Sr Systems Engineer

Talentify; Jacksonville (FL); Remote; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

ARC Group seeks an experienced Senior z/OS Storage Administrator to design, manage, and optimize enterprise storage environments supporting mission-critical mainframe workloads. This role focuses on IBM DS8950 storage, TS7700 VTL, and SMS configurations for high availability.

The ideal candidate will have 5-8 years of hands-on z/OS storage experience, strong knowledge of DFSMS/HSM/RMM/VSAM, and expertise in replication, RMF/SMF monitoring, and DR testing.

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of hands-on experience in z/OS storage administration
• Experience with IBM DS8950 series storage
• Experience with TS7700 Virtual Tape Library (VTL) systems
• Deep knowledge of z/OS storage concepts: DFSMS, HSM, RMM, VSAM, catalog management, Thin Provisioning
• Experience with replication technologies: Metro Mirror, Global Mirror
• Proficiency in performance monitoring and tuning tools: RMF, SMF, OMEGAMON or equivalent
• Strong understanding of JCL, TSO/ISPF, and mainframe utilities
• Experience with disaster recovery planning and testing
• Ability to analyze and resolve complex technical issues independently
• Strong documentation and communication skills

Responsibilities

• Administer and support z/OS storage subsystems, including DASD and virtual tape environments
• Manage and optimize storage on IBM DS8950 arrays and TS7700 Virtual Tape Libraries
• Configure and maintain SMS, including Client routines, storage groups, and policies
• Perform capacity planning, performance analysis, and tuning of storage environments
• Implement and maintain disaster recovery and business continuity solutions
• Monitor storage health and performance using RMF, SMF, and vendor tools
• Lead storage-related projects, including hardware upgrades, migrations, and refreshes
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex storage issues across hardware and software layers
• Ensure compliance with organizational security, audit, and data governance requirements
• Collaborate with systems programmers, DBAs, and application teams to support workload requirements
• Develop and maintain documentation, standards, and operational procedures
• Provide off-hours support and participate in on-call rotation as required

Skills

z/OS storage

IBM DS8950

TS7700 VTL

DFSMS

HSM

VSAM

JCL

TSO/ISPF

DR planning

Mainframe utilities

Metro Mirror

Global Mirror

RMF

SMF

OMEGAMON

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT

Tools

RMF

SMF

OMEGAMON

Job description

SYSTEMS ENGINEER (Z/OS STORAGE) – REMOTE

ARC Group has an immediate opportunity for a Z/OS Storage Administrator! This position is 100% remote. This is starting out as a contract position running through January 2027 with potential to extend longer or possibly convert to FTE. This is a fantastic opportunity to join an established and well-respected organization offering tremendous career growth potential.

At ARC Group, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We believe that diverse perspectives lead to better innovation and problem-solving. As an organization, we embrace diversity in all its forms and encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply.

100% REMOTE!

Candidates must have permanent work authorization and work for any employer without sponsorship now or in the future. Third party candidates are not eligible for this role.

Description

Seeking an experienced Senior z/OS Storage Administrator to design, manage, and optimize enterprise storage environments supporting mission-critical mainframe workloads. This role requires deep expertise in IBM z/OS storage architecture, with a focus on high-performance, high-availability environments leveraging IBM DS8950 disk systems and TS7700 virtual tape solutions.

Serve as a key role in ensuring data integrity, performance, and resilience while supporting ongoing modernization and capacity planning initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Administer and support z/OS storage subsystems, including DASD and virtual tape environments
• Manage and optimize storage on IBM DS8950 arrays and TS7700 Virtual Tape Libraries
• Configure and maintain SMS, including Client routines, storage groups, and policies
• Perform capacity planning, performance analysis, and tuning of storage environments
• Implement and maintain disaster recovery and business continuity solutions
• Monitor storage health and performance using RMF, SMF, and vendor tools
• Lead storage-related projects, including hardware upgrades, migrations, and refreshes
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex storage issues across hardware and software layers
• Ensure compliance with organizational security, audit, and data governance requirements
• Collaborate with systems programmers, DBAs, and application teams to support workload requirements
• Develop and maintain documentation, standards, and operational procedures
• Provide off-hours support and participate in on-call rotation as required

Required Qualifications

• 5-8 years of hands-on experience in z/OS storage administration
• Strong expertise with IBM DS8000 series, specifically DS8950
• Experience with IBM TS7700 Virtual Tape Library (VTL) systems
• Deep knowledge of z/OS storage concepts: DFSMS, HSM, RMM, VSAM, catalog management, Thin Provisioning
• Experience with replication technologies (e.g., Metro Mirror, Global Mirror)
• Proficiency in performance monitoring and tuning tools (RMF, SMF, OMEGAMON or equivalent)
• Strong understanding of JCL, TSO/ISPF, and mainframe utilities
• Experience with disaster recovery planning and testing
• Ability to analyze and resolve complex technical issues independently
• Strong documentation and communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with GDPS or similar enterprise DR orchestration solutions
• Familiarity with z/OS UNIX System Services (USS) and storage considerations
• Knowledge of encryption, key management, and data protection technologies
• Experience with SAS and MXG
• Experience with automation tools
• Exposure to hybrid cloud or mainframe integration initiatives

Soft Skills

• Strong problem-solving and analytical thinking
• Ability to lead initiatives and mentor junior staff
• Effective communication with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Detail-oriented with a focus on reliability and operational excellence

Required Experience

5-8 years of related work experience or equivalent combination of transferable experience demonstrating proficiency and experience in design, implementation, monitoring and troubleshooting technology

Required Education

Related Bachelor's degree in an IT related field or relevant work experience

At ARC Group, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and fostering an inclusive work environment. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other protected status. If you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Position offered with no fee to candidate.