Cobol Architect

E-Frontiers; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 166,000 - 221,000; Part time

Job summary

E-Frontiers in Dublin is seeking a Senior COBOL Architect to lead architecture, modernisation and transformation of large-scale COBOL/mainframe applications in a major enterprise programme.

The role requires strong mainframe expertise, architecture leadership and the ability to engage with senior client stakeholders to drive legacy modernization and cloud integration.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in mainframe application development and architecture.
• Proven senior-level experience as Solution Architect, Technical Architect or Enterprise Architect.
• Hands-on COBOL expertise with broad mainframe stack knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture, design and modernisation of COBOL/mainframe applications.
• Define legacy transformation strategies, including refactoring, migration, API enablement and cloud integration.
• Assess existing architectures to identify modernisation opportunities and reduce technical debt.
• Define architecture principles, technical standards and development best practices.
• Provide technical leadership and governance across development and engineering teams.
• Engage with business stakeholders, Solution Architects, Enterprise Architects and senior client leadership.
• Translate complex business requirements into scalable and robust technical solutions.
• Conduct architecture reviews and performance optimisation activities.
• Ensure solutions meet scalability, performance, reliability and long-term maintainability.
• Provide technical direction across major migration and transformation initiatives.

Skills

COBOL

Mainframe

Solution Architect

Technical Architect

Enterprise Architect

JCL

CICS

DB2

IMS

VSAM

z/OS

TSO/ISPF

APIs & integration

Legacy transformation

Architecture governance

Stakeholder management

Communication

Job description

Senior COBOL Architect | Contract | Dublin

We are currently seeking an experienced Senior COBOL Architect to join a major enterprise transformation programme in Dublin. This is a senior technical leadership position focused on the architecture, modernisation and transformation of large-scale COBOL/mainframe applications.

The successful candidate will bring deep mainframe expertise alongside strong architecture and stakeholder-management skills, helping define the strategy for modernising complex legacy environments and integrating them with modern cloud and digital platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture, design and modernisation of large-scale COBOL/mainframe applications.
• Define and implement legacy transformation strategies, including application refactoring, platform migration, API enablement and cloud integration.
• Assess existing applications and architecture to identify modernisation opportunities and reduce technical debt.
• Define architecture principles, technical standards and development best practices.
• Provide technical leadership and governance across development and engineering teams.
• Work closely with business stakeholders, Solution Architects, Enterprise Architects and senior client leadership.
• Translate complex business requirements into scalable and robust technical solutions.
• Conduct architecture reviews and performance optimisation activities.
• Ensure solutions meet requirements around scalability, performance, reliability and long-term maintainability.
• Provide technical direction across major migration and transformation initiatives.

Key Skills & Experience

We are looking for a highly experienced mainframe professional with:

• Extensive experience in mainframe application development and architecture.
• Previous experience operating at Solution Architect, Technical Architect or Enterprise Architect level.
• Deep hands-on knowledge of COBOL.
• Strong experience across the wider mainframe technology stack, including:
• JCL
• CICS
• DB2
• IMS
• VSAM
• z/OS
• TSO/ISPF
• Strong understanding of enterprise integration patterns and API architectures.
• Proven experience delivering or leading large-scale legacy modernisation, migration or mainframe transformation programmes.
• Experience integrating legacy/mainframe environments with modern platforms.
• Strong understanding of Enterprise Architecture and Solution Design.
• Ability to provide technical leadership and influence architecture decisions across multiple teams.
• Proven ability to engage with senior and executive stakeholders and communicate complex technical concepts clearly.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Location: Dublin – Hybrid

Contract: Day-rate contract

Level: Senior Technical Architect

This opportunity would particularly suit a Senior COBOL Architect, Mainframe Architect, Technical Architect or Solution Architect who has progressed beyond pure COBOL development and has significant experience defining architecture and leading legacy modernisation and mainframe transformation programmes.