Mainframe z/VM & Linux Engineer

Akaasa Technologies; United States; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Akaasa Technologies is seeking a seasoned Mainframe z/VM and Linux on IBM Z Engineer to join a hybrid team. You will install, configure, and maintain z/VM systems, manage VM lifecycles, and administer security controls. The role covers Linux on Z administration, uptime monitoring, and support across multiple sites in the US.

Responsibilities include automation, DevOps collaboration, and ensuring compliance with enterprise standards. 6-month contract-to-hire with potential full-time opportunity.

Qualifications

• Experience with IBM z/VM (6.x/7.x) and Linux on IBM Z (RHEL/SUSE/Ubuntu).
• Hands-on VM provisioning, DirMaint and VMSES/E administration.
• Knowledge of HMC operations and IPL processes.
• Familiarity with RACF security and OS hardening.
• Strong troubleshooting across z/VM and Linux systems.
• Experience with monitoring tooling and automation scripting.

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, and maintain IBM z/VM systems.
• Manage lifecycle of virtual machines: provisioning, scaling, decommissioning.
• Administer z/VM components including DirMaint and RACF.
• Apply system maintenance: RSUs, PTFs, APARs, updates; perform IPLs.
• Operate Linux on Z: install, patch, manage RHEL/SUSE/Ubuntu workloads.
• Monitor performance, analyze logs, ensure stability and security.
• Provide L2/L3 support for production environments.
• Automate provisioning and operational tasks with scripting and tooling.
• Support DevOps initiatives: CI/CD, container workloads (Docker/Kubernetes).
• Maintain governance docs and compliance with enterprise standards.

Skills

IBM z/VM

Linux on IBM Z

Virtualization

HMC operations

RACF for z/VM security

Troubleshooting

Automation scripting

Monitoring & performance

Cloud/hybrid exposure

Container workloads (Linux on Z)

Tools

DirMaint

VMSES/E

Ansible

Puppet/Chef (conceptual)

Grafana

OMEGAMON

Shell scripting

Python

Kubernetes (optional)

Job description

Title: Mainframe z/VM & Linux Engineer
Location: Phoenix, AZ, Plano, TX, Charlotte, NC, Richmond, VA, Jacksonville, FL, Pennington, NJ and Chicago, IL (Hybrid 3days onsite, 2days WFH)
Duration: 6 months contract to hire
MOI: Skype

Need LinkedIn

Also looking for below job titles:

• Mainframe Dev & Deployment Tools Engineer
• Mainframe z/OS System Programmer
• Mainframe IMS System Programmer
• Mainframe DB2 Systems Programmer
• Mainframe IMS Application DBA
• Mainframe Logical Security Engineer
• AS400 /IBM i Infrastructure Analyst (Client - Client)

Overview

Responsibilities

z/VM Administration

• Install, configure, and maintain IBM z/VM systems
• Manage lifecycle of virtual machines (guests):
  • Provisioning
  • Scaling
  • Decommissioning
• Administer z/VM components such as:
  • DirMaint
  • VMSES/E
  • RACF for z/VM security
• Apply system maintenance:
  • RSUs, PTFs, APARs, and service updates
• Perform system IPLs and hardware configuration updates via HMC

Linux on Z Administration

• Install, configure, and maintain Linux distributions on IBM Z:
  • RHEL, SUSE, Ubuntu
• Support deployment and management of Linux workloads on z/VM
• Ensure system stability, performance, and security compliance
• Perform patching, upgrades, and vulnerability remediation
• Manage file systems, storage, and network configurations

Operations & Support

• Monitor system performance and availability:
  • CPU, memory, I/O utilization
  • Workload performance and capacity
• Troubleshoot and resolve system issues:
  • Performance bottlenecks
  • VM failures
  • Linux system errors
• Analyze logs and system metrics to ensure operational stability
• Provide L2/L3 support for production environments

Automation & Integration

• Automate provisioning and operational tasks using:
  • REXX, Shell scripting, Python (preferred)
• Support DevOps and integration initiatives:
  • CI/CD pipelines
  • Container platforms (Docker, Kubernetes optional)
• Assist application teams with deploying workloads on Linux on Z

Security & Compliance

• Implement and maintain security controls:
  • RACF integration for z/VM
  • Linux OS hardening
• Ensure compliance with enterprise standards and audit requirements
• Support vulnerability management and patch remediation

Governance & Documentation

• Maintain system documentation and configuration records
• Ensure all changes follow:
  • ITIL / ServiceNow change management processes
• Support DR planning and execution for z/VM and Linux systems

Required Qualifications

• Strong experience with:
  • IBM z/VM (z/VM 6.x / 7.x)
  • Linux on IBM Z (RHEL/SUSE/Ubuntu)
• Hands-on experience with:
  • Virtual machine provisioning and management
  • VM directory management (DirMaint)
  • System maintenance (RSUs, APARs, VMSES/E)
• Knowledge of:
  • HMC operations and IPL processes
  • Storage (DASD) and networking on z systems
• Strong troubleshooting skills across:
  • z/VM system issues
  • Linux OS performance and configuration

Preferred Experience

• Knowledge of Sysplex, networking, and storage integration:
  • Experience with Monitoring tools (e.g., Grafana, OMEGAMON) and Automation tooling (Ansible, scripting)
  • Exposure to Cloud integration / hybrid environments and Container workloads on Linux on Z