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Lead Cobol Developer Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Lead the design, development, and modernization of mainframe applications, enforcing best practices ... COBOL, JCL, VSAM, CICS, DB2, Assembler, REXX, SPUFI, TSO/ISPF, or RACF. * Minimum 3+ years leading ...

Mainframe Specialist

Nashville, TN · On-site

$70K - $196K/yr

Lead the design, development, and modernization of mainframe applications, enforcing best practices ... COBOL, JCL, VSAM, CICS, DB2, Assembler, REXX, SPUFI, TSO/ISPF, or RACF. * Minimum 3+ years leading ...

Lead Cobol Developer information

Is there a demand for Lead Cobol developers?

Lead Cobol developers are still in demand due to the continued reliance on legacy mainframe systems in industries like banking and finance. Organizations seek experienced developers with skills in COBOL, JCL, and mainframe environments to maintain and upgrade critical applications, though overall demand is gradually declining as newer technologies emerge.

What is a Lead COBOL developer?

Lead Cobol Developers are senior-level professionals responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications using the COBOL programming language, primarily for legacy systems in industries like banking, insurance, and government. They oversee teams of COBOL developers, provide technical guidance, and ensure that projects meet business and technical requirements. In addition to strong programming skills, they often collaborate with stakeholders to plan system upgrades, migrations, or integrations, and play a key role in troubleshooting and optimizing mainframe applications.

What is the difference between Lead Cobol Developer vs Cobol Developer?

AspectLead Cobol DeveloperCobol Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field, experience in COBOL, often leadership skillsBachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field, proficiency in COBOL
Work EnvironmentLead roles in team settings, project management, client interactionIndividual contributor, coding, testing, and debugging
Employer & Industry UsageFinancial institutions, government agencies, large corporationsFinancial services, insurance, government, and enterprise sectors

The main difference between a Lead Cobol Developer and a Cobol Developer lies in leadership responsibilities, project oversight, and team coordination. Lead Cobol Developers typically manage projects and mentor junior staff, while Cobol Developers focus on coding and technical tasks. Both roles require strong COBOL skills and industry experience, but the Lead position involves additional managerial duties.

What are the primary responsibilities of a Lead COBOL developer?

As a Lead COBOL Developer, you will typically oversee the design, development, and maintenance of critical legacy systems, often within large financial, insurance, or government organizations. Your role involves not only hands-on coding but also mentoring junior developers, conducting code reviews, and collaborating with business analysts to translate requirements into effective solutions. You may also be responsible for planning modernization initiatives, integrating COBOL applications with newer technologies, and ensuring system reliability and compliance. Strong communication and leadership skills are essential, as you will frequently coordinate with cross-functional teams to deliver complex projects on time.

How much do Lead Cobol Developers get paid?

Lead Cobol Developers typically earn between $80,000 and $130,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Senior roles often include responsibilities such as system maintenance, code optimization, and team leadership, with certifications like IBM Certified Application Developer enhancing earning potential.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Lead COBOL developer?

To thrive as a Lead COBOL Developer, you need deep expertise in COBOL programming, mainframe systems, and experience with software development life cycles, typically backed by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with tools like IBM z/OS, JCL, DB2, and version control systems, as well as certifications in mainframe technologies, are commonly required. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills help manage teams and coordinate with stakeholders effectively. These skills ensure successful project delivery, ongoing system maintenance, and efficient modernization of legacy applications.
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Infographic showing various Lead Cobol Developer job openings in Tennessee as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution.

Cobol Programming Developer

AllSTEM Connections

Chattanooga, TN • On-site

$81K - $110K/yr

Temporary

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 22 days ago


Job description

Job Title: Senior Mainframe Applications Developer (COBOL)
Role Overview
We are seeking a Senior Mainframe Applications Developer to design, develop, and integrate complex information systems within our core enterprise environment. You will be the technical lead for our mission-critical batch processing applications, ensuring that our core systems remain high-performing, reliable, and scalable.
This is a key technical role for a developer who understands the rigor of mainframe environments. You will own the full development lifecycle-from research and requirements definition to coding, testing, and debugging. If you are a seasoned COBOL developer who enjoys leading small-to-medium project efforts and translating complex technical logic into meaningful results for business stakeholders, we want to talk to you.
Key Responsibilities
System Development & Optimization
• Application Design: Formulate and define system scope and objectives. Translate business requirements into robust, high-performing application logic and procedures.
• Full-Lifecycle Coding: Design, code, test, and debug complex COBOL programs, subroutines, and scripts. Optimize systems for capacity, response time, and operating efficiency.
• System Stability: Serve as a subject matter expert during system failures. Implement proactive measures to eliminate the recurrence of technical issues and reduce overall system downtime.
Leadership & Strategy
• Technical Mentorship: Provide guidance and training to junior analysts/programmers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and adherence to programming standards.
• Project Leadership: Act as a project lead, technical lead, or systems analyst for core initiatives. Manage phases of medium-to-large projects and ensure adherence to IT standards and methodologies.
• Business Partnership: Translate complex technical/mainframe concepts into clear, actionable insights for non-technical project team members and business personnel.
Qualifications & Requirements
Minimum Qualifications
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business, or equivalent technical work experience (1:1 ratio for degree years/experience).
• Experience Baseline: 3+ years of systems and programming experience; 1+ years of expert-level working knowledge of COBOL.
• Technical Mastery: Proven experience with mainframe information technology environments and SQL.
• Core Competency: Demonstrated experience with complex batch processing and core financial data workflows.
Preferred Attributes
• Proven ability to lead large, complex project workstreams independently.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with a "work-ethic" mindset focused on reliability and organization.
• Ability to communicate effectively across both technical engineering teams and non-technical business units.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans
The Know Your Rights poster is available here:
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12.pdf
The pay transparency policy is available here:
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/pdf/pay-transp_%20English_formattedESQA508c.pdf
For temporary assignments lasting 13 weeks or longer, AllSTEM Connections is pleased to offer major medical, dental, vision, 401k and any statutory sick pay where required.
We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact your staffing representative who will reach out to our HR team.
AllSTEM Connections participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf
We also consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements, including, if applicable, the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, including, if applicable, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
Additional Skills
(none specified)
AllSTEM Representative Contact Info
Account Executive:
Nichols
Branch Phone:
(909) 244-1777
Location:
Ontario, CA