z/OS System Programmer /Mainframe System Programmer

Pyramid Consulting, Inc; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 76,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Pyramid Consulting, Inc. has an immediate opening for a z/OS System Programmer in Saint Louis, MO. This is a 12+ months contract with remote options and potential for long-term engagement.

The role focuses on leading installation, tuning, and maintenance of z/OS environments, with emphasis on high availability and disaster recovery. The ideal candidate will bring 10+ years in z/OS system programming, hands-on expertise with MVS/JES2/Sysplex/LPAR, SMP/E, HCD/IODF, and ISV product maintenance,

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in z/OS system programming.
• Experience in enterprise mainframe environments (Banking/Insurance preferred).
• Strong knowledge of MVS, JES2, Sysplex, LPAR, SMP/E, and HCD/IODF.

Responsibilities

• Lead installation, customization, and maintenance of z/OS environments.
• Manage core components including MVS, JES2, Sysplex, and LPAR configurations.
• Administer and maintain HCD/IODF definitions for hardware and I/O configuration.
• Perform system-level tuning and optimization to ensure high availability and performance.
• Plan and execute z/OS upgrades, RSU maintenance, and patching cycles.
• Manage SMP/E for software installation, maintenance, and CSI handling.
• Oversee lifecycle management of ISV products, including upgrades and vendor coordination.
• Provide L3 support for critical incidents, ensuring timely resolution of Sev1/Sev2 issues.
• Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and implement preventive actions.
• Ensure adherence to SLA commitments and service quality standards.
• Support Disaster Recovery (DR) planning and execution, including drills and failover validation.
• Ensure system readiness for business continuity through Sysplex resilience and redundancy.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams for infrastructure risk mitigation.
• Drive automation initiatives to improve operational efficiency and reduce manual effort.
• Implement and maintain system automation frameworks for monitoring and recovery.

Job description

Immediate need for a talented z/OS System Programmer /Mainframe System Programmer. This is a 12+ Months Contract opportunity with long-term potential and is located in Saint Louis MO (Remote).

Job ID:26-16235

Pay Range: $55 - $60/hour. Employee benefits include, but are not limited to, health insurance (medical, dental, vision), 401(k) plan, and paid sick leave (depending on work location).

Key Responsibilities:

• System Programming & Platform Management
• Lead installation, customization, and maintenance of z/OS operating system environments
• Manage core components including MVS, JES2, Sysplex, and LPAR configurations
• Administer and maintain HCD/IODF definitions for hardware and I/O configuration
• Perform system-level tuning and optimization to ensure high availability and performance
• Maintenance & Upgrades
• Plan and execute z/OS upgrades, RSU maintenance, and patching cycles
• Manage SMP/E for software installation, maintenance, and CSI handling
• Oversee lifecycle management of ISV products, including upgrades and vendor coordination
• Incident & Problem Management
• Provide L3 support for critical incidents, ensuring timely resolution of Sev1/Sev2 issues
• Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and implement preventive actions
• Ensure adherence to SLA commitments and service quality standards
• High Availability, DR & Resilience
• Support Disaster Recovery (DR) planning and execution, including drills and failover validation
• Ensure system readiness for business continuity through Sysplex resilience and redundancy
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams for infrastructure risk mitigation
• Automation & Operational Excellence
• Drive automation initiatives to improve operational efficiency and reduce manual effort
• Implement and maintain system automation frameworks for monitoring and recovery
• Continuously improve processes aligned to ITIL best practices
• Leadership & Stakeholder Management
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior system programmers
• Collaborate with application teams, infrastructure teams, and vendors for solution delivery
• Participate in customer discussions, audits, and transformation initiatives

Key Requirements and Technology Experience:

• MVS, JES2
• Sysplex, LPAR
• HCD / IODF configuration
• SMP/E
• ISV Product Maintenance
• Disaster Recovery (DR) support
• System Automation tools/methodologies
• 10+ years of experience in z/OS system programming
• Experience in enterprise mainframe environments (Banking/Insurance preferred)
• Exposure to high-availability and mission-critical systems

Our client is a leading IT Industry and we are currently interviewing to fill this and other similar contract positions.

Pyramid Consulting, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.