Specialist Cobol Engineer (Application Support)

Absa Group; Randburg; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Absa Bank Limited is seeking a Senior Cobol Engineer (Application Support) to maintain and enhance COBOL-based applications within the PPB Core Banking Technology Support team. The role focuses on high availability, production incident resolution, and collaboration with QA and other developers to deliver robust solutions.

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of COBOL/Mainframe experience, strong JCL skills, and expertise in IMS/DB2 databases, with 24/7 standby as part of a rotation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology.
• At least 5 years of COBOL/Mainframe experience and strong JCL skills.
• Experience with IMS & DB2 databases and batch/real-time processing.

Responsibilities

• Provide production support for COBOL-based applications and resolve incidents.
• Analyze and troubleshoot system problems and implement fixes.
• Participate in root cause analysis and implement long-term solutions.
• Enhance and maintain legacy COBOL applications to meet business needs.
• Collaborate with QA, analysts, and other developers to deliver robust solutions.
• 24/7 standby responsibilities on a rotational basis.

Skills

Cobol Programmer

JCL

IMS & DB2

TSO/ISPF

ISPW

Code Pipeline

Easytrieve

Production support

Batch processing

Change control (SNOW)

Education

Bachelor's Degree: Information Technology

Tools

SNOW

Job description

Empowering Africa's tomorrow, together...one story at a time. With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.

Job Summary Senior Cobol Engineer (Application Support)

The PPB Banking Division is looking for a Senior Cobol Developer to join our PPB Core Banking Technology Support team.

Job Description

The successful applicant will be responsible for maintaining and enhancing applications developed in COBOL, ensuring high system availability, and resolving production incidents in a timely manner.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide production support for COBOL-based applications, including issue investigation and resolution.
• Analyze and troubleshoot system problems, providing timely and efficient fixes.
• Participate in root cause analysis and implement long-term solutions to recurring issues.
• Enhance and maintain legacy COBOL applications to meet evolving business requirements.
• Work collaboratively with QA, analysts, and other developers to deliver robust solutions.
• This position includes 24/7 standby responsibilities on a rotational basis

Key Critical Skills Required

• Cobol Programmer, at least 5 years' experience (Mainframe)
• JCL skills required, at least 5 years' experience
• Intermediate to Expert level experience in IMS & DB2 Databases
• TSO/ISPF, ISPW, Code Pipeline is required.
• Easytrieve will be an added advantage
• Experience in supporting and troubleshooting production environments.
• Familiarity with batch and real-time processing.
• Knowledge of change control (SNOW) and version management tools
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree: Information Technology

Equal Opportunity

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised.

Company Culture

At Absa, our story is not a single narrative. It's thousands of individual journeys unfolding across Africa and beyond. From colleagues serving customers in local communities to teams shaping financial solutions across borders, Absa is built on people who bring their lived experiences, ambitions and perspectives into the workplace every day. Whether you're starting your career, a seasoned leader or somewhere in between, your contribution is seen, valued and connected to something bigger. Our presence across Africa - which spans personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management, and insurance - exists because of the people who show up in their roles with purpose. Across Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, our colleagues are shaping what Absa becomes in each market. Beyond the continent, teams in global offices and a technology hub support and extend the stories that prove that African talent can lead, influence and innovate on the global stage. At Absa, your story matters because progress is driven by human experience, not hierarchy. When people are enabled to bring their whole selves to work, they don't just build careers. They help shape the future of Africa's financial services landscape.