Mainframe Engineer

Apex Systems; Merrifield (VA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Apex Systems is seeking a Mainframe Engineer to lead automation initiatives using IBM System Automation for z/OS and IBM Workload Scheduler in Merrifield, Virginia. The role focuses on delivering scalable automation across z/OS subsystems and middleware, while guiding teams and improving operational efficiency.

Required expertise includes REXX programming, NetView, and experience with CICS/DB2/IMS environments. The position is hybrid, with on-site collaboration and on-call rotation as needed.

Qualifications

• Expert-level experience with IBM System Automation for z/OS, including administration, configuration, and policy development.
• Advanced REXX programming experience developing enterprise automation solutions.
• Strong experience with IBM NetView, including automation tables, message automation, and command lists.
• Experience with IBM Workload Scheduler (IWS, TWS, ZWS) and workload automation processes.
• Strong knowledge of Parallel Sysplex environments, cross-system automation concepts, JCL, SDSF, TSO/ISPF, and z/OS operations.
• Experience managing, monitoring, and supporting mainframe and/or distributed systems, business applications, and infrastructure platforms.

Responsibilities

• Investigate operational, technical, and business problems; analyze requirements; and recommend reliable automation solutions.
• Lead, guide, and mentor others while promoting best practices, process improvement, and operational efficiency.
• Develop enterprise automation solutions, command processors, automation routines, and operational tooling using REXX.
• Design, implement, and support automation across z/OS subsystems and middleware platforms such as CICS, Db2, IMS, JES2/JES3, MQ, and TCP/IP.
• Develop automation for CICS availability, recovery, startup, shutdown, restart, and health monitoring.
• Integrate automation with monitoring and event management tools such as IBM OMEGAMON, ServiceNow, and Moogsoft.
• Identify and implement automation opportunities across IBM z/Series, UNIX, and Windows operating systems.
• Support high-availability, recovery, restart, and self-healing automation solutions.
• Reduce manual intervention, improve operational reliability, and deliver scalable automation solutions.
• Participate in an on-call rotation as required.

Skills

IBM System Automation for z/OS

REXX

IBM NetView

IBM Workload Scheduler

JCL

TSO/ISPF

Parallel Sysplex

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology

Tools

OMEGAMON

ServiceNow

Moogsoft

USS/OMVS

Job description

IBM System Automation for z/OS

IBM Workload Scheduler

Job#: 3046406

Job Description:

Mainframe Engineer

Location: Merrifield, Virginia (Hybrid)

Role Overview

This position requires a strong ability to investigate operational, technical, and business problems to recommend reliable automation solutions. The role involves communicating complex system and automation information to technical teams, business partners, and upper management. The ideal candidate will demonstrate proficiency in leading, guiding, and mentoring others while promoting technical best practices and process improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Investigate operational, technical, and business problems; analyze requirements; and recommend reliable automation solutions.
• Lead, guide, and mentor others while promoting technical best practices, process improvement, and operational efficiency.
• Develop enterprise automation solutions, command processors, automation routines, and operational tooling using REXX programming.
• Design, implement, and support automation across z/OS subsystems and middleware platforms such as CICS, Db2, IMS, JES2/JES3, MQ, and TCP/IP.
• Develop automation for CICS availability, recovery, startup, shutdown, restart, and health monitoring.
• Integrate automation with monitoring and event management tools such as IBM OMEGAMON, ServiceNow, and Moogsoft.
• Identify and implement automation opportunities across IBM z/Series, UNIX, and Windows operating systems.
• Support high-availability, recovery, restart, and self-healing automation solutions.
• Reduce manual intervention, improve operational reliability, and deliver scalable automation solutions.
• Participate in an on-call rotation as required.

Required Qualifications

Experience:

• Expert-level experience with IBM System Automation for z/OS, including administration, configuration, and policy development.
• Advanced REXX programming experience developing enterprise automation solutions.
• Strong experience with IBM NetView, including automation tables, message automation, and command lists.
• Experience with IBM Workload Scheduler (IWS, TWS, ZWS) and workload automation processes.
• Strong knowledge of Parallel Sysplex environments, cross-system automation concepts, JCL, SDSF, TSO/ISPF, and z/OS operations.
• Experience managing, monitoring, and supporting mainframe and/or distributed systems, business applications, and infrastructure platforms.

Technical Skills:

• IBM System Automation for z/OS
• REXX
• IBM NetView
• z/OS subsystems: CICS, Db2, IMS, JES2/JES3, MQ, TCP/IP
• IBM Workload Scheduler
• Familiarity with z/OS UNIX System Services (USS/OMVS)

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with OMEGAMON situation development, alerting, and monitoring customization.
• Experience with GDPS and disaster recovery automation.
• Experience with SMP/E maintenance and z/OS system programming concepts.
• Familiarity with Ansible, REST APIs, and mainframe modernization technologies.