z/OS System Programmer

Job Title: z/OS System Programmer Location: Chennai, Bangalore, Noida Experience: 7–10 Years Employment Type: Full-Time - Mainframe z/OS Systems Programmer : 7-10 years of hands-on experience as a Mainframe Systems Programmer. - Job Summary: We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Mainframe z/OS Systems Programmer to join our dynamic IT team. The successful candidate will be responsible for the installation, maintenance, and upgrade of the z/OS operating system, as well as various Independent Software Vendor (ISV) products. This role requires deep technical expertise in mainframe technologies, a strong understanding of system performance tuning, problem diagnosis, and a commitment to ensuring the stability, security, and efficiency of our critical mainframe infrastructure. - Key Responsibilities: - z/OS Upgrades and Maintenance: - Plan, prepare, and execute z/OS operating system upgrades (e.g., from z/OS 2.x to z/OS 3.x), including pre-installation checks, customization, testing, and post-upgrade verification. - Apply IBM PTFs (Program Temporary Fixes) and APARs (Authorized Program Analysis Reports) to maintain system integrity and resolve reported issues. - Perform regular IPLs (Initial Program Loads) and system restarts as required for maintenance and upgrades. - Monitor z/OS system health, performance, and resource utilization using tools like RMF, SMF, Omegamon, etc. - ISV Product Management: - Install, configure, upgrade, and maintain a wide range of Independent Software Vendor (ISV) products (e.g., Broadcom/CA, BMC, IBM, Rocket Software, etc.). This includes products for security (ACF2, Top Secret, RACF), performance monitoring, job scheduling (CA-7, TWS), storage management (SMS, CA-Disk, FDR/ABR), database (DB2, IMS, VSAM), and other utilities. - Collaborate with vendors for problem resolution, licensing, and technical support. - Ensure compatibility and integration of ISV products with the z/OS environment. - System Maintenance and Support: - Perform system IPLs, reconfigurations, and PARMLIB updates. - Manage and maintain critical system datasets (e.g., SYSRES, Page datasets, SMF datasets). - Provide expert-level support for mainframe incidents, including problem determination, diagnosis, and resolution in a timely manner. - Participate in on-call rotation for 24/7 support of critical systems. - Performance Tuning and Optimization: - Analyze system performance data to identify bottlenecks and recommend improvements. - Tune various z/OS components, WLM (Workload Manager), and ISV products to optimize resource utilization and application performance. - Automation and Scripting: - Develop and maintain REXX, JCL, and other scripts for system automation, monitoring, and administrative tasks. - Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity: - Participate in the planning, testing, and execution of disaster recovery procedures for the mainframe environment. - Ensure high availability and recoverability of critical systems. - Documentation and Best Practices: - Create and maintain comprehensive system documentation, including installation guides, configuration details, operational procedures, and troubleshooting guides. - Adhere to ITIL best practices for change management, incident management, and problem management. - Collaboration and Mentorship: - Work closely with application development teams, database administrators, operations staff, and other infrastructure teams. - Mentor junior systems programmers and share knowledge effectively. - Security and Compliance: - Implement and enforce security best practices within the z/OS environment and for ISV products. - Ensure compliance with internal security policies and external regulations. - Required Skills and Experience: - 7-10 years of hands-on experience as a Mainframe Systems Programmer. - In-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with z/OS operating system installation, configuration, and maintenance. - Proven experience with major z/OS upgrades (e.g., from one version to another). - Strong proficiency in JCL, TSO/ISPF, SMP/E, JES2/JES3. - Extensive experience with the installation and support of various ISV products from vendors such as Broadcom/CA, BMC, IBM, and Rocket Software. Specific product experience in areas like: - Security: RACF, ACF2, or Top Secret - Performance Monitoring: Omegamon, RMF, SMF - Scheduling: CA-7, TWS/OPC - Storage Management: SMS, DASD management tools (e.g., CA-Disk, FDR/ABR) - Database: DB2, IMS, VSAM - Utilities: DFSORT, Syncsort - Solid understanding of mainframe networking (TCP/IP, VTAM). - Experience with z/OS performance tuning and capacity planning. - Proficiency in REXX or other scripting languages for automation. - Strong problem-solving, analytical, and troubleshooting skills. - Excellent communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills. - Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment. - Strong commitment to quality and attention to detail. - Desired Skills and Experience (Plus Points): - Experience with Parallel Sysplex environments. - Knowledge of z/VM or Linux on Z. - Experience with mainframe modernization initiatives or hybrid cloud environments. - Certifications related to z/OS or specific mainframe technologies.