Lead Mainframe Application Developer

This position involves leading the design, development, and implementation of complex mainframe applications and batches on z/OS platforms. The Lead Mainframe Application Developer will ensure high performance, reliability, and scalability across business-critical systems.

Responsibilities:

• Act as technical lead for mainframe teams - oversee coding, code reviews, unit/integration testing, deployment, and production support of applications using COBOL, CICS, JCL, DB2, VSAM, and related technologies.
• Collaborate with business analysts and stakeholders to gather functional requirements, define technical specifications, impact analysis, and translate them into mainframe design and deliverables.
• Develop and maintain application architecture, defining standards, frameworks, reusable components, and driving best practices for mainframe development and lifecycle management.
• Monitor and optimize system performance: tune COBOL programs, batch jobs, DB2 queries, CICS transactions, minimize job runtimes, manage resource utilization, and ensure SLA compliance.
• Lead modernization initiatives: migrate legacy mainframe applications to newer architectures, integrate with distributed systems, implement APIs, support hybrid or cloud mainframe strategies.
• Manage batch processing cycles, production job scheduling, operational support hand-offs, and ensure smooth delivery of end-of-day, month-end, or critical business runs.
• Provide leadership for technical teams including mentoring junior developers, reviewing code, facilitating design sessions, delivering training, and fostering a continuous improvement culture.
• Oversee integration between mainframe applications and other systems via messaging, web services, file transfers, FTP/SFTP, ensuring data integrity, robustness, and performance.

Requirements:

Required Skills:

• Experience in mainframe application development
• Proficiency in COBOL, CICS, JCL, DB2, VSAM, and related technologies
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with modernizing legacy mainframe applications
• Knowledge of cloud mainframe strategies
• Certifications in mainframe technologies