IBM i / RPG Developer (Manufacturing Systems) – Hybrid

MJ Celco, Inc.; Schiller Park (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

MJ Celco, Inc. in Schiller Park, Illinois, is seeking an IBM i / RPG Developer to join our IT manufacturing systems team in a hybrid capacity.

You will design, develop, and modernize core applications powering manufacturing operations, including production scheduling, inventory control, shipping, and shop floor management. The ideal candidate has 5+ years in IBM i (AS/400) development, strong RPG IV and CL skills, experience with VS Code and Git, and a track record of modernizing legacy systems

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or Industrial Engineering (or equivalent).
• 5+ years of IBM i development experience in a manufacturing or distribution setting.
• ERP systems experience on IBM i.
• EDI standards (ANSI X12, EDIFACT) experience.

Responsibilities

• Design, code, test, and support RPG/CL programs (RPG IV, Free-Form RPG, CL/CLLE).
• Modernize legacy RPG/CL to current IBM i standards (Free-Form RPG).
• Set up and maintain build automation and Git-based workflows (TOBi/IBM Bob).
• Support ERP, shop floor data integration, and warehouse systems.
• Collaborate with executives and plant managers to translate floor requirements into technical solutions.

Skills

RPG IV

Free-Form RPG

CL/CLLE

Git

VS Code

Rational Developer for i

DB2 for i

SQL

Modular programming

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Information Systems/Industrial Engineering

Tools

IBM Bob / TOBi

VS Code

Rational Developer for i

Git

Job description

About MJ Celco

MJ Celco is a family‑owned precision metal stamping and sheet metal fabrication company headquartered in Schiller Park, Illinois, with an additional manufacturing facility in Apodaca, Nuevo León, Mexico. We are IATF 16949‑certified and serve customers who depend on us for precision, reliability, and continuous improvement – and we are investing in modernizing the systems that keep our shop floor running.

Position Overview

We are seeking a skilled and motivated IBM i / RPG Developer to join our IT manufacturing systems team in a hybrid capacity. In this role, you will design, develop, maintain, and modernize core applications that power our manufacturing operations – including production scheduling, inventory control, shipping/receiving, and shop floor management. The ideal candidate bridges traditional RPG development with modern DevOps practices, ideally with experience in Git‑based version control and modern development environments like Microsoft Visual Studio Code (using the Code for IBM i extension). Familiarity with modern IBM i build tools such as IBM Bob (TOBi) is a strong plus – we’re happy to train the right candidate on our specific toolchain.

Work Schedule & Location (Hybrid)

• Employment Type: Full‑Time
• Schedule: Hybrid (3 days on‑site, 2 days remote per week)
• On‑Site Location: Schiller Park, Illinois
• Systems Scope: The manufacturing systems this role supports are shared across our Schiller Park, IL and Apodaca, Mexico facilities; all development work is performed from Schiller Park – no relocation or international travel required.
• On‑Site Purpose: Collaborative team meetings, direct partnership with executive team and plant/floor management, physical hardware integrations (scanners, scale systems, printers), and critical production deployment support.

Key Responsibilities

• Manufacturing Application Development: Design, code, test, and support applications using RPG IV (RPGLE), Free‑Form RPG, and Control Language (CL/CLLE).
• Modern Development Environments: Write and debug code using Microsoft Visual Studio Code (VS Code) leveraging the Code for IBM i ecosystem to drive modern development practices.
• DevOps & Build Automation: Set up, configure, and maintain automated build processes using IBM Bob (TOBi) to manage object compilation and dependency tracking across environments.
• ERP Maintenance & Integration: Support, configure, and customize our core manufacturing ERP system.
• Shop Floor & Supply Chain Integration: Develop and maintain integrations for shop floor data collection, barcode scanning, warehouse management systems (WMS), and shipping/logistics platforms.
• Database Management: Write and optimize complex DB2 database queries, triggers, and stored procedures to ensure accurate, real‑time tracking of inventory and production metrics.
• System Modernization: Actively migrate legacy codebase – including programs originally written in System/36‑era RPG and CL – to Free‑Form RPG, and adopt VS Code integrated with Git‑based source control.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner closely (both virtually and in‑person during on‑site days in Schiller Park) with executive management, plant managers, supply chain teams, and business analysts to translate floor‑level requirements into technical solutions.

Qualifications & Skills

Required Technical & DevOps Skills

• Programming Languages: Proficiency in RPG IV and Free‑Form RPG (ILE RPG), and CL/CLLE. Experience modernizing legacy System/36‑era RPG and CL programs to current IBM i standards is highly valued – this is a real, ongoing part of our environment, not just a nice‑to‑have.
• IDE Experience: Proficient in using Microsoft Visual Studio Code (VS Code) with the Code for IBM i suite (or Rational Developer for i) for day‑to‑day development.
• Build & Version Control: Strong experience with Git for version control. Familiarity with modern IBM i build tools (e.g., IBM Bob / TOBi) is a plus – we’re happy to train the right candidate on our specific build pipeline.
• Database: Strong experience with DB2 for i and advanced SQL (Embedded SQL, DDL, DML).
• Concepts: Solid understanding of modular programming (service programs, binding directories, modules).

Manufacturing‑Specific Qualifications

• ERP Experience: 4+ years of experience working with manufacturing ERP systems on the IBM i platform.
• Supply Chain Tech: Experience handling EDI standards (e.g., ANSI X12, EDIFACT) for processing purchase orders, shipping notices, and invoices.
• Integration Experience: Familiarity with integrating IBM i with shop floor hardware (e.g., Zebra printers, RF scanners, scale systems).

Soft Skills & Hybrid Requirements

• High urgency and strong problem‑solving skills to minimize manufacturing downtime.
• Self‑motivated, collaborative, and highly disciplined to work effectively during remote days.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain technical details to non‑technical plant staff both in‑person and via virtual collaboration tools (e.g., Teams, Slack, Zoom).

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Industrial Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of experience developing in an IBM i (AS/400) environment, preferably within a manufacturing or distribution setting.