zOS Mainframe Systems Programmer

NTT DATA; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid role

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

NTT DATA in the United Kingdom is seeking an experienced z/OS Systems Programmer to join a full-time hybrid role based in Sheffield. You will upgrade, maintain, and support the z/OS OS and IBM/CA ISV products, ensuring systems are stable, secure, and performant.

The role requires deep expertise in z/OS architecture, RACF, JES2/JES3, SMF, RMF, and mainframe networking, with the ability to collaborate with multiple teams and provide off-hours support when needed.

Qualifications

• Multiple years of z/OS systems programming experience.
• Very strong Parallel Sysplex skills.
• Strong experience with z/OS, TSO/ISPF, USS, SDSF, JCL, and RACF.
• Experience installing several IBM and CA products.
• Deep mastery of z/OS architecture, including IPL procedures, JES2/JES3 configurations, Sysplex management, SMF data collection, and parmlib customization.
• Proficiency in writing and debugging system-level routines and automation in Assembler, REXX, and JCL.
• Experience managing hardware and logical resources across LPARs.
• Analytical troubleshooting skills for abends, storage hangs, and performance anomalies.
• Performance monitoring knowledge.
• Networking knowledge.
• Experience planning and leading hardware refreshes, feature activations, and migrations with minimal downtime.
• Ideally worked in a bank or an organisation with large installations.
• Confidence to work independently and start contributing from day one.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to be a true team player.
• Willingness to provide off-hours support when required.

Responsibilities

• Upgrade, maintain, and support the z/OS operating system.
• Upgrade, maintain, and support ISV products, particularly from IBM and Computer Associates (CA).
• Work closely with other engineering teams to ensure systems are stable, available, up to date, and running efficiently.
• Manage DASD and tape allocation across LPARs using HCD/HCM.
• Configure LPARs in HMC.
• Perform security administration using RACF or equivalent.
• Ensure data integrity and swift recovery using DFSMShsm policies and recall management, FDR/ABR backups, and FlashCopy or virtual tape replication.
• Optimize system throughput and response times using RMF and SMF report analysis, OMEGAMON or BMC MainView dashboards, and WLM classification and tuning.
• Configure and support mainframe connectivity including VTAM and SNA definitions, TCP/IP stack on z/OS, and OSA adapter and Coupling Facility communication.
• Execute OS and product upgrades using SMP/E and z/OSMF workflows.
• Use Broadcom, IBM, and BMC tooling for fix management and compliance reporting.
• Plan and lead hardware refreshes, feature activations, and migrations with minimal downtime, including IPL scheduling, vendor coordination, and change-control governance.
• Produce clear system diagrams, runbooks, and upgrade plansCollaborate with application teams, storage, networking, and security groups.
• Stay current on IBM Redbooks, z/OS release notes, firmware updates, and vendor training or industry conferences

Skills

z/OS systems programming

Parallel Sysplex

z/OS, TSO/ISPF, USS, SDSF, JCL, RACF

IBM/CA products

z/OS architecture

Assembler/REXX/JCL

LPAR resource management

abends troubleshooting

RMF/SMF

Networking

hardware refresh planning

independent contributor

Tools

HMC

Job description

Salary: £55,000 - 95,000 per year

Requirements:

• Multiple years of z/OS systems programming experience
• Very strong Parallel Sysplex skills
• Strong experience with z/OS, TSO/ISPF, USS, SDSF, JCL, and RACF
• Experience installing several IBM and CA products
• Deep mastery of z/OS architecture, including IPL procedures, JES2/JES3 configurations, Sysplex management, SMF data collection, and parmlib customization
• Proficiency in writing and debugging system-level routines and automation in Assembler, REXX, and JCL
• Experience managing hardware and logical resources across LPARs
• Analytical troubleshooting skills for abends, storage hangs, and performance anomalies
• Performance monitoring knowledge
• Networking knowledge
• Experience planning and leading hardware refreshes, feature activations, and migrations with minimal downtime
• Ideally worked in a bank or an organisation with large installations
• Confidence to work independently and start contributing from day one
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to be a true team player
• Willingness to provide off-hours support when required

Responsibilities:

• Upgrade, maintain, and support the z/OS operating system
• Upgrade, maintain, and support ISV products, particularly from IBM and Computer Associates (CA)
• Work closely with other engineering teams to ensure systems are stable, available, up to date, and running efficiently
• Manage DASD and tape allocation across LPARs using HCD/HCM
• Configure LPARs in HMC
• Perform security administration using RACF or equivalent
• Ensure data integrity and swift recovery using DFSMShsm policies and recall management, FDR/ABR backups, and FlashCopy or virtual tape replication
• Optimize system throughput and response times using RMF and SMF report analysis, OMEGAMON or BMC MainView dashboards, and WLM classification and tuning
• Configure and support mainframe connectivity including VTAM and SNA definitions, TCP/IP stack on z/OS, and OSA adapter and Coupling Facility communication
• Execute OS and product upgrades using SMP/E and z/OSMF workflows
• Use Broadcom, IBM, and BMC tooling for fix management and compliance reporting
• Plan and lead hardware refreshes, feature activations, and migrations with minimal downtime, including IPL scheduling, vendor coordination, and change-control governance
• Produce clear system diagrams, runbooks, and upgrade plansCollaborate with application teams, storage, networking, and security groups
• Stay current on IBM Redbooks, z/OS release notes, firmware updates, and vendor training or industry conferences

Technologies:

• AI
• Cloud
• Firmware
• Hardware
• IBM
• Support
• Security
• Swift
• TCP/IP

More:

We are NTT DATA, a $30 billion business and technology services leader serving 75% of the Fortune Global 100. We are committed to accelerating client success and positively impacting society through responsible innovation. We are one of the worlds leading AI and digital infrastructure providers, with capabilities in enterprise-scale AI, cloud, security, connectivity, data centers, and application services. Our consulting and industry solutions help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future. We have experts in more than 50 countries and offer clients access to a robust ecosystem of innovation centers and established and start-up partners. This is a full-time hybrid role based remotely and on client site in Sheffield, with a comprehensive, locally competitive benefits package. We prioritize our peoples health and wellbeing, and we hire locally where possible to support timely and effective client service.