Job Description
The Mainframe Senior Architect – Performance & Capacity Management provides technical leadership for the performance, capacity, scalability, reliability, and cost optimization of the organization's IBM zEnterprise mainframe environment.
This role requires deep expertise in z/OS, Parallel Sysplex, COBOL, CICS, Db2, IMS, MQ, and WLM. The Senior Architect analyzes system and application performance, forecasts capacity requirements, identifies optimization opportunities, and partners with application and infrastructure teams to support highly available and cost-effective mainframe operations.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Performance & Capacity Management
• Lead performance and capacity management across large-scale, multi-LPAR Parallel Sysplex environments.
• Monitor CPU, storage, workload utilization, and system performance to identify bottlenecks and capacity requirements.
• Develop capacity forecasts based on workload trends, application demand, and business growth.
• Analyze and optimize performance across z/OS, COBOL applications, CICS, Db2, IMS, MQ, and WLM.
• Troubleshoot complex performance issues and assess the impact of application and workload changes.
Data Analysis & Cost Optimization
• Analyze performance data using RMF, SMF, SAS/MXG, and Omegamon.
• Use SCRT, MSUs, and MIPS to support mainframe cost analysis and optimization.
• Develop reports and dashboards communicating performance, capacity, utilization, risks, and recommendations.
Architecture & Leadership
• Provide technical leadership for mainframe performance, capacity, and infrastructure decisions.
• Evaluate architecture and design options for performance, scalability, availability, resource utilization, and cost.
• Partner with COBOL application, infrastructure, DevOps, database, and other technical teams to resolve performance and capacity issues.
• Mentor technical teams and communicate complex technical findings and recommendations to leadership and stakeholders.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or closely related field.
• 10+ years of mainframe systems experience in large-scale enterprise environments.
• Extensive experience with multi-LPAR, Parallel Sysplex z/OS environments.
• Significant experience in mainframe performance monitoring, tuning, and capacity management.
• Advanced experience with RMF, SMF, and WLM.
• Strong experience with COBOL application environments and performance analysis.
• Experience with CICS, Db2, IMS, and MQ.
• Experience with capacity forecasting, workload analysis, and resource planning.
• Experience with MSUs, MIPS, SCRT, and mainframe cost optimization.
• Strong hands-on experience with COBOL, REXX, and JCL.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Preferred
• Experience with ZPCR, Macro4 Freezeframe, BMC Thruput Manager, TADz, or IntelliMagic.
• Experience with highly transactional, large-scale data environments.
• Experience creating executive dashboards and performance reports.
• Experience using SAS for mainframe data analysis and reporting.
• Healthcare or health insurance industry experience.
• Master's degree in a related field.
Technical Skills
• Mainframe: IBM zEnterprise, z/OS, Parallel Sysplex, LPAR
• Applications & Subsystems: COBOL, CICS, Db2, IMS, MQ
• Performance & Capacity: RMF, SMF, WLM, Omegamon, SAS/MXG, SCRT, MSUs, MIPS
• Programming: COBOL, REXX, JCL
• Analysis & Reporting: Excel, PowerPoint, Performance Reporting, Capacity Forecasting, Executive Dashboards
• Preferred Tools: ZPCR, Macro4 Freezeframe, BMC Thruput Manager, TADz, IntelliMagic
REMOTE WORK ELIGIBILITY:
• This position is fully remote; however, candidates must permanently reside in the United States to be eligible.
• All work must be conducted within the continental U.S.
• Applicants outside of the U.S. cannot be considered for this position.
• No C2C, sponsorship, or relocation available for this role.
HIRING PROCESS GUIDELINES
To maintain the integrity and security of our hiring process, candidates are expected to participate authentically and without the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT or similar platforms) during interviews, assessments, or any other part of the selection process.
For a fair and secure experience, please note the following:
• Cameras must remain on during all virtual interviews.
• The use of AI tools by candidates is not permitted at any stage of the interview process.
• All employment offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which may include verification of identification.
This role requires deep expertise in z/OS, Parallel Sysplex, COBOL, CICS, Db2, IMS, MQ, and WLM. The Senior Architect analyzes system and application performance, forecasts capacity requirements, identifies optimization opportunities, and partners with application and infrastructure teams to support highly available and cost-effective mainframe operations.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Performance & Capacity Management
• Lead performance and capacity management across large-scale, multi-LPAR Parallel Sysplex environments.
• Monitor CPU, storage, workload utilization, and system performance to identify bottlenecks and capacity requirements.
• Develop capacity forecasts based on workload trends, application demand, and business growth.
• Analyze and optimize performance across z/OS, COBOL applications, CICS, Db2, IMS, MQ, and WLM.
• Troubleshoot complex performance issues and assess the impact of application and workload changes.
Data Analysis & Cost Optimization
• Analyze performance data using RMF, SMF, SAS/MXG, and Omegamon.
• Use SCRT, MSUs, and MIPS to support mainframe cost analysis and optimization.
• Develop reports and dashboards communicating performance, capacity, utilization, risks, and recommendations.
Architecture & Leadership
• Provide technical leadership for mainframe performance, capacity, and infrastructure decisions.
• Evaluate architecture and design options for performance, scalability, availability, resource utilization, and cost.
• Partner with COBOL application, infrastructure, DevOps, database, and other technical teams to resolve performance and capacity issues.
• Mentor technical teams and communicate complex technical findings and recommendations to leadership and stakeholders.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or closely related field.
• 10+ years of mainframe systems experience in large-scale enterprise environments.
• Extensive experience with multi-LPAR, Parallel Sysplex z/OS environments.
• Significant experience in mainframe performance monitoring, tuning, and capacity management.
• Advanced experience with RMF, SMF, and WLM.
• Strong experience with COBOL application environments and performance analysis.
• Experience with CICS, Db2, IMS, and MQ.
• Experience with capacity forecasting, workload analysis, and resource planning.
• Experience with MSUs, MIPS, SCRT, and mainframe cost optimization.
• Strong hands-on experience with COBOL, REXX, and JCL.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Preferred
• Experience with ZPCR, Macro4 Freezeframe, BMC Thruput Manager, TADz, or IntelliMagic.
• Experience with highly transactional, large-scale data environments.
• Experience creating executive dashboards and performance reports.
• Experience using SAS for mainframe data analysis and reporting.
• Healthcare or health insurance industry experience.
• Master's degree in a related field.
Technical Skills
• Mainframe: IBM zEnterprise, z/OS, Parallel Sysplex, LPAR
• Applications & Subsystems: COBOL, CICS, Db2, IMS, MQ
• Performance & Capacity: RMF, SMF, WLM, Omegamon, SAS/MXG, SCRT, MSUs, MIPS
• Programming: COBOL, REXX, JCL
• Analysis & Reporting: Excel, PowerPoint, Performance Reporting, Capacity Forecasting, Executive Dashboards
• Preferred Tools: ZPCR, Macro4 Freezeframe, BMC Thruput Manager, TADz, IntelliMagic
REMOTE WORK ELIGIBILITY:
• This position is fully remote; however, candidates must permanently reside in the United States to be eligible.
• All work must be conducted within the continental U.S.
• Applicants outside of the U.S. cannot be considered for this position.
• No C2C, sponsorship, or relocation available for this role.
HIRING PROCESS GUIDELINES
To maintain the integrity and security of our hiring process, candidates are expected to participate authentically and without the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT or similar platforms) during interviews, assessments, or any other part of the selection process.
For a fair and secure experience, please note the following:
• Cameras must remain on during all virtual interviews.
• The use of AI tools by candidates is not permitted at any stage of the interview process.
• All employment offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which may include verification of identification.
Additional Details
Experience: 10+ years