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Lead Mainframe Developer Jobs in New Jersey (NOW HIRING)

Lead Mainframe Developer

Jersey City, NJ · On-site

$53.75 - $69/hr

They are seeking a Lead Mainframe Developer to oversee the implementation and management of large-scale mainframe systems within the financial services industry, ensuring high performance and ...

Lead Mainframe Developer

Jersey City, NJ · On-site

$53.75 - $69/hr

Responsibilities : • Lead the implementation and management of mainframe systems, ensuring high performance, reliability, and scalability. • Utilize expertise in mainframe technologies such as ...

Mainframe Developer

Jersey City, NJ · On-site

$51.25 - $65.75/hr

... turn="assistant"> Mainframe developer Remote Required Skills & Experience * 8?12+ years of ... Demonstrated ability to lead or mentor a technical team in a fast-paced, milestone-driven delivery ...

Mainframe Developer

Jersey City, NJ · On-site

$51.25 - $65.75/hr

Sr Mainframe developer with Technical Stewardship of defining and enforcing coding standards ... standards lead rigorous code reviews and maintain comprehensive documentation for legacy ...

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 ...

Mainframe Developer

Hoboken, NJ · On-site

$100K - $110K/yr

Analyze and resolve mainframe system issues, ensuring high availability and performance ... Lead by experts in the IT industry with a proven record of delivering software solutions ...

Senior Mainframe DevOps Architect

Princeton, NJ · On-site

$135K - $184K/yr

About the Role We are seeking a Senior Mainframe DevOps Architect to lead solution design and own end-to-end architecture for enterprise customers-translating complex business requirements into ...

$110K - $165K/yr

We are searching for a Lead Mainframe Storage Engineer to join the Z Infrastructure team responsible for providing a highly available Z Compute and Storage platform, resilient against infra failures ...

New

Lead Platform Engineer*

Jersey City, NJ · On-site

$112K - $147K/yr

We recruit Lead Platform Engineers on a rolling basis throughout the year, and this Evergreen ... We are seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Mainframe Engineer to support, maintain, and optimize ...

MAINFRAME NETWORK SYSTEMS PROGRAMMER

Hoboken, NJ · On-site

$60.25 - $76.50/hr

MAINFRAME NETWORK SYSTEMS ENGINEER (MID TO SENIOR LEAD LEVEL) MAINFRAME**TCP-IP**VTAM**Z/OS HYBRID~MUST WORK ON SITE AT LEAST 2 DAYS A WEEK AND LIVE NEAR LOCATION BONUS OPPORTUNITY!! * 10+ YEARS ...

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Lead Mainframe Developer information

See New Jersey salary details

$81.7K

$133K

$173.6K

How much do lead mainframe developer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead mainframe developer in New Jersey is $133,022.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $117,800.00 and $147,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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 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.

What job categories do people searching Lead Mainframe Developer jobs in New Jersey look for?

The top searched job categories for Lead Mainframe Developer jobs in New Jersey are:

Infographic showing various Lead Mainframe Developer job openings in New Jersey as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 56% Full Time, and 44% Contract. Highlights an 75% In-person, 19% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $133,022 per year, or $64 per hour.

Lead Mainframe Developer

Jersey City, NJ • On-site

ApTask
Recruiting and Staffing Services • 51 - 200 employees

$53.75 - $69/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
ApTask is a leading global provider of workforce solutions and talent acquisition services. They are seeking a Lead Mainframe Developer to oversee the implementation and management of large-scale mainframe systems within the financial services industry, ensuring high performance and reliability.
Responsibilities:
• Lead the implementation and management of mainframe systems, ensuring high performance, reliability, and scalability.
• Utilize expertise in mainframe technologies such as Cobol, CICS, DB2, VSAM, MQ messaging, Stored procedures, DB2 Utilities, JCL, ChangeMan, NDM, and other file transfer mechanisms to maintain and enhance applications.
• Manage a global team of 12-14 professionals, providing leadership, guidance, and support to ensure team success and development.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate distributed technologies and AI tools into mainframe systems, enhancing functionality and efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and best practices in mainframe technology and data management.
• Develop and implement strategies for system optimization, data integrity, and security.
• Monitor system performance and troubleshoot issues to ensure uninterrupted service.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders, providing updates on project progress, challenges, and solutions.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in the financial services industry, managing large-scale mainframe applications.
• Extensive hands-on experience in mainframe technologies and tools, including Cobol, CICS, DB2, VSAM, MQ messaging, Stored procedures, DB2 Utilities, JCL, ChangeMan, NDM, and file transfer mechanisms.
• Proven experience in managing large-scale mainframe implementations and systems.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing global teams.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work under pressure.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Preferred:
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Experience with distributed technologies and AI tools is highly desirable.
Company:
ApTask is a staffing and recruiting company offering staffing, project, and workforce solutions. Founded in 2010, the company is headquartered in Iselin, USA, with a team of 501-1000 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.

ApTask logo

About ApTask

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

ApTask is a leading staffing and recruitment company headquartered in Iselin, NJ, US. Since its inception, the company has been dedicated to providing its clients with expert staffing solutions across diverse industries. Specializing in workforce management, talent acquisition, and employee services, ApTask excels at matching the right talent with the right opportunities. They consistently strive to build and sustain great relationships with clients and candidates alike - a mission driven by their core values of trust, transparency, and delivery excellence.

Industry

Recruiting and staffing services

Company size

51 - 200 Employees

Headquarters location

Iselin, NJ, US

Year founded

2010

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