Job Title: Senior Mainframe DBA

Location: Salt Lake City, UT | Onsite

Employment Type: Contract

Duration: 6-12 months

Pay: $65/hr

About:

VLink, founded in 2006, is a leading global provider of software engineering services with next-gen technologies and best-in-class talent. Our Headquarters are in the U.S, and we have offices in 7+ countries from North America-Europe to APAC, with expansion plans in the Middle East. With over 1,000 employees working globally, VLink has helped SMBs, and large enterprises achieve their business goals, and gained the trust of Fortune-250 companies. VLink is 'Great Place to Work CertifiedTM' and has been a consistent winner as- Best Places to Work in CT. Trust, collaboration, and accountability are the three elements that are at the core of VLink's work culture. We value our professionals, providing comprehensive benefits and the opportunity for growth.

Job Details:

In this role, you will serve as the primary onsite DBA point of contact for database administration, production support, performance optimization, security, and disaster recovery activities. You will collaborate with application developers, architects, QA teams, DevOps, integration teams, offshore delivery teams, and third party partners to design, maintain, and support reliable DB2 environments for enterprise clients.

This is an excellent opportunity to work on challenging client engagements, contribute to modernization and cloud related initiatives, and grow your career within a collaborative consulting environment that values technical excellence, initiative, and continuous learning.

Your future duties and responsibilities:

As a Mainframe DB2 DBA, you will help ensure the performance, stability, security, and availability of enterprise database environments. Your responsibilities will include:

Database Design and Architecture

• Serve as the primary onsite point of contact for DB2 database administration and related activities.

• Collaborate with application developers and architects to translate logical data models into efficient physical DB2 database designs.

• Execute DDL for the creation and modification of tables, views, storage groups, and other database objects.

• Safely manage schema evolution through complex DB2 ALTER activities.

• Implement and maintain Universal Table Spaces, including Client and PBR structures, to support effective storage and partitioning strategies.

• Design, create, and manage DB2 indexes to support data integrity and optimize application access paths.

Performance Tuning and Monitoring

• Write, review, and tune complex SQL queries to improve application performance and minimize CPU consumption.

• Monitor and troubleshoot DB2 performance issues, including access path concerns, locking, buffer pools, and SQL execution.

• Analyze EXPLAIN output and other diagnostic information to identify performance bottlenecks and recommend corrective actions.

• Use Real Time Statistics (RTS) to monitor database health and schedule maintenance activities proactively.

• Support performance optimization and continuous improvement initiatives across production environments.

Database Operations and Automation

• Execute and monitor DB2 utilities, including LOAD, UNLOAD, REORG, RUNSTATS, COPY, and RECOVER.

• Manage DB2 space allocation, including PRIQTY and SECQTY, and monitor VSAM datasets to help prevent storage shortages.

• Develop and maintain JCL and REXX scripts to automate batch processing and routine DBA activities.

• Use DB2 command level functions to manage database threads, statuses, and operational activities.

• Leverage DB2 administration and monitoring tools, such as DB2 Admin Tool and Query Monitor, to support efficient database management.

• Provide production support, investigate incidents, perform root cause analysis, and coordinate timely issue resolution.

Security and Business Continuity

• Administer DB2 security, including GRANT and REVOKE privileges, in alignment with enterprise access policies.

• Support database security, audit, compliance, and data protection requirements.

• Develop, test, and execute disaster recovery strategies to support business continuity.

• Manage image copies, DB2 logs, backup processes, and recovery activities to help ensure timely restoration following an outage.

• Participate in production readiness reviews, recovery exercises, and operational support activities.

Collaboration and Delivery

• Coordinate with architects, SMEs, development teams, QA, DevOps, integration teams, offshore resources, and third party vendors.

• Provide technical guidance and knowledge transfer to team members and offshore delivery teams.

• Support application releases, database changes, maintenance activities, and production deployments.

• Document database designs, operating procedures, troubleshooting steps, and recovery processes.

• Communicate technical issues, risks, recommendations, and status updates clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Required qualifications to be successful in this role:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline. Equivalent technical experience may be considered.

• At least six years of experience in mainframe database administration, maintenance, and production support.

• Strong hands-on experience administering IBM DB2 for z/OS, including database design, performance monitoring and tuning, backup and recovery, security, and production support.

• Working knowledge of mainframe technologies, including COBOL, JCL, CICS, and VSAM, and an understanding of how applications interact with DB2 databases.

• Experience with DB2 utilities and administration activities, including RUNSTATS, REORG, COPY, RECOVER, LOAD, and UNLOAD.

• Experience analyzing and resolving DB2 performance issues, including SQL performance and access path concerns.

• Experience supporting multiple applications within a large enterprise or production environment.

• Experience coordinating with offshore teams and providing technical direction or guidance.

• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Demonstrated initiative, sound judgment, and the ability to make informed technical decisions.

• Ability to evaluate and recommend solutions for moderate to complex database and production support issues.

• Ability to work onsite in Salt Lake City and collaborate directly with client and delivery teams.

• Availability to participate in on call support activities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Endevor.

• Experience using mainframe debugging and diagnostic tools.

• Experience supporting large scale enterprise modernization or database transformation initiatives.

• Familiarity with automation, scripting, monitoring, and continuous improvement practices.

• Consulting or client facing experience in a technology services environment.

Employment Practices:

VLink is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

This job application process may use AI-powered tools to assist in screening and evaluating applications based on objective, job-related qualifications. AI is used solely to support the recruitment process and all final hiring decisions are made exclusively by our human recruitment team.

Applicant information will be handled in accordance with VLink's privacy policy.