AS400 System Administrator

The Rhode Island Department of Administration, Enterprise Technology Strategy and Services, Office of Information Technology (ETSS/OIT) is seeking an IBM Power 9 iSeries / AS400 System Administrator.
Position is primarily responsible for the IBM iSeries Power 9 s/ AS400 but experience on supporting an IBM Mainframe system is a plus.
The System Administrator and will manage, administer and give ongoing support for two (2) AS400 systems each containing three (3) LPARS (Production, UAT, Development). The ability to provide support on the IBM Mainframes in addition to the IBM Power 9 iSeries / AS400 system is a plus.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

IBM Power 9 I Series (AS400) Systems Programming (System 36 and Native Mode)
Maintain, upgrade, monitor and report on all IBM iSeries systems and HMC infrastructure, including PTFs and firmware upgrades, errors, failures, and security aspects
Maintain and monitor daily and system backups along with Replication/DR processes
Maintain system journaling of databases
Research and resolve systems issues as needed
Manages installation, and configuration of AS400 software applications, including third party software and system management tools.
Engage with third party vendors and support as needed
Assist with client emulation configuration and connectivity
Manages AS400 user and device configuration
Manages and helps update AS400 security policies
Support interfaces between DLT and other agencies. Manages security and networking interconnectivity between systems.
Assist with developing, maintaining and executing disaster recovery protocols for the agency devices and integration with Enterprise teams as well as perform periodic testing
Assist with technical and business process with development of Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and Continuity of Operations (COOP) plans
Assist EOC operators and programmers with runtime errors
Check and maintain network configurations, routing, host tables and DNS.
Performance Monitoring: Utilize performance tools to analyze system performance metrics. Identify any performance bottlenecks and take corrective actions, including but not limited to performance, critical messages, errors.
System Values: Maintain and review system values to ensure they are configured for security and performance.
Subsystem Monitoring: Review subsystems to ensure they are running optimally. Check for any subsystem-related errors or performance issues.
Disk Space: Review disk space utilization and run disk reports to address issues.

Job Queues and Job Scheduler: Deploy new jobs into the schedule, examine job queue configuration. Review the job scheduler to ensure scheduled jobs are running as expected and report on success/failure and triage exceptions for all scheduled items including but not limited to scheduled jobs, file transfers, file locks, message waiting, email alert and report notifications.

• Security: Maintain and review user profiles and system values to ensure proper user system access and security. Check object authorities to sensitive objects and data.
• Backup and Recovery: Confirm that regular backups are scheduled and completed successfully. Verify the integrity of backup media and perform a test restore if requested. Currently leveraging legacy tapes in a tape library, LaserVault.
• Network Configuration: Check network configurations, routing, host tables and DNS.
• Performance Monitoring: Utilize performance tools like Performance Navigator or IBM Navigator to analyze system performance metrics. Identify any performance bottlenecks and take corrective actions.
• Journaling and Logging: Review journals and receivers. Check system logs (DSPLOG) for any unusual or critical messages.
• Printing and Output Queues: Verify that printers and output queues are configured correctly. Monitor for any spool file issues or printer errors.
• Backup and Recovery Plan: Ensure there is a well-documented backup and recovery plan is in place. Test and maintain plan.
• Monitors and provides system health check documentation
• Develop and maintain up-to-date documentation on the system's configuration, settings, and document any changes
• Assist in developing technical documentation and Standard Operating Procedures
• Assist with technical documentation, audits, reviews, and processes
• Provide technical expertise to implement best practices
• Provide operational, status, and other reports as requested
• Engage with third part vendors and support teams as required
• Performs other duties as assigned

Assist Maintain, Support, and Manage support of IBM Mainframe systems:

• Assist EOC operators with runtime errors to address programming, OS, and hardware issues.
• Monitor and report on System Status including but not limited to performance, critical messages, errors. Triage and address issues.
• Maintain and review system values to ensure they are configured for security and performance.
• Review partitions to ensure they are running optimally. Check for any partition-related errors or performance issues.
• Patches and Updates: Verify that the system is running the latest cumulative PTF (Program Temporary Fix) package. Check for the latest operating system updates and patches.
• Disk Space: Review disk space utilization and run disk reports to address issues
• Job Queues and Job Scheduler: Deploy new jobs into the schedule, examine job queue configuration. Review the job scheduler to ensure all scheduled jobs are running as expected and report on success/failure and triage exceptions including but not limited to scheduled jobs, file transfers, file locks, message waiting, email alert and report notifications.
• Security: Maintain and review user profiles and system values to ensure proper user system access and security. Check object authorities to sensitive objects and data.
• Backup and Recovery: Confirm that regular backups are scheduled and completed successfully. Verify the integrity of backup media and perform a test restore if requested.
• Network Configuration: Check network configurations, routing, host tables and DNS.
• Performance Monitoring: Utilize performance tools to analyze system performance metrics. Identify any performance bottlenecks and take corrective actions.
• Logging: Check system logs (MLOG) for any unusual or critical messages and report and take action as directed and required.
• Printing and Output Queues: Verify that printers and output queues are configured correctly. Monitor for any spool file issues or printer errors.
• Backup and Recovery Plan: Ensure there is a well-documented backup and recovery plan is in place. Test and maintain plan.
• System Health Check Documentation: Maintain up-to-date documentation on the system's configuration, settings, and document any changes. Assist in developing technical documentation and Standard Operating Procedures
• Assist with developing, maintaining and executing disaster recovery for the agency devices and integration with Enterprise teams.
• Assist with technical and business process with development of BCP and COOP plans.
• Assist with technical documentation, audits, reviews, and processes
• Provide technical expertise to implement best practices.
• Assist in migration efforts to modernize the legacy applications.
• Provide operational, status, and other reports as requested.

Experience & Skills
Experience and skills to support and perform the duties and responsibilities described above.
Minimum 3-5 years experience
Ability to communicate effectively with staff and engage business, technical resources, and support vendors
COBOL programming experience
AS400 Administration experience
Go Anywhere Integration, ODBC, SFTP, FTP, Mocha, Rumba, Blue Zone emulation software, and HIS system experience
Expertise in creating tables, dropping tables, adding fields, indexes, maintaining and resolving database issues, and database recovery processes (various databases Ex: DB2, SQL, SQL/DS, VSAM databases)
Familiarity with IBM OS utilities, MVS JCL, VSE JCL, Easytrieve Plus, Message Log (MLOG) and intrinsic functions
Experience with XL Print Paris (forms & programming), Visio, MS Office, Teams, Jira and other common tools
Other experience as necessary to perform the system administration and programming tasks required.
Database recovery
Troubleshoot and work with affected agencies to resolve problems.
Experience in application conversion to outside vendors

Work Location and Hours
The ETSS Core hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4:00 PM but may be adjusted to meet the needs of the State. Occasional after-hours support may be required.
All hours are based on Eastern time. Availability during core business hours is required. Onsite presence in the Cranston\Warwick, RI area is required. If hybrid work schedule is approved, the maximum is two (2) days per week remote.