Mainframe z/OS Support Specialist (10-15 yrs)

Job Summary :

We are seeking a highly experienced and skilled Mainframe z/OS Support Specialist to join our dynamic team.

The ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge of z/OS operating systems, subsystems, and related software, along with a proven track record of providing high-quality support in a complex mainframe environment.

This role requires strong analytical and problem-solving skills, excellent communication abilities, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team.

Responsibilities :

- Provide expert-level support for z/OS operating systems, including installation, configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

- Monitor system performance and proactively identify and resolve potential issues.

- Perform system tuning and optimization to ensure optimal performance and resource utilization.

- Manage and maintain z/OS subsystems such as CICS, IMS, DB2, and MQ.

- Implement and maintain security protocols and procedures to protect sensitive data.

- Install and configure software products and apply maintenance updates and patches.

- Participate in disaster recovery planning and testing.

- Collaborate with application development teams to resolve performance and connectivity issues.

- Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior team members.

- Document system configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting steps.

- Participate in on-call rotation to provide 24/7 support.

- Stay up-to-date with the latest z/OS technologies and best practices.

- Manage and administer z/OS security tools like RACF or ACF2.

- Perform capacity planning and performance analysis.

- Automate routine tasks using scripting languages (e.g, REXX, JCL).

- Work closely with vendors to resolve hardware and software issues.

Required Skills :

- Extensive experience (10-15 years) in z/OS system programming and support.

- Deep understanding of z/OS architecture, components, and internals.

- Strong knowledge of JCL, TSO/E, ISPF, and SDSF.

- Proficiency in managing and supporting z/OS subsystems (CICS, IMS, DB2, MQ).

- Experience with z/OS security tools (RACF, ACF2).

- Solid understanding of TCP/IP networking and mainframe connectivity.

- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.

- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

- Experience with performance monitoring and tuning tools (e.g, SMF, RMF).

- Experience with system automation tools and scripting languages (REXX, JCL).

- Experience with disaster recovery planning and testing.

Preferred Skills :

- Experience with z/VM and Linux on z.

- Knowledge of mainframe hardware and software.

- Familiarity with ITIL framework.

- Certifications in z/OS or related technologies.

Qualifications :

- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.

- Equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of a degree