IBM Mainframe DB2 Specialist

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

About the role

As an IBM Mainframe DB2 Specialist, you will be responsible for the administration, optimization, and support of DB2 for z/OS environments that power critical enterprise applications. You will play a key role in ensuring database availability, performance, security, and resiliency while partnering with application, infrastructure, and operations teams to support business-critical workloads. You will be a valued member of the Cloud Infrastructure and Security team, working collaboratively with technical and business stakeholders to support modernization initiatives and drive operational excellence across the enterprise database landscape.

In this role, you will

• 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.

Work model

We believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role's business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring 3 days a week in a client or Cognizant office in Hartford, CT. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs.

The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you're engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations.

What you need to have to be considered

• 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.

These will help you stand out

• Exposure to VSAM, CICS, IMS, and other IBM Z ecosystem technologies.
• Experience supporting large-scale banking, insurance, or financial services environments.
• Knowledge of high availability, resiliency, and disaster recovery architectures.
• Experience with SMP/E, release management, and enterprise change management processes.
• IBM Certified Database Administrator for DB2 for z/OS or other IBM Z certifications.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills in global 24x7 enterprise environments.

We're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Think about your transferable experiences and unique skills that make you stand out.

Salary and Other Compensation:

Applications will be accepted until September 14, 2026.

The annual salary for this position is between $100,000 - $115,000 USD depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

This position is also eligible for Cognizant's discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant's applicable plans.

Benefits:

Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• 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

Disclaimer:

The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future.