Senior Systems Engineer (Mainframe CA7)

Senior Systems Engineer

Location: Reston, VA (Remote)

Duration: 6 Months to hire

Job Description

The Senior Systems Engineer will perform complex analysis, design, development, testing, and debugging of software, ranging from operating system architecture integration to software design and systems engineering. The individual will be responsible for developing critical application programs, ensuring system reliability, and integrating various computer systems while adhering to industry best practices, compliance standards, and project milestones. This role also requires collaboration with stakeholders to define system scope, objectives, and processes.

Key Responsibilities:

System Development & Design:

• Design, develop, and test complex application programs.
• Conduct code reviews, unit, and integration testing.
• Work with stakeholders to define system scope and objectives, ensuring alignment with project requirements.
• Document system design, processes, and testing protocols.

Monitoring & Troubleshooting:

• Daily monitoring of IT infrastructure, applications, and supporting technologies.
• Proactively detect and prevent service disruptions on both mainframe and distributed systems.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex system and network issues using diagnostic tools and techniques.

Scheduling & System Operations:

• Create, update, and maintain job schedules in mainframe, Windows, and UNIX environments.
• Perform job restarts, manage JCL syntax corrections, and ensure job completion.
• Monitor scheduling queues and implement new tools to improve productivity and performance.

Documentation & Compliance:

• Develop, update, and maintain operations systems manuals, policies, and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with security, audit regulations, and corporate policies.
• Provide timely information for audit requests and operational reviews.

Technology Consulting & Support:

• Provide technical assistance to IT operations, service desk, and development teams.
• Offer 24x7 on-call support for assigned products and services.
• Collaborate with vendor technical support to resolve product-related issues.

Disaster Recovery:

• Participate in disaster recovery exercises and business resumption initiatives.
• Ensure operational readiness for system recovery and continuity in case of critical failures.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in software development, system architecture, and debugging.
• Expertise in programming languages (e.g., JavaScript, C, Python).
• Strong understanding of software development life cycle (SDLC).
• Knowledge of cloud technologies (AWS, Azure) and database systems (SQL, Oracle, MongoDB, PostgreSQL).
• Expertise in continuous integration (CI), continuous testing (CT), and continuous deployment (CD) processes and tools.
• Hands-on experience with CA7, CICS, DB2, and other mainframe technologies.
• Familiarity with UNIX and Windows commands and environments.
• Knowledge of network technologies such as TCP/IP, VTAM, and Network Topology.
• Strong ability to troubleshoot complex systems, perform trace analysis, and provide diagnostic support.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and analytical skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with cloud-native practices and modern DevOps tools.
• Experience with DB2 commands, control tables, stored procedures, and data sharing concepts.
• Knowledge of SAN technology and distributed storage management.
• Experience with disaster recovery planning and business continuity processes.

Soft Skills:

• Ability to communicate technical requirements to various stakeholders with differing levels of expertise.
• Proven track record of establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Adaptability to changing priorities and ability to coach less experienced staff.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Work Environment:

• Full-time, 40 hours per week.
• Participate in an on-call rotation for production support and system uptime.
• Opportunities for leadership in technical projects and system upgrades

Employers have access to artificial intelligence language tools (“AI”) that help generate and enhance job descriptions and AI may have been used to create this description. The position description has been reviewed for accuracy and Dice believes it to correctly reflect the job opportunity.