Senior Mainframe Developer / COBOL Senior Consultant

Creative Solutions Services, LLC; Trenton (NJ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Creative Solutions Services, LLC in Trenton, NJ is seeking a Senior Mainframe Developer / COBOL Senior Consultant for an onsite, 2+ month contract. You will evaluate existing systems, design and implement changes, and support production environments on the mainframe.

The role requires deep COBOL, NATURAL, JCL, and ADABAS experience and involves design, development, testing, documentation, and collaboration with cross‑functional teams to modernize legacy applications.

Qualifications

• Advanced COBOL experience in enterprise mainframe environments.
• Strong expertise in JCL development and job scheduling.
• Extensive NATURAL programming experience.
• Working knowledge of ADABAS database architecture.
• Experience analyzing and maintaining large legacy mainframe codebases.
• Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills for batch and online applications.
• Excellent documentation and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with multiple technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Participate in development efforts supporting multiple legacy mainframe applications.
• Analyze existing legacy systems and provide code walkthroughs, logic analysis, and technical documentation to ITS development teams.
• Design, develop, modify, test, and maintain COBOL and NATURAL programs, along with associated JCL jobs, based on functional specifications and enhancement requests.
• Perform ongoing maintenance and enhancements to batch and online mainframe applications.
• Troubleshoot and resolve production issues, job failures, and system abends, including root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Analyze ADABAS database structures, files, and access methods to support application development and system integration.
• Develop and maintain data feeds, file layouts, and interface processes between legacy systems and modernized ITS components.
• Participate in system design reviews, technical planning sessions, and code reviews.
• Produce and maintain technical documentation, including program specifications, data definitions, job flows, and system architecture documentation.
• Support system testing, integration testing, and user acceptance testing UAT.
• Implement best practices for mainframe development, including coding standards, version control, and change management.
• Assist with performance tuning and optimization of batch jobs, database access, and program execution.
• Provide production support for mission‑critical applications and collaborate closely with analysts, architects, and development teams.

Skills

COBOL

JCL

Natural

ADABAS

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Communication

Independent work

Job description

Title: Senior Mainframe Developer / COBOL Senior Consultant

Location: Trenton, NJ

Duration: 2+ Months

Note: Local Candidates only. Candidates should have strong background in Cobol, ADABAS, and Natural. strong in JCL as well.

Job Description

We are looking for a Senior Mainframe Developer / COBOL Senior Consultant to evaluate existing systems and user needs in order to analyze, design, recommend, and implement information system changes. This position will be a full-time contract role and is onsite in Trenton, NJ.

• Participate in development efforts supporting the project involving multiple legacy mainframe applications
• Analyze existing legacy systems and provide code walkthroughs, logic analysis, and technical documentation to ITS development teams
• Design, develop, modify, test, and maintain COBOL and NATURAL programs, along with associated JCL jobs, based on functional specifications and enhancement requests
• Perform ongoing maintenance and enhancements to batch and online mainframe applications
• Troubleshoot and resolve production issues, job failures, and system abends, including root cause analysis and corrective actions
• Analyze ADABAS database structures, files, and access methods to support application development and system integration
• Develop and maintain data feeds, file layouts, and interface processes between legacy systems and modernized ITS components
• Participate in system design reviews, technical planning sessions, and code reviews
• Produce and maintain technical documentation, including program specifications, data definitions, job flows, and system architecture documentation
• Support system testing, integration testing, and user acceptance testing UAT
• Implement best practices for mainframe development, including coding standards, version control, and change management
• Assist with performance tuning and optimization of batch jobs, database access, and program execution
• Provide production support for mission‑critical applications and collaborate closely with analysts, architects, and development teams

Required

• Advanced experience with COBOL programming in enterprise mainframe environments
• Strong expertise in JCL development and job scheduling
• Extensive experience with NATURAL programming
• Working knowledge of ADABAS database architecture and file structures
• Experience analyzing and maintaining large legacy mainframe codebases
• Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills for batch and online applications
• Experience with system integration, data interfaces, and file transfer processes
• Proficiency with mainframe utilities, debugging tools, and job monitoring toolsStrong documentation and communication skills
• Ability to work independently while coordinating with multiple technical teams

Preferred

• Experience supporting taxation or government revenue systems
• Familiarity with CICS and online transaction processing environments
• Experience with data migration or modernization projects involving legacy mainframe applications
• Knowledge of mainframe security, scheduling systems, and source code management tools
• Experience working within large‑scale enterprise or government IT environments

Physical Demands

• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA and other federal, state, and local standards
• Sedentary work that involves sitting or remaining stationary most of the time with occasional need to move around the office to attend meetings
• Ability to conduct repetitive tasks on a computer, utilizing a mouse, keyboard, and monitor