About the position
Mainframe z/OS Technical Support Engineer
Contract: 36 months
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Mainframe z/OS Technical Support Engineer to support a business-critical IBM Z mainframe environment. The successful candidate will be responsible for mainframe systems programming, hardware and software maintenance, system performance, troubleshooting, and technical collaboration across infrastructure and operations teams.
The role covers mainframe hardware such as processors, disk storage, virtual tape libraries, network adapters and FICON directors across primary and alternate data-centre sites. The engineer will help ensure that hardware and software are installed, configured and maintained in line with technical standards and best practices.
Key Responsibilities
- Install, configure, maintain and upgrade IBM z/OS operating systems and related mainframe hardware and software.
- Diagnose and resolve complex system-level issues, including root-cause analysis.
- Manage SMP/E software maintenance, system libraries and system configurations.
- Monitor and tune system performance to support availability, capacity and efficient platform operation.
- Support system security controls, compliance obligations and audit requirements.
- Provide Level 2 and Level 3 support for z/OS-related incidents.
- Collaborate with application, infrastructure, operations, architecture and storage teams.
- Coordinate hardware maintenance and remediation activities with relevant technical teams and hardware vendors.
- Assess hardware levels, cabling, compatibility limits and configuration requirements for mainframe devices.
- Investigate connectivity and channel errors, including issues involving FICON connectivity, and help restore performance to required standards.
- Review hardware and system performance, identify bottlenecks, and work with storage teams to assess storage and tape configurations.
- Work with technical specialists to review implementations, identify improvements and implement recommendations.
- Provide technical guidance and mentor graduate trainees and other team members.
Required Experience and Skills
- Proven experience as a systems programmer supporting IBM z/OS environments.
- Strong knowledge of z/OS architecture, system utilities and subsystems.
- Experience troubleshooting complex system-level issues and performing root-cause analysis.
- Understanding of z/OS system and subsystem performance.
- Understanding of Workload Manager (WLM) setup and administration.
- Experience with z/OS installation, configuration, maintenance and upgrades.
- Knowledge of SMP/E software maintenance, system libraries and system configurations.
- Understanding of mainframe hardware and connectivity, including relevant experience with processors, disk storage, virtual tape libraries, network adapters, FICON directors and cabling.
- Ability to support security controls, compliance and audit requirements.
- Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work across technical teams and mentor colleagues.
Environment and Technical Collaboration
- Work with architecture teams to align processes with architectural requirements and established best practices.
- Coordinate hardware maintenance and remediation with data-centre teams and hardware vendors.
- Explain end-to-end connectivity from design through implementation in complex environments.
- Provide clear technical feedback and supporting information when reviewing implementations and performance improvements.
- Continuously review hardware performance and collaborate with storage teams to improve storage and tape configurations.
Contract Details
Contract duration: 36 months
Interested candidates should submit an up-to-date CV outlining their hands-on IBM z/OS systems programming experience, including SMP/E, WLM, performance management, troubleshooting and relevant mainframe hardware or connectivity exposure.
Desired Skills:
- IBM z/OS systems
- z/OS installation
- configuration
- maintenance
- SMP/E
- system utilities
- Level 2/3 incident support
