Mainframe DBA

Role & responsibilities

Key Responsibilities -
Provide 24x7 production support for Mainframe databases (such as DB2 for z/OS, IMS, VSAM, or IDMS). by participating in rotational shifts and on-call duties.
Administer, monitor, and maintain Mainframe databases in production and non-production environments.
Implement and manage backup, recovery, tuning, high availability and DR (Disaster Recovery) strategies.
Perform routine health checks, proactively identify performance bottlenecks, and optimize queries and database configurations.
Automate routine operations and reporting using Mainframe utilities, scripting languages, or job scheduling tools (JCL, REXX, Python, Shell, etc.).
Manage database security, user permissions, and compliance with organizational policies.
Coordinate and execute database patching, upgrades, and migrations with minimal downtime.
Collaborate with application and infrastructure teams to support deployment activities and resolve database-related issues.
Monitor and resolve incidents, including root cause analysis and documentation of resolutions.
Automate routine operational tasks using scripts or management tools.
Maintain accurate documentation of database procedures, configurations, and support processes for internal knowledge sharing.

Required Skills and Experience
Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.
7+ years of hands-on experience as a DBA managing Mainframe database environments(e.g., IBM DB2 for z/OS, IMS, VSAM, IDMS. etc)
In-depth knowledge of Maintenance DB architecture, scaling, global distribution, partitioning, consistency models, and throughput management.
Strong scripting and database troubleshooting skills.
Proactively analyze and optimize database performance—tuning queries, indexes, and configurations.
Enforce security best practices, including authentication, access control, data encryption, and compliance monitoring
Proficiency with Mainframe utilities, JCL, scripting (REXX, Python, or other), and automation tools.
Support cloud database deployments, migrations, and upgrades within Azure and GCP environments,
Automate and optimize routine operational tasks using scripting (Python, shell scripting, IaC etc) and Azure automation tools.
Deep knowledge of high availability (HA), replication, backup/recovery, and failover strategies for Mainframe.
Experience with database monitoring tools - Dynatrace, Azure Monitor, Nagios etc and automation frameworks such as Ansible and Terraform .
Solid understanding of database security best practices.
Proven experience with patching, upgrading, and migrating databases.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced operations setting.
Ability to support DB audit requirements and license management.
Excellent communication and documentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications
Certifications in Mainframe DBA
Experience supporting modernization or migration projects (Mainframe to distributed/cloud platforms).
Exposure to cloud-based database services (Azure, GCP etc).
Experience with automation tools (e.g., PowerShell, Ansible, Terraform, Shell scripting).
Exposure to additional Mainframe technologies (IMS, CICS, VSAM, etc.)."