Senior Developer IBM z/OS Connect

Role name: Senior Developer – IBM z/OS Connect

Work site: Columbus, OH or Nashville, TN (both locations would be for onsite work), US (ONSITE)

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.

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

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:

o RACF-based authentication and authorization

o TLS/SSL configuration

o 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.