COBOL Mainframe Developer - IBMi (AS400)

As a COBOL Mainframe Developer - IBMi (AS400), you will serve as the primary technical expert responsible for supporting, maintaining, troubleshooting, and optimizing business-critical IBM i (AS400) applications and infrastructure. This role focuses on sustaining a mature COBOL-based environment, diagnosing complex issues with limited documentation, and ensuring operational stability while supporting business and regulatory requirements. You will also contribute to a strategic platform migration initiative by providing technical expertise in data transition, system integration, testing, and operational continuity planning. Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain, support, and optimize COBOL-based applications running on IBM i (AS400) platforms.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex application, system, and production issues with minimal supervision.
• Analyze existing programs and implement enhancements to improve performance, reliability, and maintainability.
• Monitor system performance, job queues, and operational health to proactively identify and address issues.
• Manage and support batch processing jobs, scheduled workloads, and operational workflows.
• Support file transfer processes and integrations with internal and external systems.
• Develop, modify, and maintain SQL-based data access solutions while ensuring data integrity.
• Collaborate with business analysts, stakeholders, and technical teams to clarify requirements and resolve application issues.
• Create and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, operational procedures, and troubleshooting guides.
• Provide support for terminal emulation tools, print/output queues, and spool file management.
• Identify root causes of technical issues and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Participate in testing, validation, and deployment activities related to system enhancements and upgrades.
• Support migration activities involving legacy platform modernization and data transitions.
• Assist with integration planning and operational continuity throughout migration initiatives.
• Support user profile administration, security permissions, and authority management.
• Assist with job scheduling, workload automation, and operational support processes.
• Support backup, recovery, and disaster recovery activities using platform management tools.
• Maintain operational runbooks and support documentation for ongoing system administration.

• Strong experience supporting and maintaining IBM i (AS400) environments.
• Extensive hands-on experience with COBOL development, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Proven ability to analyze and support legacy applications with limited or incomplete documentation.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to independently identify root causes and implement solutions.
• Experience supporting production systems in mission-critical environments.
• Knowledge of IBM i system administration, operations, and monitoring.
• Experience managing batch jobs, job queues, and workload processing.
• Strong understanding of SQL and database access within IBM i environments.
• Experience supporting file transfers, data exchanges, and application integrations.
• Knowledge of system performance monitoring and optimization techniques.
• Experience working with emulator tools such as PC5250.
• Familiarity with print queues, output queues, and spool file management.
• Experience creating and maintaining technical and operational documentation.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and debugging skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with technical and business stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience supporting system testing, validation, and production deployments.
• Understanding of backup, recovery, and business continuity processes.
• Experience with user profile administration, security authorities, and access management.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience with BRMS backup and recovery processes preferred.
• Experience supporting IBM i migration or modernization projects preferred.
• Experience with data migration, integration planning, and legacy system transition activities preferred.
• Familiarity with enterprise content management or workflow platforms preferred.
• Experience supporting highly regulated or government-sector environments preferred.