Azure Cloud Engineer

Luxoft; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

JM Family seeks a seasoned systems programmer and vendor manager to lead mainframe outsourcing and internal teams. The role provides oversight of troubleshooting, capacity, storage, and software updates across mainframe environments, coordinating with providers and JM support groups.

The successful candidate will guide application development teams on mainframe topics, enforce SLAs, and drive best practices while delivering reliable, scalable IT services for the JM Family enterprise.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of systems programmer experience.
• Strong background in installing, documenting, and maintaining system software and utilities.
• Experience managing mainframe outsourcing agreements and SOWs.
• Proven track record managing vendors under SLA/SRM to protect company interests.
• Knowledge of mainframe best practices and ability to lead vendors to implement them.
• Working knowledge of ITIL with emphasis on problem/incident/change management and vendor coordination.
• Bachelor’s in Business or Information Systems; Master’s preferred.
• Proven technical leadership and out-of-the-box thinking in IT.
• Passion for mainframe technologies and keeping up with trends.
• Ability to collaborate across ITS and vendor groups.

Responsibilities

• Manage outsourcing provider activities related to JM Family mainframe.
• Monitor mainframe operations for issues and potential improvements.
• Review provider actions to ensure successful outcomes.
• Coordinate upcoming changes and software releases with providers.
• Develop ad hoc performance and tracking reports.
• Research new technologies for applicability to JM Family.
• Provide first-line mainframe infrastructure support to JM organizations.
• Participate in all mainframe incidents and coordinate with providers.
• Develop new mainframe utilities as needed.
• Develop processes and jobs to streamline operations.
• Install new software products as required.
• Be the go-to person for mainframe problems or questions.

Skills

Systems programming

Vendor management

ITIL processes

SLA/SRM

Cross-functional leadership

Mainframe knowledge

Communication

Problem solving

Independent judgement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Information Systems

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Project description

This position will require the incumbent to draw upon their past systems programmers and management experience. The primary responsibility will be the management of mainframe outsourcing providers as well as other vendors while providing support and leadership for mainframe technologies. Will provide oversight of efforts to troubleshoot issues, optimize current system, capacity planning, communications, storage administration, coding and make sure all software is up to latest release and technology levels. In addition, the incumbent will provide guidance to the application development staff for mainframe systems topics and issues.

Responsibilities

• Manage, plan, direct, organize and control outsourcing provider’s activities with respect to the JM Family mainframe.
• Monitor all mainframe activities looking for problems and potential improvements.
• Review actions taken by mainframe outsourcing provider to ensure they were completely successfully.
• Review, approve, and coordinate with mainframe outsourcing provider upcoming changes and software releases.
• Develop and provide ad hoc performance and tracking reports.
• Research new technologies and features to determine applicability to JM.
• Provide first line of support for mainframe infrastructure to all JM organizations.
• Participate in all mainframe incidents to coordinate and direct activities as well as to provide guidance to outsourcing provider and other JM support groups.
• Develop new mainframe utilities when required.
• Recognize the need for and develop processes and jobs to further streamline operations.
• Install new software products as required.
• Be the general go-to person when there are mainframe problems or questions

SKILLS

Must have

• This candidate must have at least 10 years of systems programmer experience.
• Candidate must have a strong background in analyzing, documenting, installing, developing and maintaining operating system software including utility software and system software languages while providing technical support to users concerning system software and utilities.
• Experience with managing mainframe outsourcing agreements and managed service providers to include development of SOW’s.
• Proven track record with understanding and managing vendors with respect to SLA’s, SRM’s and vendor commitments to hold the vendor accountable while looking out for the companies interests.
• Knowledge of and ability to articulate/document mainframe best practices with the ability to lead vendors to the successful implementation of those best practices.
• A strong, working knowledge of ITIL principles with emphasis on problem/incident/change management and experience with managing vendors towards the implementation of those principles while leading the vendor to successful results.
• Bachelor degree in Business or Information Systems required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Must have proven technical/thought leadership experience in IT and track record of out-of-the-box thinking.
• Candidate must have a passion for mainframe technologies.
• Technically aware and keeps up to date on current technology trends (in particular as related to the mainframe platform).
• Proven experience with effective delivery within IT.
• Candidate must be highly accountable, drives for results and ability to collaborate with groups across ITS and with vendors.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills required. Ability to work independently and to maintain effective working relationships with vendors, and multiple staff levels.
• Ability to exercise independent judgement and creative problem solving techniques in a highly complex environment using leading-edge technology and or/integrating diverse technology applications.
• Ability to assist in the development of department strategic roadmaps providing vision and thought leadership in key technology areas.
• Experience managing a high volume workload.
• Excellent communication skills. Ability to present and translate highly technical capabilities to business leaders in a way to gain understanding and to conceptualize business value (speaking without using technology-speak, developing management presentations, writing and documenting business and technical documentation, developing process diagrams).
• Management of vendors to ensure SLA’s are maintained, solutions are delivered and relationships are fostered to benefit JM Family.
• Experience in establishing best practices, procedures and enforcing governance.
• Strong track record of collaborating and partnering to obtain common results.

Nice to have

Agile Methodologies