Cycle3 IT Staffing is seeking a Senior Mainframe Systems Programmer REMOTE contract.

Enterprise Data Center Environment
Backfill (Core Infrastructure Support)
Reporting To: Director of Operations and Technical Support
Deep z/OS systems programming (beyond operator/admin level)
Strong storage + backup/recovery ownership
Prior mainframe decommission / EOL experience
Hands-on experience with BMC + Broadcom (Top Secret) in production estates

Specialized tooling (BMC, Broadcom, NetMaster, SMPE)

This is not an operator role:
Requires storage, backup/recovery, DR, automation, and vendor coordination
Many self-identified mainframe engineers only cover a slice (CICS only, DB2 only, ops only)
Backfill & EOL context
Candidates supporting active EOL efforts are usually well-paid and stable

Tooling specificity:
BMC Auto Operator, SMPE, Broadcom Top Secret, NetMaster significantly narrow the pool
Candidates often have some, not all, of these

Job Description:

Senior Mainframe Systems Programmer
Role Overview
The Senior Mainframe Systems Programmer is responsible for supporting and maintaining core mainframe infrastructure operations within a large-scale enterprise environment. This role ensures the stability, availability, security, and performance of mission-critical z/OS systems and plays a key role in ongoing mainframe decommissioning (EOL) efforts.
The position focuses on storage management, backup and recovery, operational governance, disaster recovery readiness, and day-to-day production support while partnering with vendors and cross-functional teams to maintain enterprise reliability.
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Key Responsibilities
Mainframe Operations & Infrastructure Support
Support production mainframe environments to ensure high availability and operational stability
Monitor system performance, workload activity, and system health across core infrastructure components
Participate in daily, weekly, monthly, and year-end processing cycles
Partner with application and infrastructure teams to diagnose and resolve incidents affecting mainframe systems
Support automation initiatives, including the use of operational automation tools
Storage Management
Add, delete, and manage mainframe storage zones
Perform disk provisioning and deprovisioning activities
Ensure compliance with customer-defined storage standards and operational governance requirements
Monitor storage systems for performance and stability
Coordinate with external vendors on storage-related activities and support engagements
Backup & Recovery (z/OS On-Prem and DR)
Maintain z/OS backup and recovery environments
Support DSS backup and restore processes
Support PPRC replication and recovery operations
Perform technical troubleshooting related to backup and recovery environments
Ensure recoverability and continuity across primary and disaster recovery sites
Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity
Participate in Disaster Recovery (DR) testing, execution, and validation activities
Support recovery readiness and documentation to meet enterprise continuity standards
Assist with DR-related incident response and remediation
Automation & Operational Excellence
Support automation initiatives using tools such as BMC Auto Operator
Assist with scripting and automation activities to improve operational efficiency
Apply operational governance, compliance, and production support best practices
Vendor & Stakeholder Collaboration
Coordinate with third-party vendors to resolve system, storage, and tooling issues
Partner with internal stakeholders to support enterprise-wide infrastructure initiatives
Provide technical expertise to support mainframe EOL and decommissioning efforts
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Required Experience & Skills
Core Experience
Senior-level experience supporting enterprise mainframe environments
Strong experience with z/OS operating system utilities and frameworks
Demonstrated experience supporting production operations and infrastructure stability
Proven ability to troubleshoot, resolve incidents, and coordinate with vendors
Technical Skills & Technologies
z/OS Operating System, including:
o MVS
o JES2
o ISPF
o SDSF
o HCD
o SMPE
o VTAM
o TCP/IP
Mainframe Storage and Backup/Recovery Platforms
Third-Party Tools & Software:
o BMC Tools
o Broadcom (Top Secret)
o NetMaster
Databases & Transaction Processing:
o DB2
o CICS
Exposure to automation tools and operational scripting
Operational & Professional Competencies
Strong understanding of operational governance and compliance requirements
Experience supporting enterprise infrastructure in regulated environments
Ability to work within structured production support processes
Strong communication and collaboration skills across technical and non-technical stakeholders