Associate Architect

Cognizant; Chennai District; Hybrid; INR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking an Associate Architect specializing in IBM mainframe and transaction processing platforms. The role involves designing resilient solutions, collaborating with cross-functional teams in a hybrid work model, and enhancing the performance of critical systems.

The ideal candidate should have strong hands-on experience with IBM z TPFDF, and deep expertise in IBM TPF Assembler as well as MVS Assembler HLASM. Candidates with 6 to 9 years of experience in enterprise software engineering are preferred.

Qualifications

• Strong hands-on experience with IBM z TPFDF.
• Deep expertise in IBM TPF Assembler.
• Practical experience with MVS Assembler HLASM.
• Solid understanding of mainframe performance tuning.
• Experience in software design principles and algorithm optimization.
• Six to nine years of experience in enterprise software roles.

Responsibilities

• Design high performance transaction processing solutions using IBM z TPFDF.
• Develop optimized modules in IBM TPF Assembler.
• Implement low level services using MVS Assembler HLASM.
• Analyze existing TPF and MVS Assembler codebases.
• Collaborate with engineers and product teams on technical designs.
• Conduct rigorous code reviews of TPF Assembler modules.
• Perform advanced debugging on TPF platforms.
• Optimize memory and CPU consumption in Assembler routines.
• Partner with operations teams to validate architectural decisions.
• Guide continuous improvement and automation initiatives.
• Prepare unit tests for IBM z mainframe environments.
• Document operational runbooks for support teams.
• Communicate design choices to stakeholders.

Skills

IBM z TPFDF

IBM TPF Assembler

MVS Assembler HLASM

Mainframe performance tuning

Software design principles

Data structures and algorithm optimization

Effective communication and collaboration

Job description

Job Summary

Serve as an Associate Architect specializing in IBM mainframe and transaction processing platforms designing resilient solutions using IBM z TPFDF, IBM TPF Assembler, and MVS Assembler HLASM for large scale enterprise environments. Collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams in a hybrid work model to modernize critical systems, enhance performance, and ensure reliability for high‑volume safety‑critical workloads.

Responsibilities

• Design and evolve high performance transaction processing solutions using IBM z TPFDF to support mission critical enterprise applications with stringent availability needs.
• Develop optimized modules in IBM TPF Assembler that efficiently handle large scale workloads while maintaining strict reliability and throughput targets.
• Implement robust low level services and utilities using MVS Assembler HLASM to enable stable integration with surrounding mainframe subsystems.
• Analyze complex existing TPF and MVS Assembler codebases to identify optimization opportunities, reduce technical debt and improve maintainability.
• Collaborate with system engineers, testers and product teams to translate functional and non‑functional requirements into detailed mainframe technical designs.
• Create detailed architecture and design documentation that clearly explains structures, data flows and error handling for IBM z TPFDF and Assembler components.
• Conduct rigorous code reviews of IBM TPF Assembler and HLASM modules to ensure adherence to coding standards, performance guidelines and security practices.
• Perform advanced debugging and root cause analysis for production and pre‑production incidents on TPF platforms to restore service quickly and prevent recurrence.
• Optimize memory usage, I/O handling and CPU consumption in TPF and MVS Assembler routines to meet service level objectives and cost efficiency targets.
• Partner with infrastructure and operations teams to plan capacity, tune system parameters and validate that architectural decisions align with platform constraints.
• Guide continuous improvement initiatives that introduce automation, better monitoring and standardized patterns across TPF and Assembler components.
• Prepare and execute unit tests, component tests and integration tests tailored for low‑level IBM z mainframe environments to ensure robust releases.
• Document operational runbooks and support guides that help production support teams handle common scenarios, fallback paths and recovery steps for TPF solutions.
• Communicate architectural trade‑offs and design choices to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders in a clear and concise manner.
• Align daily work with company objectives by designing systems that improve service reliability, reduce downtime and support inclusive access to digital services.
• Participate in knowledge sharing sessions, internal communities and mentoring activities to uplift team capabilities in IBM z TPFDF and Assembler technologies.
• Ensure that all design and implementation activities comply with regulatory, security and audit requirements applicable to enterprise mainframe platforms.

Qualifications

• Strong hands‑on experience with IBM z TPFDF to design performant file processing and data access patterns for transaction intensive solutions.
• Deep expertise in IBM TPF Assembler to build and maintain low latency application logic, control programs and support modules in large mainframe landscapes.
• Practical experience with MVS Assembler HLASM to integrate TPF components with other mainframe subsystems and shared services in a cohesive manner.
• Solid understanding of mainframe performance tuning, dump analysis and trace tools to troubleshoot challenging issues efficiently.
• Experience in software design principles, data structures and algorithm optimization to craft maintainable and scalable Assembler‑based architectures.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills to work with distributed hybrid teams and coordinate deliveries across multiple stakeholders.
• Six to nine years of experience in enterprise software or systems engineering roles to navigate complex environments and deliver stable outcomes.
• Familiarity with modern development practices such as version control, automated builds and structured testing adapted for mainframe contexts.