Systems Administrator - IBM iSeries

Forward Air Corp.; Coppell (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Stock purchase program

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Forward Air Corp. is seeking a Systems Administrator to manage the IBM iSeries (AS/400) environment and related infrastructure. You will oversee upgrades, patches, backup and recovery, security, and performance optimization to ensure high availability for critical business applications.

The role requires extensive IBM i expertise, OS/400 knowledge, and collaboration with Infrastructure, Engineering, and business teams. This is a 100% on-site position based in Dallas, TX.

Qualifications

• Administer IBM iSeries (AS/400) environment
• Maintain system availability and performance
• Apply patches and upgrades with minimal disruption
• Configure backups, recovery, and DR procedures
• Manage security controls and user access
• Collaborate with IT teams on projects
• Troubleshoot IBM i-related issues

Responsibilities

• Administer IBM iSeries hardware, OS, and DB2/400 components
• Monitor health, capacity, CPU, memory, and disk usage
• Perform OS updates, patches, and PTFs
• Test and manage backup/recovery procedures
• Ensure data integrity and business continuity
• Maintain security and user access controls
• Provide Hansen support for IBM i-based apps
• Collaborate with developers and business teams on improvements
• Participate in on-call rotations as needed
• Document configurations and procedures

Skills

IBM i administration

System administration

DB2/400

Security management

Scripting: CL/SQL

Performance tuning

Backup and recovery

OS/400 knowledge

Education

HS Diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

IBM Navigator for i

IBM Operations Navigator

Job description

• Locations 3200 OLYMPUS BOULEVARD, Dallas, TX, 75019, US
• Job Category Corporate: Individual Contributors
• Job Category Information Technology
• Job Function Infrastructure

Job Description

The Systems Administrator - IBM iSeries/AS400 is responsible for the administration, maintenance, security, and optimization of the organization's IBM i (AS/400) environment, and its connected business applications and infrastructure, to ensure maximum system availability, reliability, and performance. They manage system upgrades, patching, backup and recovery processes, performance monitoring, and security administration while maintaining adherence to organizational standards and best practices. Working closely with Infrastructure, Engineering, and business teams, they help resolve system issues, support strategic initiatives, and contribute to ongoing operational improvements.

Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain the IBM iSeries (AS/400) environment, including hardware, IBM i operating systems, DB2/400 databases, and related infrastructure components.
• Monitor system health, performance, capacity, CPU utilization, memory usage, and disk consumption to ensure optimal performance and availability.
• Perform system upgrades, operating system updates, patches, PTF installations, and software deployments while minimizing business disruption.
• Configure, manage, and test backup, recovery, and disaster recovery procedures to ensure business continuity and data integrity.
• Execute regular backup and restoration activities and validate recovery readiness for critical business systems.
• Create, maintain, and administer user profiles, authorities, and security controls in accordance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor security logs, investigate vulnerabilities, and collaborate with internal stakeholders to remediate security-related issues.
• Conduct performance tuning activities including workload management, job scheduling, memory optimization, storage management, and system balancing.
• Implement and maintain monitoring tools and processes to proactively identify performance bottlenecks and operational risks.
• Provide technical support for IBM iSeries-based applications, partnering with developers and business teams to resolve issues and optimize application performance.
• Troubleshoot hardware, software, operating system, database, and network-related issues affecting the IBM i environment.
• Maintain accurate documentation of system configurations, procedures, backup schedules, recovery plans, and operational standards.
• Generate system performance and capacity reports to support planning, forecasting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with cross-functional IT teams on IBM i-related projects, including migrations, upgrades, integrations, and new implementations.
• Participate in on-call support rotations as needed to address critical system issues outside normal business hours.
• All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma or GED equivalent required; Undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field preferred.
• Certification/Licensure: IBM i administration certifications, including IBM Certified System Administrator credentials, are preferred but not required.
• Experience: 7+ years of hands-on experience administering IBM iSeries (AS/400) environments in a production setting.
• Strong experience with IBM i (OS/400), DB2/400, system administration, performance tuning, security management, backup and recovery, and troubleshooting.
• Proficiency with IBM i administration tools and utilities, including IBM Navigator for i, IBM Operations Navigator, and related platform management tools.
• Strong knowledge of IBM i hardware configurations, storage management, system architecture, and diagnostic procedures.
• Experience scripting and automating administrative processes using CL (Control Language), SQL, or comparable scripting technologies.
• Familiarity with modern integration technologies, including web services, APIs, and third-party solutions supporting IBM i environments.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated discretion and confidentiality in handling and protecting sensitive information.
• Technical: Proficient with common office technologies, including Windows PCs, Microsoft O365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and web conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.)
• Environment: Comfort commuting to/from and working in a 100% on-site setting (listed in this posting), with travel for related meetings/events.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Compensation: Competitive base pay based on experience, industry/geographic benchmarks and internal equity. Some positions may be eligible for incentive pay programs and/or equity-based incentives. Pay ranges published on job boards are not provided nor verified by the Company.
• Health: Medical and Pharmacy insurance; Health Savings Account (HSA); Vision; Dental; Life and Disability; Critical Illness; Accident Indemnity; Hospital Indemnity; On-demand telehealth via Teladoc; Employee Assistance Program (counseling and financial/lifestyle coaching).
• Wealth: 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match; Employee stock purchase program; Flexible Spending Account (FSA); Commuter Benefits; LegalEASE legal coverage.
• Time: 7 paid holidays and generous Paid Time Off (PTO) tiers ranging from 10-25 days annually.
• Culture: A collaborative, transformation-driven, solutions-first environment full of "can do" attitude and "will do" work ethic.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Agencies: The Company does not accept unsolicited outreach from third parties. Absent an agreement signed by internal Talent Acquisition and Procurement, and a documented request from Talent Acquisition to submit candidates for a specified requisition, we will not approve payments to any third party.
• Work Authorization: Within the United States, the Company is an E-Verify employer. Unless otherwise indicated, U.S.-based workers must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship, including but not limited to F-1, H-1, H-2, L, J, and TN visas, etc.
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI): The Company is proud to be an equal opportunity employer . Applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status.
• Reasonable Accommodations: Physical/mental requirements are listed only to identify where potential accommodations may be needed, not as qualification standards. In compliance with applicable laws and regulations (including ADA, ADEA, and FMLA), accommodations may be available to qualified individuals unable to perform essential duties without them. Additional requirements may apply to meet legal, regulatory, and Company standards.
• Recruitment Fraud: We will only contact you from @forwardair.com or @omnilogistics.com emails (system messages may come from @workflow.email.us-phoenix-1.ocs.oraclecloud.com). If reached via Indeed or LinkedIn, verify recruiters by reviewing their LinkedIn profiles. We will never request sensitive personal information outside secure systems, nor ask for purchases. Report suspected scams to the Federal Trade Commission and your state Attorney General .