Mainframe Systems Programmer / Database Administrator (DBA)
Location: Downey, California
Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Contract Duration: 1 year, with opportunity for extension, W2
Pay: $85/hr
Overview
We are seeking an experienced Mainframe Systems Programmer / DBA to support and maintain large-scale legacy database environments. This individual will be responsible for the installation, configuration, maintenance, upgrading, performance tuning, and administration of enterprise mainframe database systems. The role requires expertise in multiple database technologies and strong systems programming experience in a mainframe environment.
This position supports critical business applications and infrastructure while providing technical leadership, database design guidance, performance optimization, capacity planning, and disaster recovery support.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan, install, configure, test, implement, and maintain mainframe database management systems.
- Lead and support complex database upgrade, migration, and enhancement projects.
- Administer and maintain hierarchical, relational, and file-based databases.
- Monitor database health, performance, availability, and capacity.
- Perform database tuning, performance analysis, and optimization activities.
- Develop and maintain backup, recovery, replication, compression, and partitioning strategies.
- Create and manage logical and physical database designs.
- Provide database architecture recommendations and technical consulting to application development and operations teams.
- Conduct technical reviews of existing database environments and recommend improvements.
- Support database reorganizations, space management, and storage utilization initiatives.
- Evaluate new database technologies and enhancements to existing platforms.
- Troubleshoot production database issues and implement corrective actions.
- Ensure database environments meet business, security, and operational requirements.
Required Technical Skills
Database Technologies
- IMS
- DB2
- ADABAS
- NATURAL / SuperNatural
Mainframe Technologies
- IBM z/OS
- SMP/E
- JCL
- IMS DB/DC
- CICS
- ACF2
- Assembler
- COBOL
- REXX
- IBM File Manager
- DELTA/IMS
- EntireX
- CA Spool
- IMS and DB2 BMC Tools
- N20/TRIM
Additional Technical Skills
- Mainframe disk and tape management
- DB2 systems programming
- Mainframe hardware configuration
- COOL:Gen
- MXG
Required Experience
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in Mainframe Systems Programming and/or Database Administration.
- At least 3 years of experience in a lead or senior technical role.
- Experience supporting enterprise-scale legacy database environments.
- Proven experience with database performance tuning, recovery planning, capacity management, and production support.
- Experience providing technical guidance to development and operational teams.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting multiple database platforms within the same mainframe environment.
- Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
- Experience leading database upgrade and modernization initiatives.
- Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Work Environment
- Approximately 95% remote with limited onsite presence as required.
- Candidates must have hands-on Systems Programming and DBA experience. This role is not intended for mainframe application developers whose primary experience is application development rather than database and systems administration.
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