Mainframe DB2 System Specialist

Barclays Bank PLC; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent financial institution in the UK is looking for a Mainframe DB2 System Specialist to manage the IBM DB2 system, ensuring excellence in performance and reliability. The role involves developing automation to improve efficiency and collaborating with various teams to align IT infrastructure with business objectives. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience with IBM DB2, mainframe tools, and problem-solving capabilities. This position is available at either the Knutsford or Glasgow locations.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in the installation and upgrade of IBM DB2 and related tools.
• Several years of hands-on experience as a DB2 Systems Programmer.
• Familiarity with Broadcom and IBM Db2 tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain high-quality infrastructure solutions.
• Monitor IT infrastructure and system performance.
• Implement automated tasks for efficiency.

Skills

IBM DB2 installation and maintenance

Mainframe operating systems (TSO, JCL, REXX, SQL)

System performance optimisation

DevOps tooling experience

Knowledge of zOS OSMF

Tools

VS Code

Db2 Developer Extensions

Job description

Join Barclays as a Mainframe DB2 System Specialist, where you’ll install, configure, and maintain the IBM DB2 system to ensure strong performance and reliability. You’ll play a key role in enhancing the Mainframe Automation environment, streamlining manual processes through automation to reduce risk and increase efficiency. We’re seeking candidates with hands‑on mainframe installation experience, ideally involving IBM DB2 system tools or similar mainframe technologies.

Purpose of the role

To build and maintain infrastructure platforms and products that support applications and data systems, using hardware, software, networks, and cloud computing platforms as required with the aim of ensuring that the infrastructure is reliable, scalable, and secure.

Accountabilities

Ensure the reliability, availability, and scalability of the systems, platforms, and technology through the application of software engineering techniques, automation, and best practices in incident response.

Responsibilities

• Build Engineering – Development, delivery, and maintenance of high-quality infrastructure solutions to fulfil business requirements, ensuring measurable reliability, performance, availability, and ease of use.
• Incident Management – Monitoring of IT infrastructure and system performance to measure, identify, address, and resolve any potential issues, vulnerabilities, or outages, using data to drive down mean time to resolution.
• Automation – Development and implementation of automated tasks and processes to improve efficiency and reduce manual intervention, utilising software scripting and coding disciplines.
• Security – Implementation of a secure configuration and measures to protect infrastructure against cyber‑attacks, vulnerabilities, and other security threats, including protection of hardware, software, and data from unauthorised access.
• Teamwork – Cross‑functional collaboration with product managers, architects, and other engineers to define IT infrastructure requirements, devise solutions, and ensure seamless integration and alignment with business objectives via a data‑driven approach.
• Learning – Stay informed of industry technology trends and innovations, and actively contribute to the organization’s technology communities to foster a culture of technical excellence and growth.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in the installation, maintenance, and upgrade of IBM DB2 and related tools (e.g., DB2 CA, DB2 Connect, Data Studio, etc.).
• Strong working knowledge of mainframe operating system tools, including TSO, JCL, REXX, SQL, and others.
• Several years of hands‑on experience as a DB2 Systems Programmer.
• Solid understanding of system performance, optimisation, and monitoring techniques.
• Experience with DevOps tooling, such as VS Code, Db2 Developer Extensions, and similar technologies.
• Knowledge of zOS OSMF.
• Familiarity with Broadcom and IBM Db2 tools.
• Understanding of Db2 internals and RACF security.

Location

The successful candidate can be based in Knutsford (Radbroke Hall) or Glasgow Campus.

Assistant Vice President Expectations

Advise and influence decision making, contribute to policy development and take responsibility for operational effectiveness. Collaborate closely with other functions / business divisions. Lead collaborative assignments and guide team members through structured assignments, identify the need for the inclusion of other areas of specialisation to complete assignments. Identify new directions for assignments and / or projects, identifying a combination of cross functional methodologies or practices to meet required outcomes. Consult on complex issues; providing advice to People Leaders to support the resolution of escalated issues. Identify ways to mitigate risk and developing new policies / procedures in support of the control and governance agenda. Take ownership for managing risk and strengthening controls in relation to the work done. Perform work that is closely related to that of other areas, which requires understanding of how areas coordinate and contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the organisation sub-function. Collaborate with other areas of work, for business aligned support areas to keep up to speed with business activity and the business strategy. Engage in complex analysis of data from multiple sources of information, internal and external sources such as procedures and practises (in other areas, teams, companies, etc.) to solve problems creatively and effectively. Communicate complex information. 'Complex' information could include sensitive information or information that is difficult to communicate because of its content or its audience. Influence or convince stakeholders to achieve outcomes. All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.