Mainframe Senior Architect Performance & Capacity Management
Position Type: Full-Time
Fully Remote
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Mainframe Senior Architect specializing in IBM Mainframe Performance and Capacity Management. This is a highly technical, hands-on role focused on maintaining and optimizing the performance, scalability, stability, availability, and cost efficiency of a large-scale IBM z/OS / IBM Z environment.
The role is approximately 80% Performance Management and 20% Capacity Planning.
The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on expertise in z/OS performance tuning, Workload Manager (WLM), SMF/RMF analysis, CPU and zIIP optimization, and large-scale Parallel Sysplex environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Monitor, analyze, troubleshoot, and optimize IBM z/OS performance across large and complex environments.
- Perform real-time analysis of CPU, memory, storage, workload, and transaction performance.
- Identify performance bottlenecks and determine root causes during critical and high-volume processing periods.
- Configure and tune Workload Manager (WLM) policies and workloads.
- Analyze SMF and RMF data to identify performance trends and optimization opportunities.
- Evaluate the performance impact of Db2, CICS, IMS, and MQ workloads.
- Support and optimize multi-LPAR and Parallel Sysplex environments.
- Analyze and optimize general processor and zIIP utilization.
- Perform capacity forecasting and modeling based on workload trends, business growth, and anticipated demand.
- Forecast future MIPS/MSU and infrastructure requirements.
- Support mainframe cost optimization and IBM software/infrastructure cost analysis.
- Perform SCRT (Sub-Capacity Reporting Tool) processing and analysis.
- Develop performance reports, dashboards, and analytics using tools such as SAS/MXG, OMEGAMON, Excel, IntelliMagic, REXX, and JCL.
- Collaborate with application developers, DBAs, infrastructure teams, DevOps, and leadership to communicate performance findings and recommendations.
- Develop proactive strategies to maintain system stability, availability, and low latency during peak workloads.
- Provide technical leadership and mentoring in mainframe performance and capacity management.
Required Qualifications
- Extensive hands-on experience in IBM Mainframe Performance Management and Tuning.
- Strong expertise in IBM z/OS and IBM Z architecture.
- Experience with large-scale multi-LPAR and Parallel Sysplex environments.
- Strong knowledge of WLM configuration and tuning.
- Extensive experience analyzing SMF and RMF performance data.
- Experience with CPU, memory, storage, and workload utilization analysis.
- Strong understanding of Db2, CICS, IMS, and MQ workloads.
- Experience troubleshooting complex mainframe performance issues in real time.
- Strong hands-on experience with REXX and JCL.
- Experience with performance tools such as OMEGAMON and SAS/MXG.
- Strong knowledge of MIPS, MSUs, capacity planning, workload forecasting, and capacity modeling.
- Understanding of IBM mainframe software pricing and cost optimization.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with the ability to present technical findings to both technical and executive audiences.
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Preferred Skills
- Grafana experience for performance monitoring, dashboards, visualization, or operational reporting.
- ZPCR
- Macro4 Freezeframe
- BMC Thruput Manager
- TADz
- IntelliMagic
- SAS programming for reporting and analytics.
- Experience creating executive dashboards and operational reporting.
- Experience supporting highly transactional, large-scale enterprise environments.
Education
A Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline is preferred but not mandatory.
Candidates without a Bachelor's degree may be considered based on the strength and depth of their relevant IBM Mainframe Performance experience.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a true IBM Mainframe Performance and Capacity Management specialist, rather than a general Mainframe Architect with limited performance exposure.
Strong candidates will have significant experience with:
- z/OS Performance Monitoring and Tuning
- WLM, RMF, and SMF
- Real-time performance troubleshooting
- CPU and zIIP optimization
- Parallel Sysplex and multi-LPAR environments
- Db2, CICS, IMS, and MQ workload analysis
- OMEGAMON, SAS/MXG, IntelliMagic, or similar tools
- MIPS/MSU forecasting and capacity planning
- Mainframe cost and infrastructure optimization
- Grafana-based performance monitoring and dashboards
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