Mainframe Engineer

SFE; United States; Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SFE is seeking a Mainframe Engineer in Atlanta, GA with remote work options. The role focuses on z/OS upgrades, ISV product support from Broadcom/CA, BMC, IBM and Rocket, and hands-on IBM Z hardware management. A strong background in mainframe operations and enterprise environments is required.

The position offers full-time employment with a salary range reflecting market rates for z/OS expertise in the US. Remote work is available alongside on-site responsibilities.

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of z/OS installation, configuration and maintenance.
• Experience with major z/OS upgrades.
• Experience installing and supporting ISV products (Broadcom/CA, BMC, IBM, Rocket).
• Hands-on with IBM Z hardware: CPCs, LPAR, HMC/SE, IOCDS/IODF, FICON, OSA, Coupling Facility, upgrades.
• Familiar with automation tools and alert monitoring integrations.
• ZEKE Scheduler familiarity for operations support.
• Exposure to large enterprises or regulated environments.

Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare, and execute z/OS upgrades.
• Apply IBM PTFs and APARs to maintain system integrity.
• Monitor z/OS health using RMF, SMF, TMON, SAS.
• Install, configure, and maintain ISV products from listed vendors.
• Manage hardware config, IOCP, HMC and WLM.
• Collaborate with vendors for support and licensing.
• Ensure ISV compatibility with z/OS.

Skills

z/OS

z/OS upgrades

ISV products

IBM Z hardware

Automation tools

ZEKE Scheduler

regulated environments

Tools

RMF

SMF

TMON

SAS

Job description

Mainframe Engineer

Atlanta, GA/ Remote

Hire Type: fulltime

Salary Range-$100,000-$130,000 a year

Must Have Technical/Functional Skills

• In-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with z/OS operating system installation, configuration, and maintenance.
• Proven experience with major z/OS upgrades
• Extensive experience with the installation and support of various ISV products from vendors such as Broadcom/CA, BMC, IBM, and Rocket Software
• Hands on experience with IBM Z mainframe hardware including CPCs, LPAR configuration, HMC/SE operation, IOCDS/IODF management, FICON channels, OSA, Coupling Facility structures, and hardware upgrades or migration
• Understanding of automation tools such as OPS/MVS, System Automation, Automation Point, and integration of alerts/monitoring across enterprise operations
• Familiarity with ZEKE Scheduler to support operations teams and diagnose JES/workload issues.
• Exposure to large enterprises or regulated environments.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare, and execute z/OS operating system upgrades
• Apply IBM PTFs and APARs to maintain system integrity and resolve reported issues
• Monitor z/OS system health, performance, and resource utilization using tools like RMF, SMF, TMON and SAS
• Install, configure, upgrade, and maintain a wide range of ISV products (e.g., Broadcom/CA, BMC, IBM, Rocket Software, etc.)
• Have good understanding and experience on Hardware Configuration Definitions / IOCP and HMC Management and WLM management.
• Collaborate with vendors for problem resolution, licensing, and technical support.
• Ensure compatibility and integration of ISV products with the z/OS environment.
• Manage and maintain critical system datasets (e.g., SYSRES, Page datasets, SMF datasets).
• Provide expert-level support for mainframe incidents, including problem determination, diagnosis, and resolution in a timely manner.
• Analyze system performance data to identify bottlenecks and recommend improvements.
• Tune various z/OS components, WLM (Workload Manager), and ISV products to optimize resource utilization and application performance.
• Support DR planning, setup, IPL testing, replication technologies (e.g., GDPS), and DR event execution.
• Analyze system logs, sysout, dumps, and diagnostic data for complex issues
• Participate in on-call rotation for 24/7 support of critical systems.