Mainframe DB2 Systems Programmer

Position: Mainframe DB2 Systems Programmer
Work Model: Hybrid
Locations: Charlotte, NC | Plano, TX | Phoenix, AZ
Experience: 12+ Years overall Mainframe experience
Primary Focus: DB2 for z/OS Systems Programming / Administration

Submission Note:
Please submit only consultants with strong, hands-on experience as a DB2 for z/OS Systems Programmer. Candidates whose experience is limited to DB2 Development, Application DBA, or general DB2 administration should not be submitted.

Position Summary

We are looking for a senior DB2 for z/OS Systems Programmer with strong hands-on experience managing and supporting DB2 subsystems in large-scale, mission-critical mainframe environments.

This is a DB2 Systems Programming / Administration role, not a DB2 application-development role.

The candidate should have strong experience with DB2 installation, configuration, upgrades, maintenance, performance tuning, troubleshooting, Data Sharing, replication, high availability, and disaster recovery.

Must-Have Technical Skills

·         DB2 for z/OS Systems Programming / Administration

·         DB2 subsystem installation, configuration, and maintenance

·         ZPARMs / DSNZPARM

·         Buffer Pools

·         DB2 Logs

·         BSDS

·         DB2 Catalog & Directory

·         DB2 version upgrades, PTF/APAR implementation and maintenance

·         DB2 performance tuning and troubleshooting

·         DB2 Data Sharing

·         Parallel Sysplex

·         Coupling Facility

DB2 replication technologies:
o    Q Replication (QRep)

o    SQL Replication (SQLRep)

o    IBM Change Data Capture (CDC)

·         High Availability / Disaster Recovery

·         JCL

·         TSO/ISPF

·         SDSF

·         SMP/E — preferred, but highly valuable

 

Key Responsibilities

DB2 Systems Administration

1.       Install, configure, maintain and support DB2 for z/OS subsystems.

2.       Perform DB2 upgrades, maintenance, PTF/APAR implementation and production deployments.

3.       Manage ZPARMs, buffer pools, logs, BSDS, Catalog and Directory.

4.       Support DB2 certification testing and operational procedures.

 

Performance & Troubleshooting

·         Monitor and tune DB2 system performance involving CPU, memory and I/O.

·         Troubleshoot buffer pools, locking/concurrency, threads, connections and system-level performance issues.

·         Analyze DB2 logs, dumps, abends and diagnostic information.

·         Perform root-cause analysis and implement corrective actions.

 

Data Sharing / High Availability

·         Support DB2 Data Sharing environments in Parallel Sysplex.

·         Work with Coupling Facility configurations.

·         Support failover, workload balancing and high-availability solutions.

·         Participate in DR planning and testing.

 

DB2 Replication

·         Install, configure, maintain and troubleshoot QRep, SQLRep and/or CDC.

·         Support replication upgrades, certification testing and DR activities.

 

Mainframe Integration

·         Support DB2 integration with:

o    JCL / Batch

o    CICS

o    IMS

o    MQ

o    Distributed systems

 

Experience Requirements

Requirement
Minimum
Overall Mainframe Experience
10 – 12+ years preferred
DB2 for z/OS Experience
Strong hands-on experience required
DB2 Systems Programming / Administration
3–5+ years hands-on required
DB2 Replication
QRep / SQLRep / CDC experience required
Data Sharing / Parallel Sysplex
Required
DB2 Upgrades / Maintenance
Required
Performance Tuning
Required
DR / High Availability
Required
SMP/E
Preferred
 

Preferred / Nice-to-Have Skills

These are not the primary screening criteria, but candidates with them will be stronger:

·         OMEGAMON / BMC MainView

·         BMC DB2 Tools

·         Endevor / ISPW

·         REXX

·         SQL

·         RACF

·         TCP/IP

·         Splunk

·         z/OS Connect / API modernization

·         DB2 migration / modernization projects

·         Cloud / hybrid mainframe integration

·         CICS / IMS / MQ administration knowledge

·         ADABAS / Natural

 

Phoenix: Candidates should preferably already be in the Phoenix area and able to work onsite 3 days per week. Candidates willing to relocate to Phoenix may also be considered.

 

Who We Should Submit

Strong match:
A senior DB2 for z/OS Systems Programmer who has managed the DB2 subsystem itself — installation, ZPARMs, buffer pools, logs, BSDS, Catalog/Directory, upgrades, performance, Data Sharing, replication and DR.

Do NOT prioritize:
Candidates who are primarily DB2 application developers, SQL developers, DB2 programmers, or application DBAs without strong DB2 for z/OS Systems Programming experience.