Mainframe QA Engineer

Job Title: Mainframe QA Engineer

Location: Boston, MA (Onsite)

Duration: 6+ Months Contract

Rate: $ 40 on C2C

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Mainframe QA Engineer with a strong background in the Banking / Financial Services domain to support critical core banking and asset management applications. In this role, you will design, execute, and document test strategies, perform complex SQL database validations, and track defects through the software development lifecycle using JIRA.

Key Responsibilities

• Test Execution & Strategy: Design, write, and execute end-to-end manual test cases, functional test suites, and regression scripts for core mainframe banking applications.
• Mainframe Operations: Utilize TSO/ISPF, JCL, CICS, and DB2 to navigate mainframe environments, trigger batch processing, inspect output logs, and validate backend transactions.
• Database & Data Validation: Write complex SQL queries to extract, validate, and verify financial transactions, account balances, and ledger data across DB2 and relational databases.
• Defect Management: Log, track, and manage defect lifecycles in JIRA; collaborate with development and engineering teams to accelerate root-cause analysis and resolution.
• Domain Compliance: Ensure test scenarios comply with institutional banking standards, transaction processing protocols, and financial data integrity requirements.
• Agile Collaboration: Participate actively in Agile/Scrum ceremonies (sprint planning, daily standups, backlog grooming) and provide accurate QA status reporting to project stakeholders.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Experience: 5 8+ years of dedicated Quality Assurance / Testing experience in enterprise environments.
• Domain Expertise: Proven track record in the Banking / Financial Services sector (e.g., Custody Banking, Payments, Asset Management, Core Banking, or Ledger Systems).
• Mainframe Proficiency: Hands-on expertise with TSO/ISPF, JCL, DB2, CICS, and mainframe batch execution/validation tools (e.g., File-Aid, SPUFI, Changeman, or Endevor).
• Database Skills: Advanced proficiency in SQL for data verification, join conditions, mapping, and database integrity checks.
• Tools: Proficiency with JIRA for test management, story tracking, and defect logging (experience with Xray or Zephyr plugins is a plus).
• Process Knowledge: Solid understanding of Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC), Agile frameworks, and risk-based testing methodologies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Basic familiarity with mainframe automation strategies or modern CI/CD integration for legacy systems.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to interface effectively with cross-functional development and business analyst teams in Boston, MA.