

Mainframe dev

COBOL

DB2 SQL

JCL/VSAM

TSO/ISPF

SAS reporting

Analytical skills

Communication

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/IT/Engineering

Tools

Endevor

File-AID

Abend-AID

Expeditor

Control-M

ChangeMan

Job description

Cognizant is seeking an experienced Mainframe Technical Lead in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This hybrid role requires 8–12 years in mainframe development and leadership across dev, production support, and delivery.

The candidate will design, develop, test, and optimize COBOL-based applications using DB2, JCL, and VSAM, mentor juniors, and drive SDLC activities in collaboration with analysts and QA teams.