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Junior Mainframe Programmer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

TEKsystems

Mainframe Systems Programmer

Chandler, AZ · Hybrid

$70.24/hr

Description Position: Sr. Mainframe/Systems Programmer Location: Chandler, AZ Number of Positions ... junior staff while promoting an inclusive, collaborative team culture Primary Skill Others • ...

TEKsystems

Mainframe Systems Programmer

Chandler, AZ · Hybrid

$70.24/hr

Description Position: Sr. Mainframe/Systems Programmer Location: Chandler, AZ Number of Positions ... junior staff while promoting an inclusive, collaborative team culture Primary Skill Others • ...

Ensono

Mainframe Systems Programmer - Hardware

$102K - $148K/yr

Mainframe Systems Programmer - Hardware At Ensono, our Purpose is to be a relentless ally ... Ability to mentor and train Jr. Hardware Configuration team members * Knowledge of z/VM or z/Linux ...

M&T Bank

Senior Software Engineer - Mainframe

Buffalo, NY · On-site

$97K - $161K/yr

Receive mentoring from our most senior engineers-experts with decades of mainframe experience-and progressively mentor junior team members. * Participate in code reviews, architecture discussions ...

M&T Bank

Senior Software Engineer - Mainframe

Buffalo, NY · On-site +1

$97K - $161K/yr

Receive mentoring from our most senior engineers-experts with decades of mainframe experience-and progressively mentor junior team members. * Participate in code reviews, architecture discussions ...

Systemtec

Senior Mainframe EDI Developer

Columbia, SC

$40 - $51.50/hr

Senior Mainframe EDI Developer SYSTEMTEC is seeking a Senior Mainframe EDI Developer for an onsite ... Offer technical guidance and mentorship to junior team members and contribute to solution design ...

Xpanxion

Junior COBOL Developer

Alpharetta, GA · On-site

$65K - $84K/yr

The Junior COBOL Developer will be responsible for programming, systems analysis, software development, and utilizing mainframe technologies in day-to-day tasks. Qualifications * Analytical Skills ...

Xpanxion

Junior COBOL Developer

Coral Springs, FL · On-site

$63K - $82K/yr

The Junior COBOL Developer will be responsible for programming, systems analysis, software development, and utilizing mainframe technologies in day-to-day tasks. Qualifications * Analytical Skills ...

USM

Mainframe Developer-----Need GC and USC

Columbus, OH

$47.25 - $60.75/hr

Mainframe Developer Duration - 18 months Location - Columbus, OH Need GC and USC Top Three Skills ... junior developers and make sure line commitments are covered from iteration to iteration ...

UST Xpanxion

Junior COBOL Developer

Coral Springs, FL · On-site

$50K - $52K/yr

The Junior COBOL Developer will be responsible for programming, systems analysis, software ... Mainframe expertise * Experience in COBOL programming * Strong problem-solving abilities * Bachelor ...

UST Xpanxion

Junior COBOL Developer

Alpharetta, GA · On-site

$50K - $52K/yr

The Junior COBOL Developer will be responsible for programming, systems analysis, software ... Mainframe expertise * Experience in COBOL programming * Strong problem-solving abilities * Bachelor ...

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How much do junior mainframe programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for junior mainframe programmer in the United States is $26.96, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $33.17 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Junior Mainframe Programmers?

Junior Mainframe Programmers are entry-level professionals who work with mainframe computer systems, typically maintaining, developing, and troubleshooting software written in languages like COBOL, JCL, or Assembler. They assist in supporting legacy systems that handle large-scale data processing tasks for industries such as banking, insurance, and government. Their responsibilities often include coding, debugging, running batch jobs, and ensuring that mainframe applications run smoothly under the supervision of senior programmers.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Junior Mainframe Programmer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Junior Mainframe Programmer, you need a solid understanding of programming languages like COBOL, JCL, and SQL, often supported by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with IBM mainframe environments, version control systems, and database management tools is crucial for daily tasks. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and the ability to learn quickly help you adapt to legacy systems and collaborate with senior developers. These skills are essential to ensure reliable system maintenance, effective troubleshooting, and smooth integration within enterprise IT teams.

What are the typical responsibilities of a Junior Mainframe Programmer in their first year on the job?

In their first year, a Junior Mainframe Programmer is usually responsible for maintaining and updating existing mainframe applications, assisting with coding tasks, debugging programs, and performing routine batch processing operations. They often work under the guidance of senior programmers and participate in code reviews, documentation, and testing activities. Collaboration with analysts, QA testers, and other IT professionals is common to ensure program changes meet requirements and function smoothly in the production environment.
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Junior Mainframe Programmer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Junior Mainframe Programmer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $56,068 per year, or $27 per hour.
Mainframe z/OS Systems Programmer

Mainframe z/OS Systems Programmer

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Milwaukee, WI • On-site

$54.25 - $69/hr

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago

Northwestern Mutual rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 71 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

147th of 261 rated insurance

Job description

About the Job
This is a mainframe role focused on IBM z/OS environments.
While the role exists within the broader Software Engineering family, day-to-day responsibilities are exclusively centered on z/OS platform engineering and operations. Experience with distributed systems or cloud technologies is not required for success in this position.
What You'll Do
  • Mentor, enable, and teach peers to be self-sufficient within the mainframe platform
  • Apply engineering standard methodologies to analyze, design, and maintain z/OS system-level solutions
  • Leverage established standards, best practices, and automation to support mission-critical mainframe workloads
  • Identify complex system-level problems and implement reliable, supportable solutions in a highly regulated production environment
  • Review, verify, and validate system-level changes, configurations, and automation introduced into production
  • Drive continuous improvement across reliability, availability, performance, security, and operational efficiency
  • Develop, maintain, and execute disaster recovery and redundancy strategies
  • Partners with vendors and enterprise teams on emerging best practices, patterns, and technologies
  • Proactively learn emerging platforms and related technologies
  • Establish and maintain best practices related to compliance, security, privacy, and legal requirements
  • Anticipate deviations from standard practices and determine practical paths forward
  • Track industry trends relevant to the domain and apply them where appropriate
  • Break down complex problems into manageable components and help others do the same

Mainframe / z/OS-Focused Responsibilities
  • Perform hands-on z/OS system administration including IPLs, system startup/shutdown, parameter tuning, and system recovery
  • Plan, execute, and validate IBM and ISV software installs and upgrades using z/OSMF Software Instances and Workflows
  • Manage SMP/E environments including PTFs, HOLDDATA, USERMODs, and consolidation builds
  • Install, analyze, and modify system exits and USERMODs, including assembler updates when required
  • Build and maintain system-resident DASD volumes, system libraries, and reproducible system builds
  • Configure and administer JES2
  • Administer RACF security including users, groups, profiles, access controls, and policy enforcement
  • Author, debug, and optimize JCL for batch processing
  • Analyze SMF/RMF data for accounting, capacity planning, and system performance tuning
  • Administer and tune DFSMS components including DFSMShsm and DFSMSrmm
  • Configure and troubleshoot TCP/IP for z/OS and associated services
  • Develop automation and tools using REXX, CLIST, and UNIX System Services scripting
  • Use monitoring tools such as BMC MainView and/or Intellimagic Vision
  • Support mainframe hardware environments including HMC operations, CPC/LPAR configuration, and IBM zSeries platforms
  • Participate in on-call rotations and ITIL-aligned incident, change, and problem management
  • Coordinate with vendors and ISVs for licensing, problem determination, and PTF coordination
  • Create and maintain documentation, runbooks, SOPs, and operational procedures
  • Mentor and train junior staff on z/OS engineering and operational practices

What You'll Bring to the Role
Note: This position requires deep experience in IBM z/OS systems programming. Candidates whose background is primarily AWS, Linux, Windows, or distributed/cloud platforms without substantial mainframe experience are unlikely to be a fit.
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
  • At least 4 years of relevant experience
  • 5+ years of professional IT experience, primarily focused on enterprise mainframe platforms
  • Experience applying DevOps concepts, Agile methodologies, and automation in mainframe environments
  • Experience monitoring and tuning performance of large-scale systems
  • Working knowledge of scripting or programming concepts for automation
  • Familiarity with authentication, authorization, certificates, and vulnerability management

Required z/OS / Mainframe Experience
  • Extensive hands-on experience as a z/OS Systems Programmer in production environments
  • Strong knowledge of z/OS internals, JES2, RACF, SMP/E, and system libraries
  • Proven expertise in SMF/RMF-based performance tuning, capacity planning, and problem determination
  • Experience with DASD, tape management, and SAN technologies, including Hyperswap
  • Proficiency with REXX, CLIST, and USS shell scripting (additional languages a plus)
  • Experience supporting Sysplex and Coupling Facility environments (preferred)
  • Exposure to subsystems such as CICS, DB2, and MQ and their integration with z/OS
  • Knowledge of PKI/SSL, LDAP integration, Kerberos, and mainframe security hardening
  • Experience with z/OSMF, Ansible, or automation/orchestration tooling for mainframe lifecycle management
  • Familiarity with cloud-to-mainframe integration or CI/CD concepts as applied to z/OS
  • Strong troubleshooting, documentation, and communication skills under sustained production pressure

Skills You Have
The hiring team will assess candidates against the following skills:
  • Communicates complex technical information clearly across both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Designs and supports systems with a strong customer-first mindset, particularly for mission-critical platforms.
  • Designs, implements, and maintains enterprise-class hardware, system software, networks, and data storage platforms.
  • Uses monitoring and performance tools to diagnose, optimize, and stabilize system performance.
  • Demonstrates deep expertise in operating system architecture, internals, and resource management.
  • Develops, maintains, and documents complex programs, scripts, and automation.
  • Resolves complex technical issues and drives alignment on durable solutions in production environments.

#LI-Remote #LI-Hybrid
Compensation Range:
Pay Range - Start:
$118,960.00
Pay Range - End:
$178,440.00
Geographic Specific Pay Structure:
Structure 110:
$130,880.00 USD - $196,320.00 USD
Structure 115:
$136,800.00 USD - $205,200.00 USD
We believe in fairness and transparency. It's why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you're living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable, click here to learn more.
Job Posting End Date:
07/31/2026
The timeline for this job posting may be shortened or extended based on organizational needs.
Grow your career with a best-in-class company that puts our clients' interests at the center of all we do. Get started now!
Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer who welcomes and encourages diversity in the workforce. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.

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About Northwestern Mutual

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Northwestern Mutual has been helping families and businesses achieve financial security for over 160 years through a distinctive planning approach that integrates risk management with wealth accumulation, preservation, and distribution. With more than $290 billion in assets, $30 billion in revenues and more than $1.9 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than 4.6 million clients. People are the power behind Northwestern Mutual, and diversity makes us better. We are committed to reflecting and serving the marketplace. We do so by attracting and improving the engagement of those who bring their outstanding perspectives, ideas, and beliefs.

Industry

Finance and insurance

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Milwaukee, WI, US

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