Mainframe DB2 Database Administrator (DBA)
Duration: 6 12 Months (NO BENEFITS)
Work Locations: Chandler, Arizona; Plano, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; Jersey City, New Jersey
Work Arrangement: Hybrid 3 days onsite and 2 days remote per week
Job Overview
We are seeking an experienced Mainframe DB2 Database Administrator (DBA) with strong hands-on expertise in IBM Db2 for z/OS to support large-scale, business-critical mainframe environments.
The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in database administration, performance tuning, maintenance, availability, backup and recovery, and production troubleshooting. This role involves close collaboration with application development, systems programming, infrastructure, security, and operations teams to ensure database reliability, performance, and data integrity.
Key Responsibilities
Db2 Database Administration
Administer and support IBM Db2 for z/OS databases across development, testing, and production environments.
Create, maintain, and manage database objects, including databases, tablespaces, tables, indexes, views, and storage definitions.
Manage Db2 catalog objects, partitions, and database structures.
Monitor database health, capacity, performance, and space utilization.
Ensure database availability, integrity, and operational reliability.
Database Maintenance & Utilities
Execute and manage Db2 utilities, including REORG, RUNSTATS, COPY, RECOVER, LOAD, UNLOAD, CHECK DATA, and REBUILD INDEX.
Perform database reorganization, statistics collection, data loading, integrity checking, and recovery operations.
Develop and maintain JCL for Db2 utilities and database maintenance processes.
Troubleshoot utility failures and implement appropriate corrective actions.
Performance Tuning & Optimization
Analyze and tune SQL statements and database performance.
Review Db2 access paths, indexing strategies, and query execution behavior.
Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks, locking issues, and concurrency problems.
Recommend improvements to SQL statements, indexes, and database design.
Optimize database objects to maintain performance and availability.
Backup, Recovery & Production Support
Support database backup, recovery, and disaster recovery activities.
Troubleshoot Db2 errors, SQL issues, performance degradation, and production incidents.
Participate in incident resolution, root cause analysis, and preventive action implementation.
Support database schema changes and application deployments through controlled implementation processes.
Assist with Db2 upgrades, maintenance, migrations, and modernization initiatives.
Documentation & Collaboration
Collaborate with application developers, systems programmers, infrastructure teams, and production operations.
Maintain technical documentation, database standards, operational procedures, and recovery plans.
Follow established change management and production deployment processes.
Support highly available enterprise mainframe environments.
Required Qualifications
Strong hands-on experience with IBM Db2 for z/OS.
Extensive knowledge of Db2 database administration and object management.
Strong understanding of tablespaces, tables, indexes, partitions, views, and the Db2 catalog.
Experience with SQL development support, query analysis, and performance tuning.
Hands-on experience with Db2 utilities, including REORG, RUNSTATS, COPY, RECOVER, LOAD, UNLOAD, CHECK DATA, and REBUILD INDEX.
Knowledge of database backup, recovery, and disaster recovery procedures.
Experience with database performance monitoring, locking, concurrency, and troubleshooting.
Knowledge of Db2 storage and space management.
Strong experience with JCL.
Good working knowledge of IBM z/OS.
Experience supporting large-scale, highly available production mainframe environments.
Experience with production incident management, problem resolution, and controlled change implementation.
Preferred Technical Skills
IBM Db2 Administration Tool
IBM OMEGAMON for Db2
Db2 Query Monitor or equivalent performance monitoring tools
IBM or third-party Db2 utility products
REXX scripting
TSO/ISPF
SDSF
Db2 data sharing and IBM Parallel Sysplex environments
