Full Stack Developer (COBAL/PL1)

Sabenza IT & Recruitment; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Sabenza IT & Recruitment is seeking a Senior Expert Java Consultant in Pretoria to drive a Mainframe-to-Cloud migration, transforming legacy COBOL/PL1 into Java-based cloud solutions.

You will shape architecture, lead a technical team in an agile environment, and ensure scalable, cloud-ready upgrades across complex, large-scale systems.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in the relevant programming language and enterprise Java
• Experience with agile project delivery and leadership
• Familiarity with Jira/Confluence-based tooling and dev-ops practices

Responsibilities

• Lead Mainframe to Cloud migration initiatives for COBOL/PL1 to Java and cloud
• Plan, coordinate, and manage a technical team using agile practices
• Define modern architectures and oversee transition of legacy systems to scalable platforms

Skills

Senior Java consultant

Agile leadership

JIRA/Confluence

DevOps/ Biz DevOps

Transition management

Tools

X-Ray

Bitbucket

Job description

Pretoria, South Africa | Posted on 07/09/2026

Ready to turn decades-old mainframe technology into the future?

We’re looking for a Senior Expert Java Consultant to join a high-performing Mainframe-to-Cloud Migration team working on complex, large-scale technology transformation.

You’ll be at the heart of a major modernization journey, helping transform legacy COBOL and PL/1 applications into modern Java and cloud-based solutions.

This isn’t a "keep the lights on" role. You’ll be helping design how legacy systems evolve into modern, scalable, cloud-ready platforms.

Requirements

ESSENTIAL SKILLS:

• As a Senior Expert Level Java Consultant, you will be part of the Mainframe to Cloud Migration team responsible for transitioning legacy COBOL/PL1 applications to a modern Java-based cloud architecture.
  
• Resource Planning and budget management.
  
• Previous exposure to finance function (either in finance function or Agile Master for a team that services a finance function).
  
• Ability to manage a technical team using agile methodologies.
  
• Leadership skills and knowledge of facilitation, situational awareness, conflict resolution, continual improvement, empowerment, and increasing transparency.
  
• Knowledge of numerous well documented patterns and techniques for filling in the intentional gaps left in the scrum approach (e.g., Numerous burndown techniques, retrospective formats, handling bugs, etc).
  
• Agile Working Model.
  
• Project Management.
  
• DevOps and Biz DevOps.
  
• Transition Management.
  
• PIC Process Management (Problem, Incident and Change Management).
  
• Excellent proficiency in the Agile Tool Chain (JIRA, Confluence, X-Ray, BitBucket).
  

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Proficient in core Java concepts, including object-oriented programming (OOP), multi threading, and exception handling.
  
• Strong understanding of Java fundamentals, such as collections, generics, and IO.
  
• VERY Strong understanding of project management principles and delivering of projects. Leading and measuring projects.
  
• Expertise in Java frameworks like Spring (Core, MVC, Boot, etc.) for building enterprise-level applications.
  
• Assisting with the business case.
  
• Coordination between development and support environments.
  
• Planning and monitoring.
  
• Translating and simplifying requirements.
  
• Requirements analysis, organization, management, and communication.
  

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE:

• 10+ years’ experience in relevant programming language
  
• On premise virtualization technology expertise
  
• Experience in testing (manual or automated testing)
  
• Web and digital project experience advantageous
  
• Agile working experience advantageous
  
• At least 1 of the following:
  
• Professional Scrum Master II™ (scrum.org)
  
• Certified SAFe® advanced Scrum Master (scaledagile.com)
  
• Certification as Scrum Master (Advantageous)
  
• Project Management Qualification (Advantageous)
  
• Cutting edge global IT system landscape and processes
  
• Flexible working of 1960 hours in a 12-month period
  
• High Work-Life balance
  
• Remote / On-site work location flexibility
  
• Highly motivating, energetic, and fast-paced working environment
  
• Modern, state-of-the-art offices
  
• Dynamic Global Team collaboration
  
• Application of the Agile Working Model Methodology