Systems Programmer Analyst - Mainframe Modernization

Ledgent Technology; Pasadena (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 103,000; Full time

Job summary

Ledgent Technology is seeking an experienced Systems Programmer Analyst to support a large-scale mainframe modernization initiative. The role focuses on analyzing legacy applications, validating data, and supporting migration from mainframe to modern platforms.

The ideal candidate will have strong SQL and data validation capabilities, and experience with COBOL-based environments. Preference for candidates with prior mainframe modernization project experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Information Systems, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in systems analysis, application support, data analysis, software development, or related technical disciplines.
• Experience participating in a mainframe migration, modernization, conversion, or transformation initiative.
• Strong systems analysis background, including requirements gathering, process analysis, documentation, testing support, and implementation support.
• Advanced SQL skills, including writing, troubleshooting, optimizing, and validating complex queries and scripts.
• Experience analyzing relational databases, source-to-target mappings, data quality issues, and batch processing logic.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and documentation skills.
• Ability to perform data reconciliations, impact assessments, and business rule validation.

Responsibilities

• Analyze business and technical requirements and translate them into detailed functional and technical specifications.
• Perform impact assessments across applications, databases, batch jobs, interfaces, reports, and operational processes.
• Evaluate and document dependencies within COBOL, JCL, CICS, and DB2 environments.
• Conduct data comparison, reconciliation, and validation activities between legacy and target systems.
• Support parallel-run testing and migration readiness efforts to ensure accuracy and consistency of business processes and data.
• Develop and execute SQL queries to investigate data issues, validate results, and support system analysis.
• Analyze database structures, source-to-target mappings, business rules, and application logic.
• Create and maintain requirements documentation, process flows, test scenarios, validation results, and implementation support materials.
• Partner with business stakeholders, developers, QA teams, DBAs, and project teams to support successful delivery.
• Assist with testing, defect analysis, production support, implementation planning, and post-deployment validation.
• Communicate findings, risks, recommendations, and remediation strategies to stakeholders.
• Utilize modern AI-enabled tools to improve analysis, documentation, and validation processes where appropriate.

Skills

SQL

Data analysis

Requirements gathering

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Information Systems, or a related field

Tools

COBOL

JCL

CICS

DB2

Job description

Salary: USD65 - USD75 per hour

Location: Hybrid (2 days onsite, 3 days remote)

Duration: Multi-Year Contract

Compensation: Up to $75/hour

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Systems Programmer Analyst to support a large-scale mainframe modernization initiative. This role will focus on analyzing legacy applications, performing impact assessments, validating data and business processes, and supporting migration efforts from a mainframe environment to modern platforms.

The ideal candidate will have a blend of systems analysis expertise, strong SQL and data validation capabilities, and experience working within COBOL-based mainframe environments. Candidates who have participated in mainframe migration or modernization projects will be highly preferred.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze business and technical requirements and translate them into detailed functional and technical specifications.


• Perform impact assessments across applications, databases, batch jobs, interfaces, reports, and operational processes.


• Evaluate and document dependencies within COBOL, JCL, CICS, and DB2 environments.


• Conduct data comparison, reconciliation, and validation activities between legacy and target systems.


• Support parallel-run testing and migration readiness efforts to ensure accuracy and consistency of business processes and data.


• Develop and execute SQL queries to investigate data issues, validate results, and support system analysis.


• Analyze database structures, source-to-target mappings, business rules, and application logic.


• Create and maintain requirements documentation, process flows, test scenarios, validation results, and implementation support materials.


• Partner with business stakeholders, developers, QA teams, DBAs, and project teams to support successful delivery.


• Assist with testing, defect analysis, production support, implementation planning, and post-deployment validation.


• Communicate findings, risks, recommendations, and remediation strategies to stakeholders.


• Utilize modern AI-enabled tools to improve analysis, documentation, and validation processes where appropriate.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Information Systems, or a related field.


• 3+ years of experience in systems analysis, application support, data analysis, software development, or related technical disciplines.


• Experience participating in a mainframe migration, modernization, conversion, or transformation initiative.


• Strong systems analysis background, including requirements gathering, process analysis, documentation, testing support, and implementation support.


• Advanced SQL skills, including writing, troubleshooting, optimizing, and validating complex queries and scripts.


• Experience analyzing relational databases, source-to-target mappings, data quality issues, and batch processing logic.


• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and documentation skills.


• Ability to perform data reconciliations, impact assessments, and business rule validation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with COBOL, JCL, CICS, and DB2.


• Experience supporting legacy platform modernization projects.


• Background in automated data comparison, parity testing, and migration validation processes.


• Exposure to application conversion, transformation, or modernization initiatives.


• Programming or scripting experience in enterprise environments.


• Familiarity with AI-assisted productivity, development, or analysis tools.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will bring a combination of:

• Direct mainframe migration or modernization experience


• COBOL/JCL/CICS/DB2 analysis capabilities


• Strong systems analysis and requirements-gathering skills


• Advanced SQL, data validation, and parallel-run testing expertise