IMS Database Administrator / IMS DBA

American Unit, Inc; Austin (TX); Remote; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a skilled Mainframe IMS Application Database Administrator to lead technical efforts in maintaining and optimizing mainframe applications. This role requires expertise in IMS database administration, performance monitoring, and troubleshooting. You will collaborate with various teams to ensure high availability of applications and support the agency's mainframe operations. If you are passionate about leveraging your mainframe skills to drive impactful solutions, this is the opportunity for you. Join a dynamic team where your contributions will play a vital role in the success of critical projects.

Qualifications

• 7+ years experience with z/OS Systems platform and IMS database administration.
• Proficient in performance tuning, backup, recovery, and troubleshooting on IMS databases.

Responsibilities

• Provide DBA maintenance and support for application databases across all environments.
• Conduct performance monitoring, security monitoring, and routine system administration.

Skills

Mainframe IMS Database Administration

Performance Monitoring

Backup and Recovery

DBRC/RECONS

JCL Programming

TSO

CICS

REXX Programming

IMS Catalog Management

Problem Resolution

Tools

z/OS

IMS Utilities

SDSF

IDCAMS

IPPrintway

Job description

Job Title: Mainframe IMS Application Database Administrator

Location: Remote

12+ Months

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

Railroad Commission of Texas requires the services of 1 Mainframe IMS Application Database Administrator, hereafter referred to as Candidate(s), who meets the general qualifications of a Software Engineer Level 2, and the specifications outlined in this document for the Railroad Commission of Texas.

All work products resulting from the project shall be considered "works made for hire" and are the property of the Railroad Commission of Texas and may include pre-selection requirements that potential Vendors (and their Candidates) submit to and satisfy criminal background checks as authorized by Texas law. The Railroad Commission of Texas will pay no fees for interviews or discussions, which occur during the process of selecting a Candidate(s).

• Provides technical leadership and guidance to the mainframe IMS application teams and collaborates with the Mainframe Systems teams to ensure the applications are highly available. Provide DBA maintenance and development support of application databases in all environments (development, acceptance, and production). Work will involve highly advanced (senior-level) systems administration in support of agency mainframe applications and supporting infrastructure; and coordination of day-to-day system administration functions. As the DBA, you will conduct performance monitoring and tuning activities, backup and recovery as well as troubleshooting applications on IMS databases.
• Routine system administration functions to include performance monitoring, security monitoring, and maintenance.
• Work includes supporting processes, overseeing and coordinating mainframe operations in the State’s Consolidated Data Center Services (DCS), and working with the Network Administration, Customer Support and Applications Development & Support teams to provide support necessary for day-to-day mainframe operations.

The Worker will apply their expert knowledge and experience as a Mainframe IMS Application Database Administrator to support both the needs of the Legacy Systems as well as those for the Mainframe Transformation Team.

IMPORTANT: This position is for a hands-on Application IMS DBA, not for a DB2 DBA.

WORKER SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Administer mainframe application IMS databases.
• Conduct performance monitoring and tuning activities, backup and recovery as well as troubleshooting applications on IMS databases.
• Proficient with using DBRC/RECONS and List reports.
• Proficient with performing DBRC forward recoveries.
• Experience with selecting points in time to do valid recoveries and performing actual database recoveries.
• Knowledgeable of IBM IMS utilities and familiar with vendor utilities.
• Create, modify and maintain IMS database descriptions.
• Add, remove and re-org database records as needed.
• Monitor and maintain IMS database performance.
• Application support issues that involve IMS databases.
• Assist application programmers on DBRC issues in the test environment.
• Research and resolve DBRC related abends in the production environment.
• Refresh Dev/Test databases with prod backup images as requested.
• Maintain Mainframe Operating Systems Administration.
• Coordinate testing of mainframe software upgrades and Disaster Recovery plans with DCS vendor.
• Assist primary agency DCS contact with problem management and change management activities.
• Maintain knowledge of DCS vendor standards and report agency system non-compliance to management.
• Coordinate the testing and deployment of mainframe software upgrades with DCS contractor.
• Review and test mainframe disaster recovery plans with DCS contractor.
• Maintain and provide technical support for Mainframe Production Control and Support Jobs and monthly Mainframe Job Scheduler.
• Support agency application development work by creating and maintaining procedures for use during application deployments; and creating and expanding application environments during development.
• Provide technical assistance to programmers and operations personnel for all problems and testing that involves mainframe operations.
• Provide after-hour support for nightly batch Mainframe schedule COBOL and JCL programs.

MINIMUM SKILLS/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Candidates who do not meet or exceed the minimum stated requirements (skills/experience) will be displayed to customers but may not be chosen for this opportunity.

• 7 Years Required: Experience with z/OS Systems platform
• 5 Years Required: Experience with mainframe application IMS database administration
• 5 Years Required: Experience with DBRC and forward recoveries
• 7 Years Required: Experience in basic z/OS utilities: TSO, SYSVIEW and/or SDSF, JSF, Basic IBM utilities IDCAMS, IEBGENER, IEFBR14
• 5 Years Required: Experience with Batch and CICS Cobol, IMS programming and problem resolution
• 5 Years Required: Experience developing and troubleshooting complex JCL
• 2 Years Required: Experience with JCL, CICS, VSAM, and TSO
• 2 Years Required: Experience writing, analyzing, and debugging REXX programs in a z/OS environment
• 2 Years Required: Experience with IMS HAL databases
• 2 Years Required: Experience with IMS Catalog
• 5 Years Preferred: Working knowledge of Top Secret setup, administration, and reporting
• 2 Years Preferred: Experience maintaining mainframe printer assignments, including working knowledge of IPPrintway
• 3+ Years Preferred: Experience with ISPF panels, skeletons and REXX code
• 3+ Years Preferred: Experience with ISMF storage functions
• Preferred: Working knowledge of batch SFTP and FTPS processing
• Preferred: Working knowledge of Informatica Power Exchange software using mainframe datasets (IMS and VSAM) as either a source or target for change data capture
• Preferred: Experience with logically related application IMS databases