AS400 Technical Lead - Modernization Initiative

Role: Contract to hire

Loc: Richardson TX, preferred - will consider Remote

AS400 Technical Lead

 Senior AS400 Tech Lead with extensive experience in architecting, designing, and developing in IBMi (AS400).   Modernization effort moving away from RPG/Synon.

Required Qualifications:

• A minimum of 7 years of experience with a deep understanding of AS/400 application development.
• Understanding design principles.
• At least 5 years of application development experience in RPG, RPGLE, and CL.
• General knowledge on Synon2/E (COOL 2/E) – will be modernizing away from it.
• Expertise in RPGLE, ILE
• 5+ years of experience with IBMi SQL.
• 5+ years of recent experience in a leadership role.
• Proficiency in IBM X-analysis, ALDON, and Hawkeye.

 Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven track record of successfully completing several mediums to large scope projects.
• Proficiency in all phases of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
• Adept at problem determination and resolution through research and fact-finding.
• Experience with RxClaim or other PBM Adjudication systems is highly preferred.
• Design and development background, more so than prod support.
• Eager for continuous learning,

Breakdown:

A strong modernization candidate should be able to explain service programs, signatures, embedded SQL, and how to safely refactor legacy RPG into reusable services without breaking production.

Examples of knowledge areas and experience could include:

1. RPG & ILE Fundamentals

• RPGLE (free-format)
• ILE concepts: modules, programs, activation groups
• Service programs
• Signatures & versioning (safe change without breaking callers)

2. Database Modernization

• DB2 for i with embedded SQL
• SQL views, procedures, functions (vs logical files)
• Long names, schemas, constraints

3. Integration & APIs

• Exposing IBM i via REST APIs
• JSON handling in RPG
• MQ / messaging basics
• Replacing flat-file integrations with services

4. Architecture & Refactoring

• Breaking monolithic RPG into reusable services
• Separating UI, business logic, and data access
• Using service programs instead of copybooks
• Modernizing incrementally (not rewrite-and-replace)

5. Change Management & Delivery

• Aldon / TurnOver / Implementer experience
• Impact analysis (X-Analysis, Hawkeye)