Overview
Remote
$40 - $50
Accepts corp to corp applications
Contract - W2
Contract - Independent
Able to Provide Sponsorship
Skills
ACF2
Auditing
CICS
Change Management
Collaboration
Communication
Computer Networking
Customization
DNS
Disaster Recovery
Dragon NaturallySpeaking
Encryption
FTP
Failover
Firewall
Forecasting
High Availability
IBM
IBM IMS
IBM OMEGAMON
IBM WebSphere MQ
IP
IPsec
ISO/IEC 27001:2005
ITGC
ITIL
Intellectual Property
JCL
Log Analysis
Mainframe
Management
Migration
Network
Network Security
PCI DSS
Performance Tuning
Problem Management
RACF
Recovery
Regulatory Compliance
Rexx
Routing
SMP/E
Sarbanes-Oxley
Social Network Analysis
Sockets
Stacks Blockchain
Storage
TCP/IP
TLS
Technical Support
VTAM
z/OS
Job Details
Job Title: Mainframe Network System Programmer
Job Summary
The Mainframe Network System Programmer is responsible for the installation, configuration, customization, and ongoing support of networking software and communication subsystems on IBM z/OS mainframe environments. This role ensures secure, reliable, and high-performance network connectivity between mainframe systems, distributed platforms, and enterprise applications. The position requires expertise in TCP/IP, VTAM, SNA, and related communication protocols, as well as collaboration with infrastructure, security, and application teams.
Key Responsibilities
Installation & Maintenance
Job Summary
The Mainframe Network System Programmer is responsible for the installation, configuration, customization, and ongoing support of networking software and communication subsystems on IBM z/OS mainframe environments. This role ensures secure, reliable, and high-performance network connectivity between mainframe systems, distributed platforms, and enterprise applications. The position requires expertise in TCP/IP, VTAM, SNA, and related communication protocols, as well as collaboration with infrastructure, security, and application teams.
Key Responsibilities
Installation & Maintenance
- Install, configure, and upgrade mainframe networking components such as TCP/IP, VTAM, Enterprise Extender (EE), and NetView.
- Apply PTFs, APARs, and maintenance updates using SMP/E.
- Customize communication parameters, exits, and profiles to meet business requirements.
- Provide technical support for mainframe networking subsystems.
- Troubleshoot communication failures, SNA/VTAM issues, TCP/IP connectivity problems, and performance bottlenecks.
- Support integration with mainframe subsystems such as CICS, IMS, DB2, and MQ.
- Manage network-related IPL considerations, traces, dumps, and log analysis.
- Monitor and tune TCP/IP stacks, VTAM definitions, and Enterprise Extender connections.
- Optimize session routing, buffer sizes, and bandwidth utilization for efficiency.
- Forecast capacity and plan for network growth or upgrades.
- Implement and maintain network security controls in coordination with RACF/ACF2/TSS.
- Configure firewalls, AT-TLS (Application Transparent TLS), IPSec, and secure sockets for encrypted communication.
- Ensure compliance with SOX, PCI-DSS, IT and internal security policies.
- Develop and test mainframe networking disaster recovery plans.
- Participate in DR exercises, ensuring connectivity between production and recovery sites.
- Support high availability and failover strategies for network components.
- Participate in planning and execution of software migrations, feature enablement, and new deployments.
- Document networking configurations, changes, and troubleshooting procedures.
- Adhere to ITIL processes for incident, problem, and change management.
- Work closely with system programmers, storage, security, and distributed network teams.
- Provide 24x7 on-call support for critical networking issues.
- Assist application developers in configuring network connectivity for mainframe-based applications.
- Strong experience with IBM z/OS mainframe networking (TCP/IP, VTAM, SNA).
- Hands-on knowledge of Enterprise Extender (EE), HiperSockets, and NetView.
- Proficiency in configuring IP, routing, DNS, FTP, TN3270, and network encryption protocols.
- Experience with SMP/E for maintenance and upgrades.
- Strong troubleshooting, dump analysis, and performance tuning skills.
- Familiarity with JCL, REXX, and automation tools.
- 5+ years of experience as a Mainframe Network System Programmer.
- Experience in Sysplex networking, multi-stack environments, and high availability.
- Knowledge of mainframe integration with distributed systems over TCP/IP.
- Exposure to monitoring tools such as OMEGAMON for IP, NetView, or equivalent.
- Familiarity with ITIL processes (Incident, Change, Problem Management).
- Experience in audit and compliance support (SOX, PCI-DSS, ISO27001, etc.).
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