Z/OS Admin

TechDigital Group; Frisco (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

TechDigital Group is seeking an experienced mainframe System Programmer to troubleshoot complex z/OS environments, perform installation, configuration, and migration tasks, and ensure the highest uptime per SLA. The role emphasizes root-cause analysis, documentation, and ongoing improvements.

The position requires deep knowledge of z/OS components, security (RACF), and workload management, with a focus on reliability and proactive problem resolution for large-scale enterprise systems.

Qualifications

• Total experience 9–13 years in System Programming.
• More than 9 years in mainframe system programming.
• Strong understanding of z/OS services and JES concepts.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot technical issues and ensure successful installation, configuration, and migration.
• Maintain SLA adherence and monitor system uptime.
• Perform root-cause analysis and document findings.

Skills

z/OS expert

JCL/REXX/CLIST

RACF security

IMS/MQ

CICS/DB2

SMP/E

JES concepts

PARMLIB/JES customization

USS management

Mainframe performance tuning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent

Tools

CA-View

CA-1 Tape Management

BMC InControl/CA-7

CA-MICS/SAS MXG

Job description

Responsibilities:

• Troubleshooting technical issues
• Responsible for successful completion of Installation, configuration and migration
• Ensure maximum uptime according to the SLA
• Improves and maintains customer and employee satisfaction
• Perform problem determination followed by root cause analysis and documentation
• Implement changes to z/OS and installed SW followed by documentation
• Participate in analyzing, planning and implementation of upgrades to z/OS and installed SW
• New products installation, testing and customization
• Working with incident and change management tools
• Understand and implement specific customer requirements
• Perform root cause analysis
• Defining processes and ensuring that the processes are adhered to
• Responsible for strategizing a backup plan and test plan for failure scenario
• Monitoring and maintaining SLA requirements by the team members
• Planning Backup/Restoration Strategy for 24x7 operation support
• Testing / Auditing/processes as required from time to time
• Identify Skill gaps and plan for training / knowledge updating

Skill set Requirements

Mandatory:

• Fully understand z/OS services structure, JES concepts, parallel sysplex/GDPS, catalog management
• PARMLIB configuration and JES customization
• Knowledge of JCL, REXX, CLIST and Modify Assembler EXITS
• Knowledge of z/OS HW, LPAR, HMC
• IMS/MQ Series (Web Sphere MQ)
• RACF experience
• Knowledge of installing and supporting few commonly used ISV products like CA-View, Tape management tool (CA-1), Scheduling tools (BMC Incontrol, CA-7) etc.,
• Knowledge of USS management
• Capable of installing regular maintenance (RSUs)
• Supporting any hardware or software upgrade in the environment
• Capable of Installing/upgrading CICS and related products on a mainframe
• Maintain reliability, availability of CICS systems software
• Good knowledge in usage of transactions like CEMT, CEDA etc.,
• Good Knowledge of SMP/E, SQL, DB2 online and offline utilities, ZPARMS, DB2 logs and BSDS, DB2 Commands, DDF etc.
• Install and use performance monitoring tools and products(like SAS, MXG, CA-MICS, Strobe and the Omegamon products)
• Expertise in tuning and debugging performance problems for z/OS systems including application workloads
• Perform problem diagnostics and resolution. Monitor system performance and tune when required
• Well versed in storage capacity planning and configuration and should have good familiarity with typical z/OS application performance analysis
• Capable of z/OS Performance Analysis using various tools such as IBM's RMF, SMF and subsystem analysis tools
• Capable of Installing, Customizing and maintaining IBM and other ISV products related to Automations

Good to Have:

• Experience in mainframe automation and Performance & Capacity Management will be an added advantage
• Experience in Customization of ISV/OEM products used for Automations and monitoring tools like Netview, OPS/MVS, SA z/OS, Tivoli Suite of monitoring and automation products, BMC AO, TEP, Control-O etc
• SAS Programming Skills, Retrofit SAS Code for MXG application post Product Upgrade.

Soft Skills/Other skills

• Excellent communication and conversation skills (Verbal and Written). Customer facing.
• Good documentation skills
• Good working knowledge of MS OFFICE (Including MS Project and Visio)
• Should have a good customer handling skills
• Able to handle unforeseen situations
• High level of acceptance
• Can drive HCL's value and its methodology

Years of Experience

• Total: 9 to 13 years of experience
• Relevant: More than 9 years of experience in System Programming