z/OS System Programmer

A z/OS System Programmer on a 6-month contract to support critical banking infrastructure. This is a hands-on role requiring deep technical knowledge of Cobol, DB2, and JCL, with experience supporting high-availability Mainframe environments in the banking or financial services sector.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain and support the z/OS Mainframe environment and subsystems including JES2, SDSF, TSO/ISPF.

• Develop, debug, and enhance Cobol applications and batch processes used in financial transaction systems.

• Manage and optimize DB2 database interactions, including performance tuning and troubleshooting.

• Create and maintain efficient JCL for job scheduling, batch processing, and system automation.

• Apply system and software maintenance using SMP/E in line with banking compliance and security protocols.

• Participate in incident management, root cause analysis, and disaster recovery planning.

• Collaborate with infrastructure, application, and security teams to ensure robust, secure operations.

• Maintain strict adherence to change control, audit, and regulatory standards typical of financial institutions.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Strong experience as a z/OS System Programmer in banking or financial services.

• Proficiency in Cobol, DB2, and JCL in a production Mainframe environment.

• Skilled in system tools such as TSO/ISPF, SDSF, RACF, and JES2.

• Solid understanding of security controls and audit compliance in a regulated setting.

• Experience with SMP/E for patching and system upgrades.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.

• Comfortable working in change-controlled environments and participating in CAB processes.

Nice to Have:

• Experience with CICS, MQ, or IMS.

• Exposure to ITIL processes and Mainframe automation tools.

• Prior involvement in core banking system migrations or upgrades.

• Knowledge of regulatory requirements such as SOX, GDPR, or FCA standards.