Architect

We're looking for a mainframe contractor to work on low-level systems tooling in our IBM z/OS test environment. The work is Assembler-centric and sits below the application layer, module-level changes, subsystem exits, and the diagnostics around them working alongside our infrastructure, application and security teams. A good fit for an experienced contractor who is comfortable in vendor-supplied modules, module maps and dumps rather than in application code.

What you'll do:

Write and maintain HLASM code that runs as part of the runtime and subsystem environment

Build and package modules and analyse load modules

Work with access methods (VSAM, QSAM) and Language Environment at the control-block level

Develop and install subsystem exits (CICS, Db2, IMS or MQ)

Use JCL and REXX to automate build, install and verification steps

Troubleshoot dumps and abends, and demonstrate that a change is behaviour-neutral before it ships

What you'll bring:

8+ years hands-on z/OS experience, with significant time spent below the application layer

Strong HLASM required, and not substitutable by COBOL or PL/I experience

Binder and linkage-editor fluency

Working knowledge of Language Environment internals, VSAM/QSAM control blocks, and the z/OS authorization model (APF, authorized concatenations)

Comfort with JCL and REXX; dump and abend analysis (IPCS, SLIP, GTF or component trace)

Nice to have: Db2 language interface internals, CICS global user exits and threadsafety, IMS DL/I or MQ internals, SMP/E, experience with z/OS trace or diagnostic tooling, or IBM Z certifications.