Hybrid IBM DB2 for z/OS Specialist: Performance & DR

Cognizant; Hartford (CT); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance

Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off

401(k) plan and contributions

Long-term/Short-term Disability

Paid Parental Leave

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking a seasoned IBM Mainframe DB2 Specialist to administer and optimize DB2 for z/OS in enterprise production environments. You will ensure availability, performance, security, and resiliency while partnering with cross-functional teams on modernization initiatives.

Responsibilities include DB2 maintenance, performance tuning, backups, DR planning, and security enforcement, plus leading migration efforts and automating DBA tasks with JCL, REXX, and Python.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of hands-on experience administering IBM DB2 for z/OS in enterprise production environments.
• Deep expertise with IBM Mainframe technologies, including z/OS, JCL, TSO/ISPF, and core DB2 administration tools.
• Proven experience with DB2 performance tuning, SQL optimization, indexing strategies, RUNSTATS, REORG, and related database maintenance activities.
• Experience planning and executing database backup, recovery, disaster recovery, migration, and version upgrade activities.
• Strong knowledge of database security principles, RACF, access management, and compliance best practices.
• Experience automating DBA processes using REXX, Python, JCL, or similar scripting technologies.
• Experience supporting mainframe modernization initiatives, including transformation, migration, integration, or adoption of cloud-based technologies.
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex database and application issues within mission-critical environments.
• Experience working with enterprise scheduling and batch-processing tools such as CA7, TWS, or Control-M.
• Strong understanding of database lifecycle management, change management, and production support processes.

Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain IBM DB2 databases within z/OS mainframe environments.
• Install, configure, patch, and upgrade DB2 subsystems and related components.
• Perform database design reviews, schema management, and object creation.
• Monitor and optimize database performance through SQL tuning, indexing strategies, RUNSTATS, REORG, and other DB2 utilities.
• Manage database backup, recovery, disaster recovery planning, and recovery testing activities.
• Administer database security, access controls, and compliance requirements.
• Support application development teams with database design, SQL optimization, and issue resolution.
• Perform capacity planning, storage management, and performance forecasting.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex production issues impacting database services and applications.
• Lead DB2 migration and version upgrade initiatives while minimizing operational risk.
• Automate routine DBA activities using JCL, REXX, Python, and other automation tools.
• Collaborate with infrastructure, application, and operations teams to ensure service availability and reliability.

Skills

DB2 for z/OS

JCL

TSO/ISPF

SQL tuning

RUNSTATS

REORG

security concepts

RACF

automation scripting

problem solving

batch processing tools

Tools

CA7

TWS

Control-M

Python

Job description

Cognizant is seeking a seasoned IBM Mainframe DB2 Specialist to administer and optimize DB2 for z/OS in enterprise production environments. You will ensure availability, performance, security, and resiliency while partnering with cross-functional teams on modernization initiatives.

Responsibilities include DB2 maintenance, performance tuning, backups, DR planning, and security enforcement, plus leading migration efforts and automating DBA tasks with JCL, REXX, and Python.