Principal Software Engineer (Mainframe ? COBOL/DB2)

Overview

Remote
On Site
Hybrid
BASED ON EXPERIENCE
Contract - W2
Contract - Independent
Contract - 12+ mo(s)

Skills

PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER
SENIOR SOFTWARE ENGINEER
LEAD MAINFRAME DEVELOPER
COBOL
DB2
MAINFRAME
JCL
EMBEDDED SQL
TSO
ISPF
MVS UTILITIES

Job Details

Principal Software Engineer (Mainframe - COBOL/DB2)

Reston, VA (Hybrid - onsite once a quarter)
Contract

About the Role

We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer with deep Mainframe development expertise to support a mission-critical federal ID card processing program. This role is focused on developing and maintaining high-performance reporting and processing systems that support federal employees and postal service programs.

You will be part of a small, collaborative team, building new reports, enhancing existing systems, and ensuring the reliability of business-critical ID card processing.

This is a contract role with potential to convert to full-time, requiring occasional onsite presence in Reston, VA (quarterly). An onsite interview will be required.

Key Responsibilities

  • Design, develop, code, test, and document COBOL-based Mainframe applications.

  • Create and optimize DB2 queries for large-scale federal ID card processing reports.

  • Analyze, design, and implement enhancements to existing ID card processing/reporting systems.

  • Support batch processing and ensure smooth execution of IBM MVS utilities and mainframe jobs.

  • Troubleshoot and debug COBOL applications using tools like Batch Expeditor.

  • Partner with stakeholders to define scope, objectives, and requirements for reporting solutions.

  • Deliver critical, high-reliability software solutions for large-scale users.

  • Provide mentoring to junior developers and support agile team practices.

Required Skills & Experience

  • 8+ years Mainframe development experience.

  • Strong proficiency in:

    • COBOL, TSO, ISPF, JCL, DB2

    • Embedded SQL within COBOL programs

    • IBM MVS utilities (e.g., Syncsort, data movement utilities)

    • Debugging tools (Batch Expeditor or equivalent)

    • At least one Mainframe IDE (QMF, Rocket Shuttle, DevX WorkBench, or Topaz)

  • Proven ability to design, analyze, and deliver enterprise-scale mainframe reporting systems.

  • Experience creating new reports and optimizing large-scale data processing solutions.

Nice-to-Have Skills

  • Familiarity with Agile/Scrum, Kanban, Jira.

  • Exposure to CI/CD, DevOps pipelines, GitHub.

  • Knowledge of modern programming languages (Java, Python, C) is a plus.

  • Cloud exposure (AWS, Azure) is beneficial but not required.

Employers have access to artificial intelligence language tools (“AI”) that help generate and enhance job descriptions and AI may have been used to create this description. The position description has been reviewed for accuracy and Dice believes it to correctly reflect the job opportunity.