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Freelance Remote Mainframe Developer Jobs in Pittsburgh, PA

3B Staffing LLC

SR iOS Native

Pittsburgh, PA · Remote

$56 - $72.75/hr

SR iOS Native Remote BFSI domain mandate No Freelancer project (Big companies name) - Must Agentic ... Requirements: * Proven experience as an iOS developer with a strong portfolio of released ...

3B Staffing LLC

SR iOS Native

Pittsburgh, PA · Remote

$56 - $72.75/hr

SR iOS Native Remote BFSI domain mandate No Freelancer project (Big companies name) - Must Agentic ... Requirements: * Proven experience as an iOS developer with a strong portfolio of released ...

Broadcom

Product Manager

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site +1

This solution monitors the health of the mainframes network, helping to identify user, certificate ... Regular meetings with customers (both remote and on-site) and presentations at customer conferences ...

Deeplocal

Creative Technology Director

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site +1

$145K - $190K/yr

Leads small teams of developers on projects and may have a handful of direct reports that may or ... Mentorship, freelancers, hiring and direct reports: * Mentors a small handful of direct reports and ...

All JobsMainframe Developer JobsFreelance Remote Mainframe Developer JobsFreelance Remote Mainframe Developer Jobs in Pittsburgh, PA

Freelance Remote Mainframe Developer information

See Pittsburgh, PA salary details

$9

$51

$70

How much do freelance remote mainframe developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance remote mainframe developer in Pittsburgh, PA is $51.82, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $45.72 and $58.80 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a freelance remote mainframe developer?

A Freelance Remote Mainframe Developer is a technology professional who specializes in developing, maintaining, and troubleshooting software applications on mainframe computer systems. Working on a freelance basis, they are not tied to a single employer and typically work with multiple clients, often from a remote location. Their responsibilities include coding, debugging, and upgrading legacy mainframe applications, ensuring system security and performance, and integrating mainframe systems with modern technologies. This role requires expertise in mainframe languages such as COBOL, JCL, and experience with databases like DB2. Remote work adds flexibility, allowing developers to collaborate with clients globally using digital communication tools.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a freelance remote mainframe developer?

A Freelance Remote Mainframe Developer typically needs expertise in mainframe programming languages (such as COBOL, JCL, and PL/I), database management, and systems analysis, often supported by a degree in computer science or related experience. Familiarity with mainframe environments like IBM z/OS, version control systems, and remote collaboration tools is common, along with relevant certifications such as IBM Certified System Programmer. Strong problem-solving skills, self-motivation, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for managing independent projects and client interactions remotely. These qualifications enable developers to deliver reliable, efficient solutions while meeting client expectations and maintaining legacy systems from a remote setting.

How do freelance remote mainframe developers typically collaborate with on-site teams and stakeholders?

Freelance Remote Mainframe Developers usually work closely with on-site teams via digital communication tools such as video conferencing, project management platforms, and version control systems. Regular virtual meetings and clear documentation help ensure alignment on project requirements and timelines. It is common to coordinate with business analysts, QA testers, and other developers across different time zones, so strong communication skills and proactive status updates are essential for successful collaboration.

What is the difference between Freelance Remote Mainframe Developer vs Freelance Remote COBOL Programmer?

AspectFreelance Remote Mainframe DeveloperFreelance Remote COBOL Programmer
CredentialsMainframe certifications, programming skillsCOBOL certifications, programming skills
Work EnvironmentMainframe systems, remote setupLegacy systems, remote setup
Industry UsageBanking, finance, insuranceBanking, government, insurance
Search IntentJobs involving mainframe developmentJobs focusing on COBOL programming

Both roles involve working with legacy mainframe systems remotely, often requiring similar certifications and industry experience. The main difference is that a Freelance Remote Mainframe Developer may handle broader development tasks, while a Freelance Remote COBOL Programmer specializes specifically in COBOL coding within mainframe environments.

What are the most commonly searched types of Remote Mainframe Developer jobs in Pittsburgh, PA?

The most popular types of Remote Mainframe Developer jobs in Pittsburgh, PA are:

Freelance Remote Mainframe Developer jobs near you

Mainframe Senior Architect - Performance & Capacity Management - REMOTE - 1821

PlacingIT

Pittsburgh, PA • Remote

$130K - $150K/yr

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Mainframe Senior Architect – Performance & Capacity Management - 1821
Position Tupe: Full-Time
Base Salary: $130,000–$150,000
U.S. Citizenship Required due to contractual/access requirements
Visa Sponsorship: Not available
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Mainframe Senior Architect specializing in IBM mainframe performance and capacity management. This is a highly technical, hands-on role responsible for maintaining and optimizing the performance, scalability, stability, and cost efficiency of a large IBM zEnterprise mainframe environment.
This position is approximately 80% IBM mainframe performance management and 20% capacity planning.
The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in IBM z/OS performance, real-time performance monitoring and tuning, Workload Manager (WLM), SMF/RMF data analysis, and large-scale Parallel Sysplex environments.
This person will analyze system and workload performance, identify and resolve bottlenecks, optimize resource utilization, and forecast future infrastructure requirements while balancing performance with cost.
Key Responsibilities
  • Monitor, analyze, troubleshoot, and optimize IBM z/OS mainframe performance across large, complex environments.
  • Perform real-time analysis of CPU, memory, storage, workload, and transaction performance.
  • Identify root causes of performance degradation and resolve bottlenecks during critical or high-volume processing periods.
  • Tune and optimize Workload Manager (WLM) policies and workload configurations.
  • Analyze and interpret SMF and RMF data to identify performance trends and opportunities for optimization.
  • Evaluate the performance impact of major mainframe workloads and subsystems, including Db2, CICS, IMS, and MQ.
  • Work within multi-LPAR and Parallel Sysplex environments.
  • Analyze general processor and zIIP utilization and configuration.
  • Perform capacity forecasting and modeling based on workload trends, business cycles, and anticipated growth.
  • Forecast future MIPS/MSU and infrastructure requirements.
  • Support mainframe cost optimization, including understanding IBM software pricing models and infrastructure costs.
  • Perform SCRT (Sub-Capacity Reporting Tool) processing and related analysis.
  • Develop reporting, dashboards, and performance analysis using tools such as SAS/MXG, Excel, OMEGAMON, IntelliMagic, REXX, and JCL.
  • Partner with application developers, database administrators, infrastructure teams, DevOps, and leadership to communicate performance findings and recommendations.
  • Develop preventative strategies to maintain system stability, availability, and low latency during peak workloads.
  • Provide technical leadership and mentoring in mainframe performance and capacity management.

Required Qualifications
  • Extensive hands-on experience with IBM mainframe performance management and tuning.
  • Strong expertise with IBM z/OS and IBM Z architecture.
  • Experience working in large multi-LPAR, Parallel Sysplex environments.
  • Deep knowledge of Workload Manager (WLM) configuration and tuning.
  • Strong experience analyzing SMF and RMF performance data.
  • Experience monitoring and optimizing CPU, memory, storage, and workload utilization.
  • Strong understanding of Db2, CICS, IMS, and MQ and how these workloads impact overall system performance.
  • Experience troubleshooting complex mainframe performance issues in real time.
  • Strong hands-on skills with REXX and JCL.
  • Experience with performance reporting and analytical tools such as SAS/MXG and OMEGAMON.
  • Strong knowledge of mainframe capacity concepts, including MIPS, MSUs, workload forecasting, and capacity modeling.
  • Understanding of IBM mainframe software pricing and cost optimization.
  • Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and the ability to present complex technical findings to both technical and executive audiences.
  • Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.

Highly Preferred / Eye-Catcher
Grafana experience is highly desirable. Candidates who have used Grafana for performance monitoring, dashboards, visualization, or mainframe-related operational reporting will receive strong consideration.
Additional preferred experience includes:
  • ZPCR
  • Macro4 Freezeframe
  • BMC Thruput Manager
  • TADz
  • IntelliMagic
  • SAS programming for reporting and analytics
  • Creating executive dashboards and operational reporting tools
  • Highly transactional, large-scale enterprise environments

Education
A Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline is desirable but not an absolute requirement.
Candidates without a Bachelor’s Degree may still be considered based on the strength and depth of their relevant IBM mainframe performance experience. If a candidate does not have a Bachelor’s Degree, this should be clearly noted when presenting the candidate.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The strongest candidate will be a true IBM mainframe performance specialist, rather than a general Mainframe Architect who has only had occasional exposure to performance or capacity management.
We are particularly interested in candidates who have spent significant portions of their careers actively:
  • Monitoring and tuning z/OS performance
  • Working with WLM, RMF, and SMF
  • Diagnosing real-time mainframe performance problems
  • Optimizing CPU and zIIP utilization
  • Working in Parallel Sysplex/multi-LPAR environments
  • Analyzing Db2, CICS, IMS, and MQ workloads
  • Using SAS/MXG, OMEGAMON, IntelliMagic, or similar performance tools
  • Forecasting MIPS/MSU and future capacity requirements
  • Balancing performance requirements against IBM mainframe infrastructure and software costs