Mainframe Engineer Director
Apex Systems, New York, NY, United States
Director of Mainframe Engineering
Location:
New York, New York (4 days in office NYC - 1 remote) *Can also sit in Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Jersey City, and San Francisco*
Employment Type:
Permanent
Role Overview
This position requires a leader to manage and build out a mainframe automation group at an enterprise level. The role involves hands-on engagement with the team, leading development, providing training, and troubleshooting complex issues. The director will own the mainframe automation strategy and roadmap to enhance reliability, detection, and recovery, while partnering with various stakeholders to prioritize investments that reduce operational risk.
Key Responsibilities Own the mainframe automation strategy and roadmap to improve reliability, detection, and recovery. Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team skilled in REXX, z/OS automation, DevOps, and integration. Provide hands-on technical leadership in mainframe automation frameworks, system state management, and multi-site failover automation. Scale automated solutions across infrastructure domains using APIs, orchestration, and infrastructure-as-code. Instill disciplined engineering practices, including peer reviews, version control, and change management. Define and operationalize SLOs/SLIs, error budgets, and alerting standards to reduce MTTA/MTTR. Partner with infrastructure leaders, application teams, and vendors to drive outcomes and steward solution documentation. Own key performance indicators (KPIs) and continuous improvement cycles, communicating performance and risks to senior leadership. Required Qualifications
Experience:
Extensive experience leading mainframe automation in large, multi-site enterprise environments. Demonstrated success implementing resilience and disaster recovery automation, including GDPS and Safeguarded Copy.
Technical Skills:
Expert-level REXX scripting and deep z/OS knowledge with a track record of robust automation delivery. Proficiency with DevOps tooling such as Jenkins (including Zowe plug-in) and Ansible, along with REST API integrations. Experience with ServiceNow ITSM automation and familiarity with AIOps or event correlation platforms. Strong command of SQL, JCL, ISPF/TSO and the ability to mentor team members in these domains. Proven discipline in change management, utilizing tools like Git and conducting peer reviews.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in the financial services industry. Compensation & Benefits
The anticipated salary range for this position is $300,000 to $400,000 annually. This position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package.
This employer is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click here for more details.
If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation in using our website for a search or application, please contact our Benefits Department at [email protected] or 804-523-8228.
Apex Systems is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing® in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work® in the United Kingdom and Mexico. Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click here for more details.
Apex Benefits Overview:
Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our 'Welcome Packet' as well, which an Apex team member can provide.
Location:
New York, New York (4 days in office NYC - 1 remote) *Can also sit in Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Jersey City, and San Francisco*
Employment Type:
Permanent
Role Overview
This position requires a leader to manage and build out a mainframe automation group at an enterprise level. The role involves hands-on engagement with the team, leading development, providing training, and troubleshooting complex issues. The director will own the mainframe automation strategy and roadmap to enhance reliability, detection, and recovery, while partnering with various stakeholders to prioritize investments that reduce operational risk.
Key Responsibilities Own the mainframe automation strategy and roadmap to improve reliability, detection, and recovery. Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team skilled in REXX, z/OS automation, DevOps, and integration. Provide hands-on technical leadership in mainframe automation frameworks, system state management, and multi-site failover automation. Scale automated solutions across infrastructure domains using APIs, orchestration, and infrastructure-as-code. Instill disciplined engineering practices, including peer reviews, version control, and change management. Define and operationalize SLOs/SLIs, error budgets, and alerting standards to reduce MTTA/MTTR. Partner with infrastructure leaders, application teams, and vendors to drive outcomes and steward solution documentation. Own key performance indicators (KPIs) and continuous improvement cycles, communicating performance and risks to senior leadership. Required Qualifications
Experience:
Extensive experience leading mainframe automation in large, multi-site enterprise environments. Demonstrated success implementing resilience and disaster recovery automation, including GDPS and Safeguarded Copy.
Technical Skills:
Expert-level REXX scripting and deep z/OS knowledge with a track record of robust automation delivery. Proficiency with DevOps tooling such as Jenkins (including Zowe plug-in) and Ansible, along with REST API integrations. Experience with ServiceNow ITSM automation and familiarity with AIOps or event correlation platforms. Strong command of SQL, JCL, ISPF/TSO and the ability to mentor team members in these domains. Proven discipline in change management, utilizing tools like Git and conducting peer reviews.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in the financial services industry. Compensation & Benefits
The anticipated salary range for this position is $300,000 to $400,000 annually. This position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package.
This employer is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click here for more details.
If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation in using our website for a search or application, please contact our Benefits Department at [email protected] or 804-523-8228.
Apex Systems is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing® in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work® in the United Kingdom and Mexico. Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click here for more details.
Apex Benefits Overview:
Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our 'Welcome Packet' as well, which an Apex team member can provide.