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ob Description
Job Title:
Senior Mainframe Network Systems Engineer
Location: Remote
About the Role:
Heitmeyer is seeking a seasoned Senior Mainframe Network Systems Engineer to design, maintain, and optimize mission?critical mainframe networking for a financial services client. This role is responsible for high availability, security, performance, and resiliency of IBM z/OS environments and the network services that connect them to distributed, cloud, and external partners. This role is hands-on and collaborative—working closely with infrastructure, application, security, and operations teams to ensure reliable transaction processing and batch workloads at scale.
Key Responsibilities:
- Diagnosis and solve for latency issues on the Mainframe
- Diagnoses issues with transmission coming in and going out of the mainframe using SSL TLS and Tracing.
- Mainframe Networking & Connectivity
- Architect, configure, and support z/OS TCP/IP, SNA, VTAM, TN3270, and Enterprise Extender (EE) services.
- Manage IP routing, OMPROUTE/Policy-Based Routing, and network stacks across LPARs.
- Integrate mainframe networking with enterprise load balancers, firewalls, and DNS/DHCP/IPAM.
- Systems Integration & Middleware
- Support and optimize IBM MQ, CICS transaction servers, and DB2 connectivity (DDF, DRDA).
- Ensure secure, high-throughput data exchange between mainframe and distributed/cloud platforms (APIs, MQ queues, FTP/SFTP, Connect:Direct).
- Performance, Capacity, and Reliability
- Monitor and tune network stacks, sockets, buffer pools, and HiperSockets; analyze OMEGAMON/NetView data for bottlenecks.
- Lead capacity planning and performance engineering for peak cycles, batch windows, and online transaction processing.
- Security & Compliance
- Implement and enforce security controls (TLS/AT?TLS, IPSEC, RACF/ACF2/Top Secret, firewall rules).
- Partner with InfoSec and Audit to meet regulatory and policy requirements (e.g., PCI DSS, FFIEC, SOX).
- High Availability & Disaster Recovery
- Design and test HA/DR architectures (Parallel Sysplex, GDPS, XCF, multi?site networking, data replication).
- Coordinate failover exercises; document runbooks and recovery procedures.
- Incident Response & Root Cause Analysis
- Own complex troubleshooting across layers (network, OS, middleware, application).
- Lead post?incident reviews; implement durable fixes and preventive monitoring.
- Automation & Observability
- Develop scripts and automation for configuration management, monitoring, and reporting (REXX, JCL, CLIST, Ansible/Z, or equivalent).
- Create dashboards and alerts for key network and transaction health indicators.
- Project Leadership
- Serve as technical lead for infrastructure upgrades, core application releases, and environment migrations.
- Coordinate with application owners, vendors, and PMO; deliver clear technical documentation and status updates.
Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in mainframe systems/network engineering within large enterprises.
- Deep expertise with IBM z/OS networking (TCP/IP, SNA/VTAM), CICS, DB2, and IBM MQ integration.
- Strong knowledge of LPARs, Sysplex, JES2/JES3, and z/OS operating internals.
- Hands-on experience with network security on z/OS (AT?TLS, IPSEC, RACF/ACF2/Top Secret).
- Proven track record in performance tuning, capacity planning, and HA/DR for mission-critical environments.
- Proficiency with monitoring tools (e.g., OMEGAMON, NetView, SDSF, RMF) and packet/trace analysis (IPCS, PKTTRACE).
- Scripting and automation: REXX, JCL, CLIST (Python/Ansible a plus).
- Excellent communication skills; able to explain complex issues to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field (or equivalent experience).
Preferred Skills
- Experience in financial services/banking and high-volume transaction processing.
- Familiarity with z/OS Communications Server, Enterprise Extender, HiperSockets, and OSA?Express.
- Knowledge of API integration patterns and secure partner connectivity.
- Exposure to cloud connectivity (private links, gateways) integrating with mainframe data/services.
- Certifications: IBM z/OS, ITIL, Security, PMP or equivalent.