IBM Optim Z/OS Specialist (Data Archiving & ILM)

IBM Optim Z/OS Specialist

Remote Opportunity

This is for Short term engagement only. (10 weeks).

Job Title:

IBM Optim Z/OS Specialist (Data Archiving & ILM)

Job Summary:

We are seeking an experienced IBM Optim Z/OS Specialist to design, implement, and maintain enterprise data archiving and information lifecycle management solutions on IBM mainframe (z/OS) platforms. This role will focus on compliance-driven archiving (SOX, GDPR, CCPA) for DB2 on z/OS, integrating Optim into existing enterprise workflows, and ensuring high performance and data integrity. The specialist will also provide future-ready solutions that enable seamless access, retrieval, and reporting on archived data.

Key Responsibilities:

1. IBM Optim Z/OS Implementation & Administration

• Install, configure, and upgrade IBM Optim on z/OS environments.
• Define and maintain Access Definitions, Column Maps, and Archive Definitions for DB2 z/OS databases.
• Configure and manage Optim Archive, Restore, and Delete processes.

2. Compliance & Audit Support

• Implement SOX-compliant archiving processes with full pre/post job validation.
• Generate, store, and manage archive Summary Reports and validation counts.
• Support auditors by providing secure, read-only access to archive data.

3. Performance Optimization

• Tune archive-and-delete jobs for high throughput and minimal impact on production workloads.
• Use Optim performance features such as array deletes, commit frequency tuning, and DB2 utility integration.
• Work with DB2 DBAs to optimize bufferpools, indexes, and statistics for archive queries.

4. Archive Data Access & Integration

• Enable archive file browsing via ISPF panels and Optim Workstation.
• Implement Archive Transparency for SQL-based access to historical data.
• Support integration with reporting, analytics, and ETL platforms.

5. Governance & Documentation

• Maintain detailed technical documentation for all Optim processes and configurations.
• Establish archive retention schedules in compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Track and log archive file access for audit trails.

Required Skills & Experience:

• 5+ years experience with IBM Optim for z/OS, including Archive, Delete, and Restore functions.
• Strong DB2 z/OS knowledge, including SQL, indexing, performance tuning, and utilities (UNLOAD, LOAD, RUNSTATS).
• Experience with JCL, ISPF, and mainframe batch scheduling tools (Control-M, CA-7, etc.).
• Familiarity with compliance frameworks (SOX, GDPR, CCPA) and data governance principles.
• Ability to generate and interpret Optim Summary Reports and validation logs.
• Knowledge of TCP/IP, DRDA, and mainframe file transfer protocols (FTP, SFTP).
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work with auditors and cross-functional teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with IBM Optim Workstation and Archive Transparency.
• Familiarity with cloud archival storage (IBM COS, AWS S3 Glacier, Azure Blob).
• Scripting experience (Rexx, Python, or shell scripting) for archive automation.
• Data masking implementation experience in Optim.
• Knowledge of ILM strategies across hybrid platforms.