Engineer, z/OS Network Mainframe

The focus of this position is to manage and maintain IT infrastructure environments for Managed Services customers, which may include,but are not limited to: enterprise data storage systems, mainframe (IBM System z), and associated software; network infrastructure environments; database systems, and security tools. The Managed Services Engineer ensures high levels of availability and security of the supported systems and business applications. This position will focus on the operational stability and maintenance of virtualized and physical infrastructure in customer and/or hosted data center environments.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide z/OS network support and customization (such as TCP/IP, VTAM, FTP, SFTP, FTPS, SMTP, etc.). Routine activities include configuring, implementing, maintaining and supporting host network definitions and configurations on a regular basis as well as supporting peripheral ISV program product related issues (e.g., Connect:Direct). Additionally, this position will also estimate and plan for installation and upgrade activities in addition to new customer transition (read: onboarding) projects.

The level of support requires understanding, expert knowledge and lengthy experience of IBM zSystems (mainframe) software and technology - in particular, z/OS operating systems with a specific focus upon Communications Server and related networking products.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Provides primary support for reported problems related to software in assigned area of responsibility and related products
• Fulfills ServiceNow requests for customers as they pertain to software in assigned area of responsibility and related products
• Ensures system improvements and/or modifications are implemented
• Develops, enhances and/or supports technical approaches that allow successful audits and scalable implementations of large, complex mainframe environments
• Identifies and resolves performance issues
• Facilitates project planning efforts by establishing and meeting work estimates, target dates, milestones and schedules
• Participates in ongoing development and improvement of installation standards
• Provides technical assistance regarding Disaster Recovery (DR) exercises and Business Continuity Processes (BCP)
• Facilitates project planning efforts by establishing and meeting work estimates, target dates, milestones and schedules
• Performs a variety of technical tasks in support of Managed Services customers. These may include, but are not limited to:
  • Installs, implements, maintains, upgrades, and troubleshoots client infrastructure solutions
  • Plans, develops, installs, configures, maintains, supports, and optimizes client network hardware, software, and communication links
  • Anticipates, mitigates, identifies, and responds to system performance issues
  • Ensures the integrity and security of enterprise data on host computers, multiple databases, particularly during data transfer in accordance to with business needs and industry best-practices regarding privacy, security, and regulatory compliance
  • Researches and makes recommendations on infrastructure products, services, and standards in support of procurement and development efforts
  • Participates in Disaster Recovery and/or Business Continutiy exercises and planning
  • Follows change control, incident response, and testing processes
  • Monitors, analyzes, and predicts trends for equipment performance, data transfer growth rates and bandwidth to recommend enhancements
• Addresses and updates customer incident tickets and change orders, providing internal management and customer account managers with status information
• Creates required reports in response to business user needs
• Develops, documents, and maintains policies, procedures and associated training plans for systems and /or database administration and appropriate use
• Develops reusable assets (templates, tools, etc) for the Managed Services practice
• Works with account management personnel to participate on conference calls and perform tasks in support of the client relationship
• Partners with the Managed Services Continuous Service Improvement team (CSI) on pre-sales support activity and design and scoping of services
• Provides technical perspective to ensure a realistic estimation of scope, cost and level of effort for proposal generation
• Works with project managers in the development and implementation of project plans and timelines
• Complies with all time compliance and time entry guidelines
  Training/Certifications: Attends training sessions, and obtains industry related certifications as determined by management

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Information Technology, Engineering, Mathematics or a related field
• At least three (3) years of IT engineering work experience dealing with one or more infrastructure solutions supported by the Managed Services practice, to include:
• Experience installing, maintaining, and supporting mainframe software products for IBM mainframes and performing system management functions (software installations, version upgrades, product maintenance, and configuration management)
• Experience curating TCPIP/VTAM/SNA/APPN networks and general systems programming for z/OS Communications Server

Other Position Requirements

• Demonstrated experience with z/OSMF Configuration Assistant
• Demonstrated experience supporting Parallel Sysples
• Demonstrated experience configuring debugging and maintaining TCP/IP subsystems configuration
• Demonstrated experience configuring, debugging, and maintaining VTAM subsystems configurations, OSA/HiperSockets/XCF and mainframe LAN/WAN connectivity
• Demonstrated experience with network security using ICSF and Policy Agent to support TLS, IP Sec Filtering and Intrusion Detection
• Demonstrated experience with LAN/WAN architecture, dynamic routing, network software and services like FTP, SFTP, FTPS, SMTP
• Demonstrated communication and presentation skills
• Demonstrated ability to execute tasks associated with customers' disaster recovery plans
• Demonstrated skills in the majority of the following
  • WLM
  • z/OS Assembler language programming
  • SYSPLEX Operations
  • Coupling Facility Management
  • TSO/ISPF
  • UNIX Systems Services
  • z/OS
  • REXX/CLIST
  • JCL
  • ISV product installations, upgrades and maintenance
• Demonstrated ability to implement and troubleshoot IT Infrastructure systems and configurations in designated area of specialty
• Demonstrated ability to acquire further technical skills
• Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to multitask and prioritize workload
• Demonstrated customer service skills
• Demonstrated ability to investigate problems and utilize problem solving techniques
• Demonstrated ability to establish positive working relationships and work as a team player in a managed services environment
• Demonstrated ability to be resourceful in working with disparate client and internal departments to deliver meaningful solutions
• Demonstrated ability to provide guidance and leadership to less experienced technical team members
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong customer relationships and trust to secure future business
• Demonstrated ability to achieve high levels of customer satisfaction

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with File Transfer Protocol (FTP)/Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) IP Connectivity
• Demonstrated experience with configuration of the JVM on the Mainframe
• Managed Services experience

Essential Functions:

This position exists to provide technical consulting solutions to customers and, as such, requires the ability to travel to and from customer sites and interact with customers on an ongoing and regular basis.

The above primary duties, responsibilities, and position requirements are not all inclusive.