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Cobol Developer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Mainframe Cobol Developer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$49.75 - $63.75/hr

Syntricate Technologies is seeking a Mainframe Cobol Developer to develop COBOL code for application solutions. The role involves unit testing, code reviews, and ensuring quality technical solutions ...

COBOL DEVELOPER

Glen Allen, VA · On-site

$80 - $100/hr

Your Qualifications * 4-year college degree and/or relevant equivalent experience with strong mainframe (COBOL, JCL, CICS, IMS) programming skills and production support experience preferably in ...

US IT Solutions work along with its clients to deliver high-performance results, based exclusively on the one of a kind requirement. - At least 10 years of coding experience with COBOL, DB2, SQL, JCL ...

Applications Dev Sr Prin

Sterling, VA · On-site

$96K - $133K/yr

BAE Systems and our customer are looking for Senior level Cobol Developers. These developers would support a multi-year project in the Dulles, VA area with our customer. You do NOT need to currently ...

Mainframe Developer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$49.50 - $63.75/hr

Position: Mainframe Developer (Banking Domain) Location: McLean, VA (Onsite, 5 days/week) Note ... The ideal candidate should have hands-on experience with COBOL, JCL, DB2, CICS, VSAM, and IBM ...

Mainframe Developer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$49.50 - $63.75/hr

Position: Mainframe Developer (Banking Domain) Location: McLean, VA (Onsite, 5 days/week) Note ... The ideal candidate should have hands-on experience with COBOL, JCL, DB2, CICS, VSAM, and IBM ...

Mainframe Developer

Mclean, VA

$49.50 - $63.75/hr

Position: Mainframe Developer (Banking Domain) Location: McLean, VA (Onsite, 5 days/week) Note ... The ideal candidate should have hands-on experience with COBOL, JCL, DB2, CICS, VSAM, and IBM ...

... COBOL with some JAVA/AWS components to enhance solutions. Responsibilities : • Uses expertise to ... or software design, engineering evaluation or test, configuration management procedures ...

Sr. Java Developer

Reston, VA · On-site

$76 - $81/hr

Must have application development experience using the COBOL programming language and environments (CICS, JCL, TSO/ISPF, ChangeMan, Topaz, etc). * Must have ability to understand and work with code ...

Mainframe Developer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$50.25 - $64.50/hr

Our company provides application analysis, design, development and programming, software ... Hogan, COBOL, DB2, JCL, VSAM, Mainframe Utilities NOTE: ONLY US CITIZEN's OR GREEN CARD HOLDERS.

Our client is seeking a Senior DataStage Engineer to design, develop, and maintain enterprise ETL ... Modernize legacy mainframe batch processes by translating existing COBOL/JCL logic into DataStage ...

Mainframe developer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$49.50 - $63.75/hr

The company is primarily focused on information technology, engineering, healthcare, financial ... Experience in Mainframe (COBOL/JCL/DB2/IMS/CICS) - must have. Must have - Mainframe and IMS Good in ...

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Cobol Developer information

See Virginia salary details

$10

$55

$72

How much do cobol developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for cobol developer in Virginia is $55.04, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $47.88 and $64.81 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Cobol developer?

A COBOL Developer is a software programmer who specializes in using the COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) programming language to design, develop, maintain, and troubleshoot business applications. COBOL is a legacy language primarily used in mainframe computing environments, common in industries like banking, insurance, and government. COBOL Developers often work on updating, maintaining, or migrating older systems that are critical to business operations. Their responsibilities may also include analyzing existing code, optimizing performance, and ensuring systems comply with current regulatory and security standards.

What does a Cobol developer do?

COBOL stands for Common Business-Oriented Language. It is a programming language used in business applications. A COBOL developer works on developing applications using this programming language that operate on an organization's mainframe computers. Businesses use COBOL for large tasks, such as transaction and batch processing. As a COBOL developer, your responsibilities include coding new programs using COBOL or assessing and upgrading existing programs and applications to meet business needs and objectives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Cobol developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Cobol Developer, you need strong programming skills in COBOL, a solid understanding of mainframe environments, and experience with legacy systems, often supported by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with tools like IBM z/OS, JCL, DB2, and transaction processing systems is typically required, along with knowledge of version control systems. Analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication help developers troubleshoot issues and collaborate with teams maintaining critical enterprise applications. These skills and qualities are essential to ensure the reliability and modernization of core business systems that depend on COBOL.

What are some of the common challenges Cobol developers face when working with legacy systems?

Cobol Developers often encounter challenges related to maintaining and upgrading legacy systems, such as limited documentation, outdated hardware, and code that was written decades ago by other programmers. Integrating Cobol-based applications with modern technologies and platforms can also require creative problem-solving and strong analytical skills. Collaboration with business analysts and IT teams is essential to accurately translate current business needs into the existing codebase while ensuring system stability and data integrity.

What is the difference between Cobol Developer vs Mainframe Developer?

AspectCobol DeveloperMainframe Developer
Required CredentialsProficiency in COBOL, JCL, DB2Proficiency in COBOL, JCL, DB2, and mainframe tools
Work EnvironmentLegacy systems, mainframe environmentsMainframe systems, enterprise IT infrastructure
Employer & Industry UsageFinancial, insurance, government sectorsFinancial institutions, government agencies, large enterprises
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for mainframe roles involving COBOLBroader role including system administration and maintenance

While both roles involve working with mainframe systems and COBOL, a Cobol Developer primarily focuses on coding and maintaining COBOL applications. A Mainframe Developer may handle a wider range of tasks, including system setup, maintenance, and integration within mainframe environments. The roles often overlap, but Cobol Developers are more specialized in application development.

Is there a demand for Cobol developers?

Cobol developers are still in demand for maintaining and updating legacy systems in industries such as banking, finance, and government. Many organizations require expertise in Cobol for critical mainframe applications, and experienced developers with knowledge of mainframe environments and tools are sought after. However, the overall demand is stable but limited compared to newer programming languages.

What are the most commonly searched types of Cobol Developer jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Cobol Developer jobs in Virginia are:

What job categories do people searching Cobol Developer jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Cobol Developer jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Cobol Developer jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Cobol Developer job openings:

Infographic showing various Cobol Developer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 33% Full Time, and 67% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $114,485 per year, or $55 per hour.

Mainframe Cobol Developer

Syntricate Technologies

Mclean, VA • On-site

$49.75 - $63.75/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
Syntricate Technologies is seeking a Mainframe Cobol Developer to develop COBOL code for application solutions. The role involves unit testing, code reviews, and ensuring quality technical solutions while providing support and troubleshooting for applications.
Responsibilities:
• Consulting with data management teams to get a big-picture idea of the company's data storage needs.
• Presenting the company with warehousing options based on their storage needs.
• Designing and coding the data warehousing system to desired company specifications.
• Conducting preliminary testing of the warehousing environment before data is extracted.
• Extracting company data and transferring it into the new warehousing environment.
• Testing the new storage system once all the data has been transferred.
• Troubleshooting any issues that may arise.
• Providing maintenance support.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Develop COBOL code for application solutions based on technical program specifications utilizing Key and/or Netron Fusion.
• Perform unit testing of application software modifications utilizing various programming platforms and productivity tools and review results for accuracy.
• Adhere to defined processes and procedures to ensure the quality of the technical solution.
• Prepare for and participate in code reviews as requested.
• Modify test data or create new test data to ensure successful results of modifications to program code.
• Perform regression testing where applicable to ensure current changes have not impacted existing processing.
• Perform/ensure in-depth testing of software occurs including, Unit Testing, Integration Testing, Regression Testing.
• Participate in the setup and support of the production environment.
• Troubleshoot problems that may arise getting to the root cause to facilitate solving the problems.
• Provide 24/7 on-call support on a rotating basis.
• Provide on call support in support of application and system availability.
• Assist in troubleshooting and resolving technical issues causing the unavailability of applications for users.
• Document the cause and resolution of outages in the System Info databases.
• Thoroughly document code changes.
• Experience with Eclipse, Java.
• Experience with Heirloom (COBOL Developer migration to cloud).
• Experience with KEY and/or Netron Fusion development environments.
• Experience with advanced SQL concepts.
• Experience with IBM or CA tools and utilities (TSO, Expediter, InterTest, Debug, Platinum, Princeton, etc.).
Company:
Syntricate Technologies offers quality assurance, validation, regulatory, business analysis, and project management services. Founded in 2004, the company is headquartered in Boston, USA, with a team of 51-200 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.