Mainframe zOS Administration Specialist

Overview

Lead the design, administration and governance of enterprise-class z/OS storage and mainframe system environments, serving as the highest level of technical escalation for storage-related issues.

What you'll do

• Design, implement, and maintain enterprise-class z/OS storage solutions to ensure reliability, scalability, and performance.
• Lead the architecture and governance of DFSMS and SMS environments, including Storage Groups, Data Classes, Storage Classes, Management Classes, and ACS routines.
• Manage DASD capacity planning, storage optimization, hardware upgrades, and long-term growth strategies.
• Administer and support VTOC, VTOCIX, catalogs, DFSMShsm, and DFSMSdss, ensuring efficient data lifecycle management and recoverability.
• Monitor storage performance, analyze I/O workloads, troubleshoot complex issues, and drive root cause resolution for critical incidents.
• Ensure high availability, resiliency, backup, recovery, disaster recovery, and business continuity capabilities across the storage environment.
• Collaborate with security teams to maintain compliance with audit, regulatory, and access control requirements.
• Lead strategic initiatives including storage modernization, hardware refreshes, data center migrations, z/OS upgrades, cloud integration, automation, and disaster recovery enhancements.
• Develop and implement automation solutions using REXX, JCL, ISPF, and vendor tools to improve operational efficiency and reduce manual effort.
• Serve as the highest level of technical escalation for storage-related issues, providing expert guidance and operational leadership.
• Partner with application, infrastructure, security, and vendor teams to deliver storage services that align with business objectives.
• Mentor junior engineers and system programmers, promote knowledge sharing, and contribute to the development of standards, procedures, and best practices.

What you'll need

• 10+ years of experience in Mainframe z/OS system programming, with extensive hands-on expertise in z/OS installation, configuration, maintenance, and support.
• Skills in applying patches, managing third-party software and ensuring system reliability.
• Hands-on expertise in SYSRES builds, applying PTFs, performing disaster recovery drills and updating license keys.
• Proficiency in product maintenance, upgrades and compatibility checks for z/OS 3.1 and IBM z16 hardware.
• Adept at troubleshooting any system failures, freeze, job abends and performance issues.
• Willingness to provide 24/7 oncall support to resolve any system issues.
• Working knowledge of mainframe GDPS.
• Good understanding of flip and stay disaster recovery model.
• Experience of working on many migration projects as part of mainframe modernization.
• Should provide recommendations on optimizing system performance.

Nice to have

• Experience in z/OS administration.
• Experience in mainframe modernization initiatives.
• Experience of supporting the IBM z16 and IBM z17 mainframe systems.
• Any leadership and mentoring experience.

Details

• Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
• Hybrid-friendly work environment.