Cobol Developer Contract Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Responsible for analyzing, developing, and writing new application programs and updating existing programs. Reviews system capabilities and user department needs to design effective support processing programs. Provides software system programming such as updating and interfacing internal operating systems according to vendor/system requirements. Assists, directs, and trains other programmers as needed. Regularly confers with user departments to review their programming needs and to help implement new systems. May manage technical projects involving coordination of programming resources, Credit Union departments, other out-source resources and vendor services.

This position requires attention to detail and a quality orientation to ensure that computer operations function efficiently and effectively. Excellent problem solving, communication, and "customer" relations skills are vital to the successful execution of this position. This is an experienced position.

Assumes responsibility for effectively analyzing, developing, and maintaining application programs and information systems.

• Gathers data and assesses users' information, reporting, and systems needs.
• Analyzes business functions and management needs and pursues new and more effective information and programming solutions. Analyzes, reviews, and enhances or rewrites existing programs to increase operating efficiency or adapt to new requirements.
• Develops and maintains application systems for user departments.
• Performs a variety of complex programming tasks, such as designing, documenting, and coding program logic, and maintaining the data base.
• Modifies, tests, and debugs programs and evaluates their operational performance.
• Reviews internal software operating systems and performs the more involved system maintenance and updates, such as revising application programs to interface with changes in the operating system.
• Ensures that computer operations and programming are performed in accordance with established standards, policies, and procedures.
• Maintains system integrity and performance.
• Maintains documentation.

Assumes responsibility for establishing and maintaining good communication and coordination with system users.

• Responds to users' requests and follows through promptly.
• Resolves problems and concerns. Provides assistance, support, and training to users as required.
• Ensures that interactions with users are clear, courteous, and understandable.
• Acts as a technical liaison and resource to user departments.
• Communicates as much information as possible to users, including reasons for problems, project status, and deadlines.

Assumes responsibility for establishing and maintaining effective communication, coordination, and working relations with area staff and with management.

• Keeps management informed of significant problems and of progress attained in reaching established objectives.
• Confers with Department Managers to resolve questions of program intent, output requirements, input data acquisition, inclusion of internal checks and controls, and conformance with other standards.
• Assists and supports Information System personnel and shares programming techniques.
• Prepares reports of programming activities, discussing procedural changes and their ramifications. Completes records and other required documents.

Assumes responsibility for related duties as required or assigned.

• Stays informed regarding current computer technologies and applications and related business trends and developments.
• Completes special projects as assigned.
• Keeps work area clean, secure, and well maintained.
• Displays a professional appearance in dress and actions.
• Provides support on out-sources projects to ensure compliance to vendor contract commitment, integration with Credit Union information systems, adequate back-up and recovery procedures, documentation, and audit ability.
• Responds to vendors requests and follows through promptly.
• Resolves problems and concerns. Provides assistance, support and training to vendors as required.
• Ensures that interactions with vendors are clear, courteous and understandable.
• Communicates as much information as possible to vendors, management and users, including reasons for problems, project status and deadlines.

Performance measurements include:

• Users can effectively utilize established systems, and are comfortable and satisfied with them. Modifications are completed as required.
• Good working relations exist with users. Users' concerns are promptly addressed and any problems effectively resolved. Programming needs are regularly monitored.
• Programs are effectively updated and maintained in accordance with established policies.
• Required reports and documentation are complete and current.
• Management is appropriately informed of area activities and of any significant problems.
• Good working relations exist with Data Processing personnel. Support is provided as needed.

Qualifications:

Training/Education/Certification:

• College degree in computer science or related field or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Required Knowledge:

• Programming Languages COBOL Batch and COBOL CICS Command Level

Beneficial Knowledge:

• IBMs ADFz tool suite: File Manager, IBM Debug, Fault Analyzer, APA
• Rational Team Concert (RTC)
• Urban Code Deploy (UCD)
• Understanding of Credit Union operations and information needs
• Programming Languages C, IBM Assembler Language, REXX, Program dump analysis skills
• z/OS Operating System: Program library operations and management, sFTP / Direct Connect, ICCF, JCL (Zeke Schedular), Operator console commands, Sort/Merge, TSO/ISPF
• Data management VSAM: zOS/VSAM Sort work disk management, zOS/VSAM temporary work disk management
• MS Office, AFCU Change Control Methodology/Systems, Data management: zDB2, SQL, Infoprint, AFP, CICS: CICS application program design and flow, CICS systems management and control, CEDF debugging tools, VISIO – flowcharting, Slickedit, MSExcel, Powerpoint, MSProject

Skills/Abilities:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Well organized.
• Good communication skills.
• Ability to assist and train others.
• Work well with and communicate with people.
• Be self motivated and creative
• Be flexible, responsive and work effectively under pressure.
• Understand complex issues and solve problems.

Physical Activities and Requirements of this Position:

• Talking: Especially where one must frequently convey detailed or important instructions or ideas accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Finger Dexterity: Using primarily just the fingers to make small movements such as typing, picking up small objects, or pinching fingers together.
• Average Hearing: Able to hear average or normal conversations and receive ordinary information.
• Average Visual Abilities: Average, ordinary, visual acuity necessary to prepare or inspect documents or products, or operate machinery.
• Repetitive Motions: Movements frequently and regularly required using the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• Physical Strength: Sedentary Work; sitting most of the time. Exerts up to 10 lbs of force occasionally. (Almost all office jobs.)

Working Conditions:

• Willing to work all hours: Potentially on-call 24 hours, 7 days a week. Upgrades of hardware and software often required to be accomplished over weekends and during early morning hours. Must respond at any hour to resolve system problems.

Mental Activities and Requirements of this Position:

• General Education- Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establishes facts, and draw conclusions. Able to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions and can deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• General Education- Mathematics Ability: Using modern algebra: Ability to apply fundamental concepts of theories of groups, rings, and fields; to work differential equations, linear algebra, infinite series, advanced operational methods and functions of real and complex variables.
• General Education- Language Ability: Ability to read (by sight or Braille) scientific and technical journals, abstracts, financial reports and legal documents. Ability to prepare articles, abstracts, editorials, journals, manuals, and critiques. Ability to prepare and make comprehensive presentations; participate in formal debate; communicate extemporaneously; communicate before an audience with poise, using correct English.

Job descriptions are not intended and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Employees and out sourced (contracted) individuals can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law