Senior Mainframe Systems Engineer (z/OS)

Senior Mainframe Systems Engineer (z/OS)

Contract role | Electric utility | Network & Mainframe Engineering.

Type: Contract

Duration: 12+ months

Location: Remote (U.S.)

Experience level: Senior Lead experience.

Job Summary:

Quasent has a need for a senior mainframe engineer with electric utility industry experience. Project systems billing, and financial systems on IBM Z.

Responsibilities:

▪ Install, configure, maintain, and upgrade z/OS and associated system software using SMP/E, including PTF and ISV product maintenance.

▪ Lead or support hardware refreshes and OS upgrades, including IODF/HCD, LPAR configuration, and IPL planning.

▪ Own problem determination for complex incidents: dump analysis, SMF/RMF data, and root-cause resolution under production pressure.

▪ Tune performance and plan capacity across CICS, DB2, MQ, and batch workloads.

▪ Execute changes with disciplined, documented, and approved change control aligned to NERC CIP requirements.

▪ Build automation (REXX, Ansible for z/OS, Zowe) that reduces manual effort and improves visibility into platform health.

▪ Produce runbooks, SOPs, and knowledge transfer; mentor and elevate co-sourced team members.

▪ Communicate platform status, risks, and recommendations clearly to infrastructure leadership.

Required experience:

▪ 10+ years of hands-on IBM z/OS systems programming in large enterprise environments.

▪ Deep expertise in SMP/E, PARMLIB, JES2, SDSF, IPL process, and z/OS internals.

▪ Strong depth in at least one of: CICS, DB2, MQ, storage (DFSMS), or mainframe security (RACF, ACF2, or Top Secret).

▪ Proven experience with z/OS upgrades and IBM Z hardware refreshes (z15, z16, or z17).

▪ Production support experience: on-call rotation, ITIL incident, change, and problem management.

▪ U.S. work authorization and ability to pass a comprehensive background check and personnel risk assessment.

Nice to have experience:

▪ Experience in a regulated industry: utilities (NERC CIP), banking, insurance, or government.

▪ Mainframe networking: TCP/IP on z/OS, VTAM/SNA, OSA, Enterprise Extender.

▪ Automation and monitoring tools: SA z/OS, NetView, Omegamon, or equivalent.

▪ Modernization exposure: z/OS Connect, APIs, CI/CD for z/OS, hybrid cloud integration.

▪ Experience working within co-sourced or outsourced delivery models.