Senior Mainframe Specialist

Senior Mainframe SpecialistWe are looking for an experienced Mainframe professional who can manage critical enterprise applications, support large-scale legacy modernization initiatives, and ensure high system stability in mission-critical environments. Basically, someone who knows the mainframe world is still very much alive and quietly running half the banking and insurance universe.RoleSenior Mainframe SpecialistExperience8 to 15 yearsLocationChicagoEmployment TypeContractKey ResponsibilitiesDesign, develop, enhance, and support Mainframe applicationsWork closely with business and technical teams to understand requirementsHandle production support, incident management, and root cause analysisParticipate in system enhancements, modernization, and migration initiativesPerform code reviews and maintain coding standardsCoordinate with distributed teams and external stakeholdersSupport batch job monitoring and performance tuningEnsure application stability, security, and complianceParticipate in Agile ceremonies, estimations, and sprint planningMentor junior team members and provide technical guidanceRequired SkillsStrong experience in COBOL, JCL, CICS, VSAM, and DB2Experience in Mainframe production support and developmentGood understanding of batch processing and scheduling toolsExperience with IBM Mainframe environmentsKnowledge of file handling, job optimization, and debuggingExposure to APIs, middleware integrations, or modernization tools is a plusFamiliarity with version control and DevOps practicesStrong analytical and problem-solving abilitiesGood communication and stakeholder management skillsPreferred QualificationsExperience in Banking, Insurance, or Financial Services domain preferredExposure to Mainframe modernization initiatives is an added advantageExperience with tools like Endeavor, Changeman, Control-M, or File-AID preferredKnowledge of cloud integration or hybrid architecture is a plusWhat We’re Looking ForStrong ownership mindsetStability under pressure during production issuesAbility to work independently and drive deliverablesStrong collaboration skills across teams and geographiesSomeone who understands that “legacy system” does not mean “simple system”