Senior Mainframe Administrator (z/OS and Networking)

Location: Remote (Initial one month onsite in Springfield, IL, followed by remote work with occasional onsite visits as needed)

Travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Job Summary:

• The Client is seeking an experienced Senior z/OS Systems Administrator with extensive expertise in mainframe system administration. This individual will serve as a senior resource to assist Client with general system administration for a IBM z16 mainframe and DR environment with experience in maintaining and assisting with mainframe network administration, security certificates, SFTP, APIs, TCP\IP
• The role is critical to ensuring the resilience, availability, security, and compliance of the Client s enterprise mainframe infrastructure. The successful candidate will work with IBM, HPE, and internal IT teams to design, implement, monitor, primary and secondary mainframe systems that support the Client s mission-critical applications.

Responsibilities:

• Provide advanced system administration and technical leadership for IBM z/OS mainframe systems.
• Manage and maintain network configurations, connectivity, and communication protocols (SNA, TCP/IP, VTAM, NJE, etc.) in the mainframe environment.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex system, network, and application-level issues, driving root cause analysis and long-term corrective actions.
• Assist with planning and application of system maintenance, software upgrades, and PTFs, coordinating with system programmers and vendor support.
• Administer and enforce mainframe security policies (RACF, ACF2, or Top Secret), including user access management and compliance controls.
• Participate in and provide guidance for problem, change, and incident management processes, ensuring timely resolution and documentation.
• Collaborate with infrastructure, application, and network teams to ensure seamless integration and high availability across systems.
• Mentor junior administrators and contribute to process improvement and automation initiatives.

Required Skills & Experience:

• 8-10 years of progressive experience as a z/OS Systems administrator with a focus on mainframe networking .
• Strong understanding of mainframe networking, including SNA, TCP/IP, VTAM, NJE, and related tools (NetView, Wireshark, etc.).
• Proficiency with JCL, TSO/ISPF, and monitoring tools such as SDSF, RMF, OMEGAMON, SysView, or equivalent.
• Experience with JES2/JES3 job management, system logs, and IPL processes.
• Solid knowledge of network architecture and administration.
• Familiarity with automation tools, scheduling systems
• Experience working with vendors (IBM, HPE, Kyndryl) to manage hardware lifecycle and support escalations.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and documentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with z/OS 3.1 and IBM z16 platforms.
• Prior involvement with enterprise disaster recovery and failover of mainframe systems.
• Experience in training, mentoring, and knowledge transfer within enterprise IT teams.

Education

• Bachelor s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• IBM or vendor certifications in mainframe storage technologies are a plus.