Role overview

Pay Range: $55.00hr - $60.00hr

Job Overview:

The candidate will serve as a Mainframe z/OS Administrator responsible for maintaining system uptime, executing technical upgrades, performing root cause analysis, and supporting 24x7 operational requirements.

Responsibilities:

Troubleshoot technical issues.
Ensure successful completion of installation, configuration, and migration tasks.
Ensure maximum uptime according to Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
Improve and maintain customer and employee satisfaction.
Perform problem determination followed by root cause analysis and documentation.
Implement changes to z/OS and installed software, followed by complete documentation.
Participate in analyzing, planning, and implementing upgrades to z/OS and installed software.
Execute new product installation, testing, and customization.
Work with incident and change management tools.
Understand and implement specific customer requirements.
Define processes and ensure strict adherence to them.
Strategize backup and testing plans for failure scenarios.
Monitor and maintain SLA requirements across team members.
Plan backup and restoration strategies for 24x7 operational support.
Conduct testing, auditing, and process reviews as required.
Identify skill gaps and plan for necessary training and knowledge updates.

Skill set Requirements Mandatory:

Fully understand z/OS services structure, JES concepts, parallel sysplex/GDPS, and catalog management.
Demonstrate expertise in PARMLIB configuration and JES customization.
Possess knowledge of JCL, REXX, CLIST, and Modify Assembler EXITS.
Demonstrate working knowledge of z/OS hardware, LPAR, and HMC.
Possess experience with IMS and MQ Series (WebSphere MQ).
Demonstrate hands-on RACF experience.
Possess knowledge of installing and supporting common ISV products such as CA-View, tape management tools (CA-1), and scheduling tools (BMC InControl, CA-7).
Possess knowledge of USS management.
Demonstrate capability in installing regular maintenance releases (RSUs).
Support hardware or software upgrades within the environment.
Demonstrate capability in installing and upgrading CICS and related products on a mainframe.
Maintain reliability and availability of CICS systems software.
Demonstrate strong knowledge in the usage of transactions such as CEMT and CEDA.
Demonstrate strong knowledge of SMP/E, SQL, DB2 online and offline utilities, ZPARMS, DB2 logs, BSDS, DB2 Commands, and DDF.
Install and utilize performance monitoring tools and products such as SAS, MXG, CA-MICS, Strobe, and Omegamon products.
Demonstrate expertise in tuning and debugging performance problems for z/OS systems, including application workloads.
Perform problem diagnostics and resolution, monitoring system performance and tuning as required.
Demonstrate proficiency in storage capacity planning and configuration, along with familiarity with typical z/OS application performance analysis.
Demonstrate capability in z/OS performance analysis using various tools such as IBM RMF, SMF, and subsystem analysis tools.
Demonstrate capability in installing, customizing, and maintaining IBM and other ISV automation products.

Good to Have:

Experience in mainframe automation and Performance & Capacity Management.
Experience in customization of ISV/OEM products used for automation and monitoring, such as NetView, OPS/MVS, SA z/OS, Tivoli Suite, BMC AO, TEP, and Control-O.
SAS programming skills and ability to retrofit SAS code for MXG applications post product upgrade.
Strong verbal and written communication skills with customer-facing capability.
Good documentation skills.
Good working knowledge of MS Office, including MS Project and Visio.
Strong customer handling and interpersonal skills.
Ability to handle unforeseen situations effectively.
High level of adaptability and acceptance.

Years of Experience:

Total: 9 to 13 years of experience.
Relevant: 9+ years of experience in System Programming.