As a COBOL mainframe developer, your primary responsibilities include designing new computer programs using the COBOL programming language. Your duties are to design, develop, and configure code for new programs, test these programs to make sure they function on the intended operating system, and implement adjustments needed. Once that process is complete, you launch the program for public or private use and provide support and upgrades to the user. You should have extensive knowledge and experience working with software development, and if you are working in IT for a company, you should be able to troubleshoot their current mainframe. Teaching others about what you have developed and making sure they understand how to use it are also your responsibility.