Mainframe lead

Altimetrik; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Altimetrik in Buffalo, NY seeks a senior technical leader to own end-to-end modernization of mainframe systems (z/OS, COBOL, JCL) integrated with ZConnect and ZDIH, and to steward DevOps with GitLab CI/CD.

You will drive architecture, QA, and delivery, mentor engineers, and ensure secure, scalable solutions aligned with enterprise SDLC and regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• Strong experience with mainframe technologies and modernization projects.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and own end-to-end delivery.
• Expertise in SDLC governance and enterprise DevOps practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and support of mainframe applications integrated with modern services.
• Define and enforce end-to-end solution architecture and API-first design.
• Drive GitLab CI/CD pipelines, QA practices, and automated testing.
• Mentor engineers and manage stakeholder deliveries.

Skills

Mainframe

z/OS

COBOL

JCL

DB2

VSAM

ZConnect

ZDIH

GitLab CI/CD

DevOps

Architecture

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

GitLab

SonarQube

Data integration

Job description

Leads a cross-functional engineering team responsible for development, modernization, and support of mission-critical mainframe systems integrated with modern platforms (ZConnect, ZDIH) and enterprise DevOps tooling (GitLab CI/CD).

This role drives end-to-end ownership across architecture, engineering delivery, QA practices, and DevOps pipelines, ensuring scalable, secure, and high-quality solutions aligned with enterprise SDLC and regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

1. Technical Leadership & Delivery Ownership

• Lead design, development, and support of mainframe applications (z/OS, COBOL, JCL, DB2, VSAM) integrated with modern services
• Serve as technical authority and SME across mainframe and modernization initiatives
• Define and enforce end-to-end solution architecture across:
  • Mainframe systems
  • ZConnect API layer
  • ZDIH / data integration platforms
• Own creation and governance of:
  • Solution Architecture Documents (SAD)
  • Component, integration, and data flow diagrams
  • Loose coupling between legacy and modern systems
  • API-first and event-driven design where applicable
  • Scalability, resiliency, and performance considerations
• Conduct architecture reviews and design approvals before development initiation

3. DevOps, GitLab & Pipeline Ownership

• Lead adoption and governance of GitLab-based CI/CD pipelines
• Define and enforce:
  • Branching strategies (feature / release / hotfix)
  • Merge request standards and approvals
  • Code quality gates (Sonar, coverage thresholds)
• Drive pipeline standardization and automation, reducing manual steps
• Own pipeline troubleshooting and continuous improvement

4. Modernization & Integration (ZConnect / ZDIH)

• Lead delivery of z/OS Connect APIs enabling mainframe services
• Drive adoption of ZDIH and hybrid integration patterns
• Identify opportunities to:
  • Enable reusable APIs and services
• Ensure secure and scalable integration with distributed platforms

5. QA Engineering & Quality Practices

• Define and enforce end-to-end QA strategy, including:
  • Unit testing
  • Integration testing
  • System / end-to-end testing
  • Regression testing
• Ensure test strategy is documented and approved prior to development
• Automation & DevOps Integration
  • Drive test automation integrated into GitLab pipelines:
  • Automated unit tests
  • Regression test suites
  • Pipeline-based validation and quality gates
• Enforce shift-left testing practices across the team
• Quality Engineering Standards
  • Establish and enforce:
  • Code quality standards (static analysis, peer review)
  • Test coverage thresholds
  • Defect lifecycle discipline and root cause analysis
  • Ensure test data strategy and environment stability
• Release & Production Quality
  • Define release validation criteria:
  • Pre-production validation
  • Post-deployment verification
  • Rework and regression failures

6. Engineering Excellence & Automation

• Minimize manual batch/process work
• Automate validation, deployments, and monitoring
• Cycle time
• Deployment consistency
• Operational resilience
• Lead and mentor engineers across:
  • Mainframe technologies
  • DevOps practices
  • Modern integration stacks
• Build culture of:
  • Accountability and ownership
  • Peer review and quality discipline
  • Continuous learning and upskilling

8. Stakeholder & Delivery Management

• Translate business requirements into scalable technical solutions
  • Backlog prioritization
  • Sprint execution
  • Delivery commitments
• Ensure adherence to:
  • SDLC controls
  • Audit and compliance requirements

9. Strategic Leadership & Technology Direction (NEW)

• Define and drive technology strategy for mainframe modernization and hybrid architecture (Mainframe + ZConnect + ZDIH + DevOps)
• Align engineering roadmap with business priorities, cost optimization, and risk reduction goals
• Identify and execute opportunities to:
  • Simplify legacy processes
  • Improve platform scalability and resiliency
• Lead transformation initiatives from:
  • Batch/report-driven systems API-driven and data-integrated platforms
• Influence cross-team and enterprise decisions on standards, tooling, and architecture

10. Metrics-Driven Engineering & Execution Discipline (NEW)

• Establish and enforce a metrics-driven operating model across engineering and delivery
• Define, track, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs), including:
  • Sprint predictability (≥90% commitment adherence)
  • Deployment frequency and lead time
  • Defect density and production leakage
  • Capacity planning
  • Prioritization and backlog management
• Implement regular performance reviews (team and system-level) using measurable outcomes
• Ensure all initiatives have:
  • Clear success criteria
  • Defined milestones
  • Traceable outcomes aligned to OKRs

Required Qualifications

Technical Skills

• Strong experience in Mainframe technologies
• Experience with:
  • ZDIH / data integration / hybrid architectures
  • GitLab CI/CD pipelines, branching, release management
  • DevOps practices
• Experience integrating with:

Leadership & Delivery Skills

• Proven experience leading engineering teams / technical squads
• Strong understanding of:
  • Agile / Scrum
  • SDLC governance
• Ability to:
  • Balance legacy stability and modernization

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in solution architecture / system design leadership