Senior Developer - IBM z/OS Connect
eTeam, Columbus, OH, United States
Role name: Senior Developer - IBM z/OS Connect
Work site: Columbus, OH or Nashville, TN (both locations would be for onsite work), US (ONSITE)
Role Summary The Senior Developer - IBM z/OS Connect is responsible for exposing mainframe-based services (CICS, IMS, DB2, COBOL) as RESTful APIs using IBM z/OS Connect Enterprise Edition (EE). This role plays a key part in mainframe modernization, enabling digital, cloud, and API-based consumption of trusted system-of-record data while ensuring performance, security, and reliability. The role combines deep z/OS technical expertise with modern API and integration practices, and often acts as a technical lead for mainframe API initiatives. Job location: Columbus, OH or Nashville, TN (both locations would be for on site work)
Key Responsibilities z/OS Connect & API Development • Design, develop, and deploy REST APIs using IBM z/OS Connect EE. • Expose CICS, IMS, COBOL, and DB2 assets as reusable services. • Create and maintain service and API specifications (Swagger/OpenAPI). • Implement request/response mappings using JSON, data binding, and API descriptors. • Support synchronous and asynchronous service interactions. Mainframe Integration • Develop and maintain COBOL programs and interface logic to support APIs. • Integrate APIs with CICS Transactions, IMS Transactions, and DB2 stored procedures. • Collaborate with application teams to refactor or enable programs for API exposure. • Ensure minimal impact to legacy workloads and SLAs. Security & Governance • Implement API security controls including: o RACF-based authentication and authorization o TLS/SSL configuration o Integration with enterprise IAM and API gateways • Apply enterprise API governance standards including naming, versioning, and error handling. • Support auditing, logging, and compliance requirements. Performance & Reliability • Tune z/OS Connect middleware for throughput, latency, and scalability. • Troubleshoot issues across z/OS Connect, CICS/IMS, and network layers. • Ensure APIs meet availability and resiliency standards. • Monitor and analyze SMF, logs, and performance metrics. DevOps & Modernization Support • Support CI/CD pipelines for mainframe-based APIs. • Participate in automation initiatives using tools such as urbanCode, Jenkins, Git, or Ansible. • Assist in modernization programs integrating z/OS with cloud and distributed platforms. • Promote API-first thinking within traditional mainframe development teams. Technical Leadership • Serve as a subject matter expert for z/OS Connect and mainframe APIs. • Provide guidance and mentoring to junior developers. • Participate in design reviews and modernization planning. • Collaborate with architects, API platform teams, and distributed application teams.
Required Qualifications Mainframe & z/OS Expertise • 7 years of experience in z/OS mainframe development. • Strong experience with COBOL, JCL, and z/OS utilities. • Hands-on experience with CICS and/or IMS. • DB2 SQL and stored procedure experience. z/OS Connect & APIs • 3 years of experience with IBM z/OS Connect EE. • Strong understanding of RESTful API design and JSON data formats. • Experience creating and consuming OpenAPI/Swagger definitions. • Familiarity with API lifecycle management concepts. Middleware & Security • Experience with WebSphere Liberty on z/OS. • Knowledge of RACF, TLS, certificates, and mainframe security principles. • Understanding of network concepts relevant to API communication.
Preferred Qualifications • Experience integrating z/OS APIs with API gateways (Apigee, Azure APIM, DataPower, etc.). • Exposure to cloud or hybrid integration architectures. • Experience with DevOps for mainframe and automation tooling. • IBM certifications related to z/OS, CICS, or z/OS Connect. • Background in regulated industries (banking, insurance, government).
Soft Skills • Strong communication skills across mainframe and distributed teams. • Ability to bridge legacy systems with modern digital platforms. • Analytical problem-solving skills. • Comfortable working in complex, enterprise-scale environments.
Role Summary The Senior Developer - IBM z/OS Connect is responsible for exposing mainframe-based services (CICS, IMS, DB2, COBOL) as RESTful APIs using IBM z/OS Connect Enterprise Edition (EE). This role plays a key part in mainframe modernization, enabling digital, cloud, and API-based consumption of trusted system-of-record data while ensuring performance, security, and reliability. The role combines deep z/OS technical expertise with modern API and integration practices, and often acts as a technical lead for mainframe API initiatives. Job location: Columbus, OH or Nashville, TN (both locations would be for on site work)
Key Responsibilities z/OS Connect & API Development • Design, develop, and deploy REST APIs using IBM z/OS Connect EE. • Expose CICS, IMS, COBOL, and DB2 assets as reusable services. • Create and maintain service and API specifications (Swagger/OpenAPI). • Implement request/response mappings using JSON, data binding, and API descriptors. • Support synchronous and asynchronous service interactions. Mainframe Integration • Develop and maintain COBOL programs and interface logic to support APIs. • Integrate APIs with CICS Transactions, IMS Transactions, and DB2 stored procedures. • Collaborate with application teams to refactor or enable programs for API exposure. • Ensure minimal impact to legacy workloads and SLAs. Security & Governance • Implement API security controls including: o RACF-based authentication and authorization o TLS/SSL configuration o Integration with enterprise IAM and API gateways • Apply enterprise API governance standards including naming, versioning, and error handling. • Support auditing, logging, and compliance requirements. Performance & Reliability • Tune z/OS Connect middleware for throughput, latency, and scalability. • Troubleshoot issues across z/OS Connect, CICS/IMS, and network layers. • Ensure APIs meet availability and resiliency standards. • Monitor and analyze SMF, logs, and performance metrics. DevOps & Modernization Support • Support CI/CD pipelines for mainframe-based APIs. • Participate in automation initiatives using tools such as urbanCode, Jenkins, Git, or Ansible. • Assist in modernization programs integrating z/OS with cloud and distributed platforms. • Promote API-first thinking within traditional mainframe development teams. Technical Leadership • Serve as a subject matter expert for z/OS Connect and mainframe APIs. • Provide guidance and mentoring to junior developers. • Participate in design reviews and modernization planning. • Collaborate with architects, API platform teams, and distributed application teams.
Required Qualifications Mainframe & z/OS Expertise • 7 years of experience in z/OS mainframe development. • Strong experience with COBOL, JCL, and z/OS utilities. • Hands-on experience with CICS and/or IMS. • DB2 SQL and stored procedure experience. z/OS Connect & APIs • 3 years of experience with IBM z/OS Connect EE. • Strong understanding of RESTful API design and JSON data formats. • Experience creating and consuming OpenAPI/Swagger definitions. • Familiarity with API lifecycle management concepts. Middleware & Security • Experience with WebSphere Liberty on z/OS. • Knowledge of RACF, TLS, certificates, and mainframe security principles. • Understanding of network concepts relevant to API communication.
Preferred Qualifications • Experience integrating z/OS APIs with API gateways (Apigee, Azure APIM, DataPower, etc.). • Exposure to cloud or hybrid integration architectures. • Experience with DevOps for mainframe and automation tooling. • IBM certifications related to z/OS, CICS, or z/OS Connect. • Background in regulated industries (banking, insurance, government).
Soft Skills • Strong communication skills across mainframe and distributed teams. • Ability to bridge legacy systems with modern digital platforms. • Analytical problem-solving skills. • Comfortable working in complex, enterprise-scale environments.