Senior Software Engineer - IMS TM/DB Application Programmer

We are seeking an accomplished Senior Software Engineer with deep expertise in IBM IMS Transaction Manager (TM) and Database (DB) application programming to drive the evolution of our IMS compatible technologies within our Enterprise modernization platform. This role is ideal for someone who has spent years building, maintaining, or optimizing IMS based applications on the mainframe and now wants to bring that domain knowledge into next generation tooling, runtimes, and replatforming solutions.

As a senior software engineer, you will provide architectural leadership, guide design of IMS compatible features, and translate complex mainframe concepts into a robust, performant implementation for distributed and cloud-based environments.

This role sits at the heart of our mission to modernize long-established, mission-critical enterprise applications and to deliver stable, high-performance infrastructure relied on by global enterprises.

Architect & Build IMS TM/DB-Compatible Technologies

• Contribute to the design and development of key components that replicate or extend IMS TM and DB behaviors-including message handling, transaction scheduling, PSB/DBD structures, DL/I call compatibility, and hierarchical database semantics.
• Define and evolve architectural direction for our IMS replatforming runtime, ensuring parity with core IMS concepts where required and embracing modernization opportunities where beneficial.
• Translate IMS internals and application programming patterns into scalable, reliable components on distributed systems.

Apply Deep IMS Domain Expertise

• Model real-world IMS application scenarios (batch and online) within our modernization stack.
• Provide authoritative guidance on IMS constructs such as:
• Message queues, scheduling, and transaction regions
• DBD/PSB design and access paths
• DL/I call flows, PCB handling, segment structure, and hierarchical locking
• IMS batch processing interactions with TM and DB
• Partner with product and engineering leadership to ensure features meet enterprise-grade reliability and performance expectations.

Technical Leadership

• Contribute to cross-team engineering initiatives that impact compilers, runtimes, integration layers, and interoperability features.
• Mentor engineers across teams, helping them understand IMS fundamentals and how those concepts should surface in our implementation.
• Conduct deep technical reviews, troubleshoot complex runtime compatibility issues, and guide performance tuning strategies.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Influence product roadmap decisions related to IMS replatforming, compatibility, and modernization.
• Engage with customers, field engineering, and support teams to understand real-world IMS workloads and migration scenarios., * An experienced engineer with strong domain knowledge IMS application behavior and system fundamentals.
• Skilled at distilling mainframe concepts into modern software architecture.
• Motivated by the challenge of modernizing long-standing, mission-critical platforms.
• A mentor who raises the technical capabilities of the entire engineering organization.

Why Join Us?

• Influence the design and implementation of next-generation IMS TM/DB modernization technology.
• Work with a highly experienced engineering team deeply engaged in large-scale, mission-critical enterprise systems.
• Play a foundational role in how customers migrate decades of IMS investments to flexible, modern environments.
• A culture that values technical depth, long-term thinking, and system-level mastery.

• 10+ years of professional software engineering, including senior-level ownership of complex system-level components.
• Direct hands-on experience developing or maintaining IMS TM and DB applications on IBM z/OS (essential).
• Deep knowledge of:
• IMS message-driven architecture
• Program specification blocks (PSBs), program communication blocks (PCBs), and DBD structures
• DL/I calls and hierarchical database access
• IMS transaction scheduling and message queue behavior
• Strong proficiency in C, C++, or similar systems languages .
• Experience delivering high-availability, mission-critical software systems., * Background implementing or working with IMS exit routines, user exits, scheduling exits, or database utilities.
• Experience with mainframe modernization, replatforming, or emulation technologies.
• Familiarity with COBOL or PL/I application semantics and interactions with IMS environments.
• Exposure to modern distributed systems, cloud-native design, or hybrid runtime architectures (Azure, AWS, Kubernetes).
• Experience building compilers, runtimes, interpreters, or compatibility layers for legacy workloads.

Annual salary range for this position is between $120,500.00 - $162,675.00 gross before taxes.

As part of our commitment to a safe and trustworthy workplace, we include background and reference checks in our hiring process.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you’ll enjoy your career with us!

Companies around the world trust Rocket to solve their most complex business challenges by powering their critical infrastructure, business processes, and data. We help extend the value of these assets, enabling our customers to embrace the potential of cloud and mobile computing, advanced analytics, and the innovations of tomorrow. From the clothes we wear to the cars we drive, Rocket solutions power the back-end systems that thousands of brands rely on every day.

At Rocket, software is about more than just code-it’s about people. We are passionate problem-solvers, working to make a difference for others. Our foundation is built on empathy, humanity, trust, and love, and we strive to embody these core values in everything we do. Whether we’re serving our customers, partners, or fellow Rocketeers, we are committed to treating everyone with the respect and care they deserve.

Founded in 1990, Rocket Software is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, and has 20 offices worldwide, bringing people and technology together to build a better future.