Lead Mainframe CICS SRE

MetLife; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 111,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plan

Life insurance

401(k) with employer matching

Paid time off

Parental leave

Tuition assistance

Disability insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

MetLife seeks a Lead Mainframe CICS/MQ Site Reliability Engineer to modernize and optimize mainframe platforms. You will bridge legacy reliability with future-ready solutions, directing modernization efforts and ensuring scalability and security across MetLife’s mainframe environments.

You will lead cross-functional teams, architect strategic roadmaps, and partner with enterprise architects to drive IT transformation while delivering reliable, cost-efficient solutions for business goals.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in mainframe engineering with service delivery or architecture.
• Expertise in IBM z/OS, COBOL, CICS, and z/OS Connect.
• Experience with mainframe modernization and migration projects.
• Proven leadership of cross-functional teams and multiple projects.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• Analytical, strategic thinker with strong problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture, design, and implementation of mainframe solutions aligned to business goals.
• Provide technical leadership to mainframe development, operations, and modernization teams.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify requirements and deliver mainframe solutions.
• Establish new intake and change processes for workloads and performance tuning of CICS/MQ and z/OS Connect.
• Evaluate emerging technologies to modernize mainframe platforms.
• Enforce best practices, standards, and architectural governance.
• Develop architectural roadmaps and blueprints for mainframe systems.
• Ensure high availability, security, and performance with telemetry reviews.
• Participate in ITSM processes: Release/Change, Incident/Problem resolution.
• Resolve CICS/MQ incidents during troubleshooting and coordinate with enterprise architects.

Skills

Mainframe engineering

Service delivery

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

IBM z/OS

COBOL

CICS

z/OS Connect

MQ

OpenShift

Ansible (RedHat IBM Z)

Python

Job description

When you join MetLife’s Global Technology team, you’ll be part of a forward-thinking group dedicated to shaping the future of digital solutions for customers worldwide. You’ll develop, maintain and support technology applications and delivery, leveraging AI, automation, and contemporary ways of working to enhance experiences and drive business outcomes. Your work will simplify complex processes, improve tech resiliency, and ensure high-performing, seamless solutions that power life’s most important moments.

In this dynamic environment, you’ll collaborate with talented peers across teams and functions, expanding your skills in impactful ways.

The Opportunity

MetLife is seeking a highly skilled and forward-thinking Lead Mainframe CICS/MQ Site Reliability Engineer to join our dynamic Mainframe & Integration Technology team. In this pivotal role, you will leverage your expertise to bridge the gap between the reliability of legacy systems and the demands of future‑ready solutions, driving the modernization and optimization of our mainframe platforms. In this leadership position, you will be responsible for architecting, designing, and directing the modernization and optimization of MetLife’s mainframe systems to ensure they are reliable, scalable, and fully aligned with our evolving business goals. The ideal candidate will bring extensive expertise in mainframe technologies, a strategic vision for IT transformation, and a proven history of successfully leading complex, enterprise‑wide mainframe modernization projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in leading the architecture, design, and implementation of mainframe solutions that support MetLife's business goals and technology strategy.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to mainframe development, operations, and modernization teams.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders, application developers, and infrastructure teams to identify requirements and deliver innovative, cost‑effective mainframe solutions.
• Help establish a new Mainframe intake and change processes that considers new workloads and provide required mainframe performance tuning of CICS/MQ & z/OS Connect instances to support the workloads.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, tools, and methodologies to drive continuous improvement and modernization of mainframe platforms.
• Establish and enforce best practices, standards, and architectural governance for mainframe environments.
• Develop and maintain architectural documentation, roadmaps, and blueprints for mainframe systems.
• Ensure high availability, security, and performance of mainframe applications and infrastructure by constantly reviewing relevant CICS/MQ and z/OS Connect performance telemetry data and traces with application stakeholders.
• Participate in ITSM processes such as Release/Change approvals, Incident/Problem resolution.
• Proven experience resolving CICS/MQ related incidents during troubleshooting.
• Partner with enterprise architects and other technology leaders to define and implement enterprise‑wide technology strategies.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, or related field experience.
• 7+ years of experience in mainframe engineering, with strong experience in service delivery, engineering, or architecture.
• Expertise in IBM z/OS, COBOL, CICS, and z/OS Connect and related mainframe technologies.
• Demonstrated experience with mainframe modernization, integration, and migration projects.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams and manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills.
• Analytical, strategic thinker with strong problem‑solving abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cloud integration, DevOps, zLinux, OpenShift and automation in mainframe environments. (RedHat Ansible for IBM Z Collections, Ansible, Python)
• Experience with MQ.
• Knowledge of hybrid IT architectures and emerging technology trends.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., IBM Certified System Architect, TOGAF).
• Experience in the insurance or financial services industry.

Location Expectation

This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in office.

The expected salary range for this position is $111,000 - $180,000. This role may also be eligible for annual short‑term incentive compensation and stock‑based long‑term incentives. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms.

Benefits We Offer

Our U.S. benefits address holistic well‑being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no‑cost short‑ and long‑term disability. We also provide company‑paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, paid time off, paid holidays, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!

MetLife is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status (although applicants and employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States), uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law (“protected characteristics”).

If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [e-mail]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.

MetLife maintains a drug‑free workplace.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liabilities.