Senior z/OS Systems Programmer - Mainframe Storage Specialist

Overview

Remote
$80 - $95
Contract - W2
Contract - 1 Year(s)
10% Travel

Skills

IBM
IBM Mainframe
z/OS
Storage

Job Details

Location: Remote (Initial one week onsite in Springfield, IL, followed by remote work with occasional onsite visits as needed)

All onsite travel expenses will be reimbursed

Position Overview

  • The Client is seeking an experienced Mainframe Storage and DASD Replication Administrator to manage and maintain the State s mission-critical IBM mainframe VTS tape and SAN infrastructure.
  • This role is responsible for the installation, configuration, monitoring, and administration of IBM VTS backup environment and an HP SAN Replication environment for Disaster recovery and failover. Will ensure system stability, performance, and security for the backup architecture in support of statewide business applications and services.
  • The ideal candidate will have senior level expertise doing mainframe storage and replication management for backup and failover to DR Systems. Will assist with resource monitoring and administration, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively on high-availability, enterprise-scale environments.
  • Key responsibilities include configuring storage, troubleshooting issues, providing technical guidance to junior staff, and collaborating with hardware vendors. This role requires expertise in z/OS, storage management software (like HP\Hitachi BCM and IBM Copy Services Manager), and disaster recovery processes.

Key Responsibilities
System Administration

DASD and VTS management: Monitor performance, availability, and utilization of DASD and VTS storage resources.
Capacity planning: Analyze storage usage trends and provide recommendations for future storage requirements.
Performance tuning: Troubleshoot and resolve performance issues related to storage.
Backup and recovery: Implement and manage daily data backups using software like Safeguarded Copy and ensure data replication for disaster recovery purposes.
Incident and problem management: Respond to major incidents, perform root cause analysis, and work on long-term problem prevention.
Vendor management: Work with hardware and software vendors on installations, upgrades, and support escalations.
Technical guidance: Provide support and mentorship to less experienced team members.
System configuration: Allocate storage space, configure storage solutions, and implement changes to the storage environment.

Disaster Recovery & High Availability
Participate in Disaster Recovery (DR) testing and system restoration planning.
Develop and maintain storage recovery runbooks and operational procedures.

Support & Collaboration
Troubleshoot and resolve storage and replication system issues, performance problems, and outages.
Work with vendors (IBM, HPE, etc.) and internal DoIT teams for upgrades, migrations, and issue resolution.
Provide documentation, training, and mentoring to junior staff and operations personnel.

Qualifications
Required:

Bachelor s degree in computer science, Information Systems, or equivalent experience.
Minimum 8-10 years of experience administering mainframe storage and replication environments.
Strong knowledge of enterprise DASD subsystems (e.g., IBM VTS technology (e.g., IBM TS7700 and HP XP8).
Proven expertise in replication technologies and disaster recovery for large-scale environments.
Proven ability in system performance tuning, capacity management, and resource allocation.
Skills with JCL, REXX, CLIST, and automation tools for storage operations.
Experience supporting Disaster Recovery procedures and high-availability architecture.

Preferred:
Experience with QuickRef, TMON, and Omegamon.
Strong communication and documentation skills.
Prior experience in government or other highly regulated environments.

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.