Senior Developer – IBM zOS Connect

Senior Developer IBM z/OS Connect

location: Columbus OH or Nashville TN (both locations would be for on site work)

Role Summary

The Senior Developer IBM z/OS Connect is responsible for exposing mainframe-based services (CICS IMS DB2 COBOL) as RESTful APIs using IBM z/OS Connect Enterprise Edition (EE). This role plays a key part in mainframe modernization enabling digital cloud and API-based consumption of trusted system-of-record data while ensuring performance security and reliability.

The role combines deep z/OS technical expertise with modern API and integration practices and often acts as a technical lead for mainframe API initiatives.

Must-have (Core)

• Hands-on development experience in COBOL CICS and DB2 for both online (transaction) and batch applications including analysis coding unit testing and production support.
• Strong working knowledge of CICS application programming including COMMAREA CICS screens .
• Proven troubleshooting skills for production issues such as CICS abends (e.g. ASRA/S0C7 patterns) DB2 SQL errors and batch restart/recovery.

Nice-to-have (Modernization / Integration)

• Experience creating/exposing APIs using IBM z/OS Connect including COBOL copybook JSON mapping and service enablement of existing business logic.
• Familiarity with API testing tools such as Postman/ReadyAPI/SoapUI for request/response validation and payload troubleshooting

Key Responsibilities

z/OS Connect & API Development

• Design develop and deploy REST APIs using IBM z/OS Connect EE.
• Expose CICS IMS COBOL and DB2 assets as reusable services.
• Create and maintain service and API specifications (Swagger/OpenAPI).
• Implement request/response mappings using JSON data binding and API descriptors.
• Support synchronous and asynchronous service interactions.

Mainframe Integration

• Develop and maintain COBOL programs and interface logic to support APIs.
• Integrate APIs with CICS Transactions IMS Transactions and DB2 stored procedures.
• Collaborate with application teams to refactor or enable programs for API exposure.
• Ensure minimal impact to legacy workloads and SLAs.

Security & Governance

• Implement API security controls including:
  • RACF-based authentication and authorization
  • TLS/SSL configuration
  • Integration with enterprise IAM and API gateways
• Apply enterprise API governance standards including naming versioning and error handling.
• Support auditing logging and compliance requirements.

Performance & Reliability

• Tune z/OS Connect middleware for throughput latency and scalability.
• Troubleshoot issues across z/OS Connect CICS/IMS and network layers.
• Ensure APIs meet availability and resiliency standards.
• Monitor and analyze SMF logs and performance metrics.

DevOps & Modernization Support

• Support CI/CD pipelines for mainframe-based APIs.
• Participate in automation initiatives using tools such as urbanCode Jenkins Git or Ansible.
• Assist in modernization programs integrating z/OS with cloud and distributed platforms.
• Promote API-first thinking within traditional mainframe development teams.

Technical Leadership

• Serve as a subject matter expert for z/OS Connect and mainframe APIs.
• Provide guidance and mentoring to junior developers.
• Participate in design reviews and modernization planning.
• Collaborate with architects API platform teams and distributed application teams.

Required Qualifications

Mainframe & z/OS Expertise

• 7 years of experience in z/OS mainframe development.
• Strong experience with COBOL JCL and z/OS utilities.
• Hands-on experience with CICS and/or IMS.
• DB2 SQL and stored procedure experience.

z/OS Connect & APIs

• 3 years of experience with IBM z/OS Connect EE.
• Strong understanding of RESTful API design and JSON data formats.
• Experience creating and consuming OpenAPI/Swagger definitions.
• Familiarity with API lifecycle management concepts.

Middleware & Security

• Experience with WebSphere Liberty on z/OS.
• Knowledge of RACF TLS certificates and mainframe security principles.
• Understanding of network concepts relevant to API communication.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience integrating z/OS APIs with API gateways (Apigee Azure APIM DataPower etc.).
• Exposure to cloud or hybrid integration architectures.
• Experience with DevOps for mainframe and automation tooling.
• IBM certifications related to z/OS CICS or z/OS Connect.
• Background in regulated industries (banking insurance government).

Soft Skills

• Strong communication skills across mainframe and distributed teams.
• Ability to bridge legacy systems with modern digital platforms.
• Analytical problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable working in complex enterprise-scale environments.