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# Mainframe IMS Engineer / IMS System Programmer

- **Company:** BCforward
- **Location:** Indianapolis, IN, United States (Remote available)
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $135,200.0
- **Contract:** Contract
- **Skills:** Customer Information Control System (CICS), Databases, Data Sharing, IBM DB2, IBM Parallel Sysplex, Job Control Language (JCL), Rexx (Programming Language), IBM Information Management System, Job Entry Subsystem 2/3, Mainframes, Performance Tuning, IBM Resource Access Control Facility, TCP/IP, Backup and Restore, Z/OS, Tso/ispf, Scripting, Database Performance, Performance Monitor
- **Published:** October 27, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.dice.com/job-detail/5666c54c-1153-4e15-a2d1-a7b474ceee1b

## About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Mainframe IMS Engineer / IMS System Programmer to join our team. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in IBM IMS Database and Transaction Manager administration, installation, maintenance, and performance engineering, and a proven ability to ensure availability, reliability, security, and recoverability for mission-critical IMS environments., * Strong experience with IBM IMS DB and IMS TM administration and operations.

 * Hands-on with IMS SYSGEN, DBD, PSB, ACB, DBRC, and IMS Connect.
 * Strong knowledge of z/OS, JCL, TSO/ISPF, JES2, SDSF, and SMP/E.
 * Experience in IMS backup, recovery, database reorganization, and performance tuning.
 * Exposure to sysplex and data-sharing environments.
 * Experience level: 10-18+ years in IMS infrastructure and database engineering, including upgrades, migrations, DR testing, and major incident resolution.

Preferred Skills:

 * IMS Parallel Sysplex and Shared Queues.
 * IMS Connect and API integration; IMS monitoring and performance tools.
 * Knowledge of DB2, CICS, MQ, RACF security, and REXX or automation scripting.
 * ITIL and change management governance in 24x7 enterprise environments.

## Description

* Administer and maintain IMS DB and IMS TM across development, test, DR, and production.
 * Manage control regions, MPRs, BMPs, and database resources, including startup, shutdown, and restarts.
 * Install, configure, customize, and maintain IMS with SMP/E, including PTFs, fixes, and upgrades.
 * Perform IMS SYSGEN and subsystem configuration changes; support modernization and migration.
 * Manage IMS databases (Full Function, HALDB, Fast Path/DEDB, HIDAM, HDAM, HISAM, HSAM) and maintain DBDs, PSBs, and ACBs.
 * Execute reorganization, recovery, optimization, and capacity planning activities; monitor growth and storage.
 * Monitor and tune transaction and database performance, including CPU, response time, storage, and throughput.
 * Design and support backup and recovery strategies, including image copies, DBRC, restart, and DR exercises to meet RTO/RPO.
 * Provide L2/L3 support, diagnose subsystem and transaction issues, analyze dumps/logs/abends, and drive root cause and prevention.
 * Support integration with DB2, CICS, MQ, z/OS, RACF, VTAM/TCP-IP, and IMS Connect; coordinate cross-team efforts.
 * Participate in CAB reviews, releases, deployments, and ensure compliance with change governance; maintain documentation.
 * Liaise with IBM and vendors; collaborate with z/OS, CICS, DB2, MQ, Storage, Security, and Application teams; provide technical guidance.