Senior COBOL Developer - Mainframe Modernization

Warrior Tribe Consulting (WTC) is a federal staffing and recruiting firm supporting the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Cobalt Program in Woodlawn, MD. We’ve been engaged to fill specifically allocated COBOL Developer roles as part of SSA’s ongoing mainframe modernization initiative. This is a federal GS-13/14/15 position with SSA - a great opportunity to break into the federal space with long-term stability and growth.

WTC manages the full submission process for every candidate we work with. Once we identify a strong match, we reach out directly, help tailor your resume to the federal posting, and submit you formally to the hiring managers - you’re not applying blind.

Role Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, test, and maintain COBOL-based applications supporting SSA’s benefits, eligibility, and payment processing systems
• Work within CICS online transaction environments and batch processing (JCL) for high-volume production systems
• Access, update, and optimize DB2, VSAM, and IMS data structures
• Support legacy system modernization and integration efforts alongside cross-functional federal IT teams
• Troubleshoot and resolve production issues across mainframe applications
• Participate in Agile/SAFe delivery ceremonies, technical design reviews, and stakeholder briefings
• Document system logic, data flows, and modernization decisions for federal compliance and audit purposes

• 8+ years of professional COBOL development experience (14+ years preferred for GS-14/15 consideration)
• Hands-on experience with CICS, JCL, DB2, VSAM, IMS, SQL, and OLTP/batch processing
• Experience with large-scale enterprise or federal/government mainframe systems (HHS, CMS, SSA, or similar preferred)
• Demonstrated experience in legacy modernization, system integration, or data migration projects
• Strong understanding of federal IT security, compliance, and change-control processes
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, IT, or related field (equivalent specialized experience considered)
• U.S. Citizenship required

Background & Suitability Requirements:

• This is a federal government role requiring a background investigation, fingerprinting, and drug test as a condition of employment
• Ability to obtain and maintain Public Trust clearance
• Candidates must pass all federal suitability screening prior to start date

Preferred Qualifications (GS-14/15):

• Prior leadership of development teams or technical leads on mainframe modernization programs
• Experience with Agile/SAFe delivery frameworks in a federal environment
• PMP, ITIL, or related certifications a plus

Salary Range: GS-13 to GS-15 - $121,785 - $197,200/year (2026 Washington-Baltimore-Arlington locality pay table, based on demonstrated grade level), * Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) - wide choice of medical plans

• Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) - pension + TSP matching up to 5%
• Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)
• 13-26 days of paid annual leave per year (based on federal service time) + 13 sick days annually
• 11 paid federal holidays
• Flexible/telework scheduling options (role-dependent)
• Long-Term Care and Dental/Vision insurance options
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility, * 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance