Mainframe Support Engineer

Mainframe Support Engineer | COBOL, JCL, DB2, VSAM, Incident Management, Performance Tuning, Security & Automation

Job Summary
Synechron is seeking an experienced Mainframe Support Engineer to ensure the stability, performance, and availability of enterprise mainframe systems supporting critical business operations. This role involves troubleshooting complex technical issues, managing incident resolution, and supporting system enhancements and deployment activities. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with development, operations, and security teams to maintain system resilience, security, and compliance, contributing to operational excellence and continuous system improvement.

Software Requirements

• Required:

  • Strong proficiency in COBOL, JCL, DB2, and VSAM for mainframe application support and troubleshooting

  • Hands-on experience with mainframe operating environments, including system monitoring and performance tuning tools

  • Experience with scripting languages such as Shell, Python, or Perl for automation and operational scripting

  • Familiarity with ticketing and incident management tools such as ServiceNow and Jira

  • Knowledge of security standards and compliance frameworks relevant to mainframe environments

• Preferred:

  • Experience with automated deployment and environment configuration tools (like Ansible, Terraform)

  • Knowledge of modern mainframe tools supporting DevOps practices

  • Exposure to cloud integration or hybrid infrastructure involving mainframe systems

Overall Responsibilities

• Monitor and support enterprise mainframe applications, ensuring high availability, optimal performance, and system security

• Troubleshoot technical issues, diagnose root causes, and implement timely resolutions to prevent or minimize outages

• Support system upgrades, patches, and deployment activities in coordination with development and operations teams

• Analyze system performance metrics, conduct tuning, and recommend improvements for system stability and scalability

• Manage incident logs, coordinate resolution efforts, and communicate issues and resolutions effectively to stakeholders

• Develop and maintain operational documentation, runbooks, and best practice procedures

• Collaborate on system enhancements, security updates, and compliance activities

• Support off-hours on-call rotation for critical system incidents and performance issues

Technical Skills (By Category)

• Languages & Development Tools:
  Required: COBOL, JCL, Shell scripting, Python for automation and support tooling
  Preferred: Java, REXX scripting, or modern scripting languages used in mainframe environments

• Databases & Data Management:
  DB2, Oracle, and other relational databases supporting mainframe applications; knowledge of SQL and data security best practices

• Security & Compliance:
  Implementation of security controls, data encryption, audit logging, and adhering to industry and organizational standards

• Monitoring & Performance:
  Mainframe monitoring tools, system performance analyzers, and problem identification tools

• Integration & Automation:
  Support for automated deployment tools, infrastructure as code (Terraform, Ansible), and cloud connectors (preferred)

Experience Requirements

• 5+ years of experience supporting and troubleshooting mainframe applications in large enterprise environments

• Proven capability in diagnosing complex incidents, performance tuning, and applying patches/upgrades

• Experience supporting financial or regulated industry mainframes is preferred

• Demonstrated understanding of security, compliance, and audit standards in mainframe systems

• Alternative pathways include senior support roles in banking or financial systems utilizing mainframes

Day-to-Day Activities

• Monitor and support mainframe applications, performing root cause analysis and troubleshooting system issues

• Manage incident logs, prioritize resolutions, and coordinate activity across teams

• Support system patches, upgrades, and deployment processes

• Conduct performance analysis, tune system parameters, and optimize workflows

• Collaborate on security audits, compliance reviews, and system enhancements

• Automate repetitive tasks, support off-hours incident management, and document operational procedures

• Communicate technical issues, status updates, and resolution approaches to stakeholders

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related discipline

• 5+ years supporting enterprise mainframe applications, preferably in financial services or similar regulated environments

• Experience with COBOL, JCL, DB2, VSAM, and mainframe system management tools

• Certifications in security or mainframe support (e.g., IBM Mainframe certifications, ITIL) are advantageous

• Proven track record of supporting mission-critical mainframe systems in enterprise environments

Professional Competencies

• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills for complex mainframe issues

• Effective communication skills to work collaboratively with technical and non-technical teams

• Ownership mindset and ability to drive incident resolution independently

• Adaptability to evolving technologies and infrastructure standards

• Systematic approach to process improvement, automation, and security compliance

• Time and task management skills to handle multiple support activities proactively

S​YNECHRON’S DIVERSITY & INCLUSION STATEMENT

Diversity & Inclusion are fundamental to our culture, and Synechron is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiative ‘Same Difference’ is committed to fostering an inclusive culture – promoting equality, diversity and an environment that is respectful to all. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce helps build stronger, successful businesses as a global company. We encourage applicants from across diverse backgrounds, race, ethnicities, religion, age, marital status, gender, sexual orientations, or disabilities to apply. We empower our global workforce by offering flexible workplace arrangements, mentoring, internal mobility, learning and development programs, and more.

All employment decisions at Synechron are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to the applicant’s gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Candidate Application Notice

Experience Level

Mid Level