Mainframe DB2 Systems Programmer - MDSPDP

Job Title: Mainframe DB2 Systems Programmer
Location: Phoenix, AZ; Plano, TX; Charlotte, NC; Richmond, VA; Jacksonville, FL; Pennington, NJ; Chicago, IL
Job Type: Contract
Duration: 6 months (Contract to Hire)
Schedule: Hybrid | 3 days onsite, 2 days work from home
Pay Rate: $60 - $65/hr

Note: This job doesn't offer any benefits.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Mainframe DB2 Systems Programmer to install, configure, maintain, and optimize DB2 for z/OS subsystems, ensuring high availability, security, and reliable performance in a mission-critical enterprise environment.

Required Qualifications

• 7–12+ years of mainframe experience.

• 3–5+ years of DB2 Systems Programming or Administration experience.

• Experience with IBM DB2 for z/OS and replication products, including Q Replication, SQL Replication, and CDC.

• Experience with software installation, version upgrades, maintenance, certification testing, operational documentation, and disaster recovery testing.

• Strong knowledge of ZPARMs and DB2 subsystem configuration.

• Experience managing buffer pools, logs, BSDS, catalog, and directory components.

• Strong troubleshooting skills for DB2 system-level issues, performance problems, and connectivity issues.

• Proficiency in JCL, TSO/ISPF, and SDSF.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with SMP/E.

• Familiarity with DB2 utilities and performance tools.

• Experience with monitoring tools such as OMEGAMON and MainView.

• Knowledge of mainframe DevOps tools such as Endevor and ISPW.

• Exposure to cloud integration or hybrid architectures.

• Experience with large-scale DB2 upgrades, migrations, and performance optimization initiatives.

• Knowledge of modernization tools such as z/OS Connect and APIs.

• Experience supporting BMC for DB2 Tools, IBM z/OS Connect, Software AG ADABAS, and Natural products.

• Programming experience with REXX.

• Working knowledge of SQL, JIRA, RACF, TCP/IP, network certificates, and Splunk.

• Working knowledge of other mainframe subsystems, including CICS, IMS, and MQ.

Responsibilities

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

• Perform version upgrades, apply PTFs and APARs, and complete routine system maintenance.

• Manage subsystem configuration and initialization parameters.

• Maintain ZPARMs (DSNZPARM), buffer pools, logs, BSDS, catalog, and directory components.

• Monitor and tune DB2 system performance, including CPU, memory, and I/O utilization.

• Optimize buffer pools, locking and concurrency, thread performance, and connections.

• Support capacity planning and performance analysis using DB2 and system tools.

• Manage and support DB2 Data Sharing environments, including Sysplex and Coupling Facility integration.

• Support workload balancing, failover, disaster recovery, and high-availability strategies.

• Analyze and resolve subsystem failures, dumps, logs, abends, and connectivity issues.

• Perform root cause analysis and implement preventive actions.

• Support DB2 interactions with batch processing, JCL, CICS, IMS, MQ, and distributed systems.

• Support DB2 replication products, including installation, maintenance, certification testing, and disaster recovery testing.