Mainframe Administrator

IPolarity LLC; Whippany (NJ); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

IPolarity LLC is seeking a highly skilled Mainframe DB2 Systems Administrator to manage DB2 for z/OS subsystems in a mission-critical enterprise environment. You will install, configure, and tune DB2 components to ensure high availability, security, and optimal performance.

You will collaborate with Batch, CICS, IMS, MQ and distributed systems teams, perform performance and capacity management, and implement disaster recovery strategies to maintain DB2 resilience.

Qualifications

• 7–12+ years of mainframe experience.
• 3–5+ years in DB2 Systems Programming / Administration.
• Experience with IBM DB2 for z/OS and replication products (Qrep, SQLrep and CDC).
• Deep knowledge of ZPARMs and subsystem configuration.
• Strong troubleshooting for system-level DB2 issues.
• Proficiency in JCL, TSO/ISPF, SDSF.

Responsibilities

• DB2 Installation & Configuration: Install, configure, and maintain DB2 for z/OS subsystems; perform upgrades and maintenance; manage initialization parameters.
• Performance & Capacity Management: Monitor and tune system-level performance; optimize buffer pools, locking, and concurrency; support capacity planning.
• High Availability & Data Sharing: Manage DB2 Data Sharing environments (Sysplex); coupling facility integration; load balancing and DR strategy implementation.
• System Maintenance & Troubleshooting: Analyze and resolve subsystem failures, dumps, logs, abends, connectivity issues; perform root cause analysis.
• Support interaction with Batch (JCL), CICS, IMS, MQ and distributed systems.

Skills

DB2 for z/OS

Mainframe administration

JCL/TSO/ISPF

Performance tuning

CICS/IMS/MQ

Troubleshooting

Tools

QRep

SQLrep

CDC

Endevor

ISPW

OMEGAMON

MainView

SMP/E

z/OS Connect

Job description

Locations

• Phoenix, AZ (Hybrid)
• Plano, TX
• Charlotte, NC
• Richmond, VA
• Jacksonville Beach, FL
• Pennington, NJ
• Chicago, IL

The Role

We are seeking a highly skilled Mainframe DB2 Systems Administrator to manage and support DB2 for z/OS subsystems in a mission‑critical enterprise environment. This role is responsible for installation, configuration, performance tuning, and overall health of DB2 subsystems, ensuring high availability, security, and optimal performance.

Responsibilities

• DB2 Installation & Configuration
  • Install, configure, and maintain DB2 for z/OS subsystems
  • Perform version upgrades, patching (PTFs/APARs), and system maintenance
  • Manage subsystem configuration and initialization parameters
  • Maintain core DB2 components:
    • ZPARMs (DSNZPARM)
    • Buffer pools
    • Logs and BSDS
    • Catalog and directory
• Performance & Capacity Management
  • Monitor and tune DB2 system‑level performance (CPU, memory, I/O)
  • Optimize:
    • Buffer pools
    • Locking and concurrency
    • Thread and connection performance
  • Support capacity planning and performance analysis using DB2 and system tools
• High Availability & Data Sharing
  • Manage and support DB2 Data Sharing environments (Sysplex)
  • Coupling Facility integration
  • Workload balancing and failover
  • Ensure DB2 availability and resilience through DR strategies
• System Maintenance & Troubleshooting
  • Analyze and resolve:
    • Subsystem failures
    • Dumps, logs, and abends
    • Connectivity issues affecting DB2 operations
  • Perform root cause analysis and implement preventive actions
• Support interaction with:
  • Batch (JCL)
  • CICS
  • IMS
  • MQ and distributed systems

Required Qualifications

• 7–12+ years of mainframe experience
• 3–5+ years in DB2 Systems Programming / Administration
• Experience with IBM DB2 for z/OS and Replication products (Qrep, SQLrep and CDC) - software installation, version upgrades and maintenance, certification testing, documentation of operational procedures, disaster recovery testing
• Deep knowledge of:
  • ZPARMs and subsystem configuration
  • Buffer pools, logs, BSDS, catalog/directory
• Strong troubleshooting skills for:
  • System‑level DB2 issues
  • Performance and connectivity problems
• Proficiency in:
  • JCL, TSO/ISPF, SDSF
  • SMP/E (preferred)

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with:
  • DB2 utilities and performance tools
  • Monitoring tools (OMEGAMON, MainView)
  • DevOps tools for mainframe (Endevor, ISPW, etc.)
  • Knowledge of Cloud integration or hybrid architectures
  • Experience with large‑scale DB2 upgrades or migrations
  • Performance optimization initiatives
  • Modernization tools (z/OS Connect, APIs)
  • Experience with software support for BMC for DB2 Tools, IBM z/OS Connect, Software AG ADABAS and Natural products
  • Programming experience with REXX
  • Working knowledge of SQL, JIRA, SMP/E, RACF, TCP/IP, Network certificates, Splunk
  • Working knowledge of other Mainframe Subsystems (CICS, IMS, MQ)

Flexible work from home options available.