Senior Mainframe Systems Engineer (z/OS)

NeerInfo Solutions Pvt. Ltd.; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

NeerInfo Solutions Pvt. Ltd. seeks an senior IBM Z mainframe systems programmer to deliver rapid, reliable z/OS support for mission-critical environments. The role focuses on stability, security, and performance across customer, billing, and enterprise apps, with leadership in upgrades and automation.

The candidate will mentor engineers, drive ITIL-compliant change processes, and participate in on-call rotations, delivering expert troubleshooting and robust documentation.

Qualifications

• :15+ years of hands-on experience in IBM z/OS systems programming in large enterprises.

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, maintain, and upgrade IBM z/OS operating systems and associated system software.
• Perform software installation, maintenance, and servicing using SMP/E, including PTF application and management.
• Manage independent software vendor (ISV) products and related system maintenance activities.
• Maintain and troubleshoot PARMLIB, JES2, SDSF, IPL procedures, and other core z/OS components.
• Ensure system reliability, availability, and operational stability across enterprise mainframe environments.
• Lead or support IBM Z hardware refresh initiatives and z/OS upgrade projects.
• Work with IODF, HCD, LPAR configuration, and system initialization procedures.
• Plan and execute IPL activities, maintenance windows, and infrastructure changes.
• Coordinate upgrade activities with infrastructure, application, storage, networking, and operations teams.
• Validate system functionality and stability following upgrades and hardware changes.
• Provide advanced technical support for complex mainframe incidents and production issues.
• Perform dump analysis, root-cause analysis, and problem determination.
• Analyze SMF and RMF data to identify bottlenecks and capacity constraints.
• Participate in on-call rotations and resolve critical production issues within SLAs.
• Follow ITIL incident, problem, and change management processes.
• Monitor, analyze, and optimize mainframe performance across workloads.
• Identify resource constraints and recommend system-level improvements.
• Support capacity planning and performance forecasting.
• Collaborate with application and infrastructure teams to improve efficiency.
• Develop and maintain automation using REXX, Ansible for z/OS, Zowe, or similar tools.
• Automate repetitive system administration, maintenance, monitoring, and operational activities.
• Improve platform visibility through monitoring, reporting, and automation.
• Support modernization initiatives involving z/OS Connect, APIs, CI/CD pipelines for z/OS, and hybrid cloud integration.
• Execute system changes through change control procedures.
• Support compliance with NERC CIP and other security standards.
• Maintain accurate system documentation and runbooks.
• Provide knowledge transfer and mentor junior engineers.
• Communicate technical issues clearly to infrastructure leadership.

Skills

IBM z/OS systems programming

z/OS administration

Mainframe performance tuning

Production support

Automation (REXX/Ansible/Zowe)

Troubleshooting & incident management

ITIL processes

Mentoring

Security/compliance (NERC CIP)

Tools

SMP/E

JES2

SDSF

PTF management

Zowe

REXX

Ansible for z/OS

IBM NetView

IBM OMEGAMON

z/OS Connect

Job description

Duration: 12+ Months Contract

Location: 100% Remote

Job Summary-

The ideal candidate will have extensive hands-on experience in IBM Z mainframe systems programming, z/OS administration, platform upgrades, system software maintenance, performance tuning, and production support.

The candidate will be responsible for maintaining the stability, availability, security, and performance of mission-critical mainframe environments supporting customer, billing, financial, and enterprise applications.

This role requires a senior-level technical professional who can independently troubleshoot complex system issues, lead or support hardware and operating system upgrades, implement automation, maintain technical documentation, and mentor other engineers.

Experience working in regulated enterprise environments, particularly utilities, banking, insurance, or government, is highly desirable.

Required Qualifications

• 15+ years of hands-on experience in IBM z/OS systems programming within large enterprise environments.
• Strong expertise in IBM Z mainframe architecture and z/OS internals.
• Extensive experience with SMP/E, software maintenance, PTF management, and ISV product servicing.
• Strong working knowledge of PARMLIB, JES2, SDSF, IPL processes, and core z/OS system administration.
• Proven experience supporting z/OS operating system upgrades and IBM Z hardware refreshes, including z15, z16, or z17 environments.
• Practical experience with IODF/HCD, LPAR configuration, and system initialization planning.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem determination skills, including dump analysis and SMF/RMF performance analysis.
• Deep technical expertise in at least one of the following areas:
• CICS
• DB2
• IBM MQ
• Mainframe storage and DFSMS
• Mainframe security, including RACF, ACF2, or Top Secret
• Experience supporting mission-critical production systems and participating in on-call rotations.
• Knowledge of ITIL incident management, problem management, and change control processes.
• Strong documentation, communication, troubleshooting, and stakeholder management skills.
• Must possess valid U.S. work authorization and be able to pass a comprehensive background check and personnel risk assessment.

Key Responsibilities

• Install, configure, maintain, and upgrade IBM z/OS operating systems and associated system software.
• Perform software installation, maintenance, and servicing using SMP/E, including PTF application and management.
• Manage independent software vendor (ISV) products and related system maintenance activities.
• Maintain and troubleshoot PARMLIB, JES2, SDSF, IPL procedures, and other core z/OS components.
• Ensure system reliability, availability, and operational stability across enterprise mainframe environments.

2. Mainframe Hardware and Operating System Upgrades

• Lead or support IBM Z hardware refresh initiatives and z/OS upgrade projects.
• Work with IODF, HCD, LPAR configuration, and system initialization procedures.
• Plan and execute IPL activities, system maintenance windows, and infrastructure changes.
• Coordinate upgrade activities with infrastructure, application, storage, networking, and operations teams.
• Validate system functionality and stability following upgrades and hardware changes.

3. Production Support and Problem Resolution

• Provide advanced technical support for complex mainframe incidents and production issues.
• Perform dump analysis, root-cause analysis, and problem determination.
• Analyze SMF and RMF data to identify performance bottlenecks, resource utilization issues, and capacity constraints.
• Participate in on-call rotations and resolve critical production issues within established service-level expectations.
• Follow ITIL-based incident, problem, and change management processes.

4. Performance Tuning and Capacity Planning

• Monitor, analyze, and optimize mainframe performance across CICS, DB2, MQ, batch processing, and related workloads.
• Identify resource constraints and recommend system-level improvements.
• Support capacity planning and performance forecasting for growing business and application workloads.
• Collaborate with application and infrastructure teams to improve system efficiency and operational resilience.

5. Mainframe Automation and Modernization

• Develop and maintain automation using REXX, Ansible for z/OS, Zowe, or similar tools.
• Automate repetitive system administration, maintenance, monitoring, and operational activities.
• Improve platform visibility through monitoring, reporting, and operational automation.
• Support modernization initiatives involving z/OS Connect, APIs, CI/CD pipelines for z/OS, and hybrid cloud integration where applicable.

6. Security, Compliance, and Change Management

• Execute system changes through documented, reviewed, and approved change control procedures.
• Support compliance requirements associated with NERC CIP and other applicable enterprise security standards.
• Follow established security, access control, audit, and operational risk management procedures.
• Maintain accurate system documentation, change records, and operational evidence.

7. Documentation, Leadership, and Knowledge Transfer

• Create and maintain technical runbooks, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and system documentation.
• Provide knowledge transfer and technical guidance to internal and co-sourced engineering teams.
• Mentor junior engineers and help improve the overall technical capabilities of the team.
• Communicate technical issues, operational risks, recommendations, and remediation plans clearly to infrastructure leadership.\

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in regulated industries, including electric utilities, banking, insurance, or government.
• Knowledge of NERC CIP compliance requirements and security controls in critical infrastructure environments.
• Experience with mainframe networking technologies, including:
• VTAM/SNA
• OSA
• Familiarity with mainframe automation and monitoring tools such as:
• IBM NetView
• IBM OMEGAMON
• Equivalent monitoring and automation platforms
• Experience with REXX, Ansible for z/OS, Zowe, and operational automation.
• Exposure to z/OS Connect, API integration, CI/CD for z/OS, and hybrid cloud modernization.
• Experience working in co-sourced or outsourced delivery models with multiple technical teams and service providers.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring engineers and developing operational documentation and knowledge-transfer materials.