Mainframe Technical Lead

Seeking an experienced Mainframe Technical Lead (L3) to lead and manage a team supporting enterprise z/OS infrastructure and Mainframe DB2 environments. Responsible for platform availability, performance, security, modernization, incident resolution, and operational excellence across z/OS, CICS, DB2, Storage, RACF, and supporting subsystem technologies. The role combines hands-on technical leadership, customer engagement, team development, and governance for 24x7 mission-critical environments. Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor Mainframe Systems Programmers and DB2 Administrators across onsite, offshore, and nearshore teams.
• Provide L3 support for complex z/OS, CICS, DB2, JES, RACF, USS, storage, and subsystem-related issues.
• Manage installation, configuration, migration, customization, maintenance, and upgrades of z/OS and ISV products.
• Drive incident, problem, change, capacity, availability, and performance management activities.
• Perform RCA, implement preventive actions, and ensure compliance with SLA and operational commitments.
• Lead IPL activities, maintenance deployments (RSU/SMP-E), software refreshes, hardware upgrades, and disaster recovery testing.
• Define operational procedures, automation strategies, backup/recovery plans, and governance standards.
• Oversee Mainframe DB2 administration including subsystem management, utilities, backup/recovery, performance tuning, security, capacity planning, migrations, and database availability.
• Partner with application teams on DB2 performance optimization, SQL tuning, and database best practices.
• Drive automation initiatives using REXX, JCL, z/OSMF, Ansible, and monitoring tools to improve operational efficiency.
• Identify skill gaps, develop training plans, and ensure continuous capability improvement within the team.

Mainframe Computer, Technical Leadership, IBM CICS (Customer Information Control System), Mainframe Computer, RACF (Resource Access Control Facility), IBM DB2, IBM z-OS Operating System, Team Building, Technical Leadership, Team Lead/Manager, * Expert knowledge of z/OS, MVS, JES2/JES3, Parallel Sysplex, GDPS, WLM, Catalog Management, PARMLIB, PROCLIB, USS, HMC, LPAR, IPL, Standalone Dumps, SMP/E, and RSU maintenance.

• Strong experience with RACF, JCL, REXX, CLIST, Assembler Exits, Control-M, Connect:Direct (NDM), z/OS Connect, and ISV product administration.
• Strong knowledge of CICS administration, including CEMT, CEDA, transaction processing, subsystem connectivity, high availability, and performance management.
• Deep understanding of DB2 for z/OS, including subsystem administration, utilities, RUNSTATS, REORG, backup/recovery, disaster recovery, SQL tuning, locking, buffer pools, security, and capacity management.
• Experience with RMF, SMF, performance analysis, capacity planning, workload optimization, and availability management.
• Experience supporting and maintaining enterprise monitoring and automation platforms such as NetView, System Automation (SA z/OS), BMC MainView, OMEGAMON, and Ansible.

Qualifications & Soft Skills

• 10+ years of Mainframe infrastructure experience with proven technical leadership experience.
• Strong customer-facing communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience supporting large-scale 24x7 production environments.
• Strong documentation, governance, audit, and operational process management skills.
• Ability to lead critical incidents, manage escalations, and handle high-pressure situations.
• Strong mentoring, coaching, and team development capabilities.

Preferred

• IBM z/OS and DB2 certifications.
• ITIL certification.
• Experience with Mainframe Automation, AIOps, Observability, Performance & Capacity Management, and Mainframe modernization initiatives.