ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Lead Mainframe Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Plugins Inc

Mainframe Developer

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

$48.75 - $62.50/hr

Mainframe developer Only w2 H1 Transfers accepted Mainframe Dev / Pheonix - Day 1 Onsite /hybrid ... • Lead Major Incident Management (MIM) and bridge calls for critical production outages. • ...

XFORIA Inc

Mainframe Developer

Westlake, TX · On-site

$47 - $60.50/hr

Mainframe Developer Location: Westlake, TX (Onsite) Mode: Contract Core Responsibilities ... Technical Stewardship Define and enforce coding standards, lead rigorous code reviews, and maintain ...

ACS Consultancy Services

COBOL/Mainframe Developer

Albany, NY · On-site

$48.75 - $62.50/hr

Job Title: COBOL/Mainframe Developer Location: Albany, NY (Onsite) We are currently seeking ... Proven track record as a Lead Programmer, responsible for guiding development teams and overseeing ...

Triunity Software

Mainframe Developer

Dallas, TX · On-site

$100K - $110K/yr

Write and debug COBOL, JCL, and other mainframe-based programming languages * Perform system ... Lead by experts in the IT industry with a proven record of delivering software solutions ...

CYNET SYSTEMS

Mainframe Developer

Minneapolis, MN · On-site

$60/hr

Lead development, maintenance, and support of tax reporting applications. * Collaborate with ... Design, review, test, and deploy mainframe-based reporting solutions. * Ensure application ...

S2SSoft

Mainframe Developer

Edison, NJ · On-site

$49.75 - $63.75/hr

Role: Mainframe Developer Location Edison, NJ (3 days onsite) - Hybrid Contract Life insurance ... transactions. 3. Lead performance tuning for batch windows, DB2 access paths, and CICS TPS ...

Kanak Elite Services Inc

Mainframe IMS and CICS

Wilmington, DE · On-site

$47.50 - $61.25/hr

Hello There, My name is Himanshu Sharma , and I serve as the Recruitment Lead at Kanak-IT INC. I am reaching out to share an excellent career opportunity for the role of Mainframe Developer with our ...

United Airlines

Mainframe Developer

Saint Paul, MN · On-site

$49.50 - $63.75/hr

Seeking an experienced Mainframe Developer to lead the design, development, support, and enhancement of tax and regulatory reporting applications on IBM Mainframe platforms. The role involves ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsLead Mainframe Developer Jobs

Lead Mainframe Developer information

See salary details

$80.5K

$131K

$171K

How much do lead mainframe developer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead mainframe developer in the United States is $131,025.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,000.00 and $145,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by lead mainframe developers when coordinating large-scale modernization projects?

Lead Mainframe Developers often encounter challenges such as integrating legacy mainframe systems with modern technologies, ensuring minimal downtime during migrations, and maintaining data integrity throughout the process. They must also manage cross-functional teams, balancing the needs of business stakeholders with technical requirements. Effective communication and strong project management skills are essential to navigate these complexities and deliver successful modernization outcomes.

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

To thrive as a Lead Mainframe Developer, you need deep expertise in mainframe programming languages (such as COBOL, JCL, and PL/I), systems architecture, and a strong background in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with mainframe tools like IBM z/OS, DB2, CICS, and relevant certifications (e.g., IBM Certified System Programmer) are typically required. Leadership, problem-solving, and excellent communication skills are essential for guiding teams and collaborating with stakeholders. These skills ensure the reliable maintenance, modernization, and integration of critical enterprise systems central to organizational operations.

What is a lead mainframe developer?

Lead Mainframe Developers are senior IT professionals who design, develop, and maintain applications on mainframe computer systems, typically using languages such as COBOL, JCL, or Assembler. They often oversee a team of developers, providing technical guidance, reviewing code, and ensuring best practices are followed. Their responsibilities may also include system analysis, troubleshooting, performance optimization, and collaborating with other teams to ensure mainframe solutions meet business requirements. Lead Mainframe Developers play a crucial role in keeping legacy systems running smoothly and integrating them with modern technologies.

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

AspectLead Mainframe DeveloperMainframe Developer
ResponsibilitiesOversees project teams, designs architecture, mentors staffDevelops, tests, and maintains mainframe applications
Required SkillsAdvanced programming, leadership, project managementCore COBOL, JCL, DB2, basic problem-solving
CertificationsIBM certifications, COBOL certifications often preferredSimilar certifications, but less emphasis on leadership
Work EnvironmentTeam leadership, collaboration with multiple departmentsIndividual coding and debugging tasks

The main difference between a Lead Mainframe Developer and a Mainframe Developer lies in their responsibilities and experience level. The Lead typically manages projects, mentors team members, and designs system architecture, while the Mainframe Developer focuses on coding, testing, and maintaining mainframe applications. Both roles require strong COBOL and mainframe skills, but the Lead position demands additional leadership and project management expertise.

More about Lead Mainframe Developer jobs
What cities are hiring for Lead Mainframe Developer jobs? Cities with the most Lead Mainframe Developer job openings:
What states have the most Lead Mainframe Developer jobs? States with the most job openings for Lead Mainframe Developer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Lead Mainframe Developer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Lead Mainframe Developer jobs are:
Lead Mainframe Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lead Mainframe Developer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 29% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 69% Contract. Highlights an 93% In-person, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $131,025 per year, or $63 per hour.

Lead Mainframe Developer

PROLIM Global Corporation

Indianapolis, IN • On-site

$46.75 - $60.25/hr

Contractor

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Lead Mainframe Developer
Location: Indianapolis, IN / Plano, TX / Boston, MA / Portsmouth, NH/ Seattle, WA - onsite
Duration: 6 months Contract
JD:
Mainframe Application Developer with Strong experience in IBM mainframes, Cobol, IMS DB, DB2, JCL, MQ series & Xpeditor, minimum with 5 to 8 years of experience, No production support profiles.
- Design, Code, test and maintain applications
- Assist Quality Assurance teams in testing applications
- Peer review code and technical documents for other team members
- Participate in On-call rotation to resolve applications failures
- Assist in research and issue resolution for processing of business data
- Monitor and trouble-shoot system performance, resolve issues (on-call issues, performance issues, etc.) and coordinate with respective support teams to resolve software and hardware issues.
- IBM mainframes, Cobol, IMS DB, DB2, JCL, MQ series & Xpeditor
- Self-starter with exceptional initiative.
- Willing to go after work to stretch skill breadth/depth and support team.
- Goes after (pulls) opportunities rather than sitting back waiting for push.
- Strong testing experience (unit, integration, contract)
- Strong communication skills.
- Willing to ask questions; offer recommendations; participate/lead in virtual environment
- Demonstrated quick learner
- Should have good working knowledge of Spring Boot and Git

Apply