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Mainframe Developer Jobs in Pennsylvania (NOW HIRING)

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Mainframe z/VM System programmer to support and maintain our enterprise IBM Z mainframe infrastructure. This is a critical role in a complex, high ...

Pega Developer * Part of a full stack agile team including Java, ETL, and Mainframe developers * Attend stand up meetings and other agile ceremonies * Support both new development and production ...

SmartCOMM Lead/Developer

Philadelphia, PA · On-site

$59.50 - $78/hr

... Mainframe, Unix & Windows Experience in end-to-end migration project using accelerators Experience in Dynamic data import Ability to organize weekly status calls Risk Management Metrics ...

Engineer

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site

$100K - $125K/yr

Acorn & Essbase Developer Must Have Technical/Functional Skills: * Acorn, Informatica, Mainframe, Oracle PL/SQL, MS SQL , Essbase. * 5+ years hands on development and support experience with ...

AWS Developer

Malvern, PA · On-site

$65 - $70/hr

Experience modernizing mainframe applications, including analysis, refactoring, migration, and ... Collaborate with cross-functional teams including architecture, infrastructure, DevOps, and QA. * ...

Showing results 41-60

Mainframe Developer information

See Pennsylvania salary details

$10

$53

$72

How much do mainframe developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for mainframe developer in Pennsylvania is $53.51, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $47.21 and $60.72 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a mainframe developer?

Mainframe Developers are specialized software engineers who design, develop, maintain, and troubleshoot applications on mainframe computer systems, such as IBM's z/OS. They typically work with languages like COBOL, JCL, and CICS, and are responsible for ensuring the performance, security, and reliability of mission-critical business applications. Mainframe Developers are commonly employed in industries like banking, insurance, and government, where large-scale, high-volume transaction processing is essential.

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

To thrive as a Mainframe Developer, you need expertise in programming languages such as COBOL, JCL, and SQL, along with a strong understanding of mainframe operating systems and batch processing concepts. Familiarity with tools like IBM z/OS, DB2, CICS, and version control systems is typically required, and certifications from IBM or related organizations can be beneficial. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help Mainframe Developers excel in troubleshooting and collaborating with cross-functional teams. These skills are crucial for maintaining, optimizing, and modernizing legacy systems that are vital to many large organizations’ operations.

What are some common challenges mainframe developers face when integrating legacy systems with modern applications?

Mainframe Developers often encounter challenges such as ensuring compatibility between legacy systems and newer technologies, managing data migration without disrupting business operations, and maintaining the security of sensitive data. Effective communication with cross-functional teams, such as application developers and infrastructure engineers, is essential to address these challenges. Staying updated on both mainframe and modern programming practices helps ease integration and ensures long-term system reliability.

What is the difference between Mainframe Developer vs Mainframe Analyst?

AspectMainframe DeveloperMainframe Analyst
Primary RoleDesigning, coding, and testing mainframe applicationsAnalyzing and maintaining existing mainframe systems
Skills & CertificationsCOBOL, JCL, DB2, certifications like IBM Certified DeveloperCOBOL, JCL, system analysis, troubleshooting skills
Work EnvironmentDevelopment teams, coding in mainframe environmentsSupport teams, system analysis, user support
Industry UsageFinancial services, insurance, government agenciesFinancial institutions, healthcare, government agencies

While Mainframe Developers focus on creating and implementing mainframe applications, Mainframe Analysts primarily analyze, troubleshoot, and maintain existing systems. Both roles require similar technical skills and often work within the same industries, but their core responsibilities differ in development versus support and analysis.

Is a mainframe developer a good career?

A mainframe developer is a specialized IT professional who maintains and develops applications on mainframe systems, which are used by large organizations for critical data processing. The role offers stable employment, competitive salaries, and opportunities to work with legacy technologies like COBOL and JCL, but it may require ongoing learning of evolving mainframe tools and certifications. Overall, it can be a good career for those interested in enterprise computing and system stability.

Is a mainframe developer hard to learn?

Mainframe developers typically need to learn specialized programming languages like COBOL and understand mainframe environments, which can have a steep learning curve for beginners. However, with prior programming experience and training, acquiring the necessary skills is achievable, and many employers offer on-the-job training or certification programs.

Is mainframe developer still in demand?

Mainframe developers are still in demand in industries such as finance, insurance, and government, where legacy systems remain critical. They typically work with COBOL, JCL, and mainframe environments, and demand depends on the organization's reliance on mainframe technology and ongoing maintenance needs.

What are the most commonly searched types of Mainframe Developer jobs in Pennsylvania?

The most popular types of Mainframe Developer jobs in Pennsylvania are:

What job categories do people searching Mainframe Developer jobs in Pennsylvania look for?

The top searched job categories for Mainframe Developer jobs in Pennsylvania are:

What cities in Pennsylvania are hiring for Mainframe Developer jobs?

Cities in Pennsylvania with the most Mainframe Developer job openings:

Infographic showing various Mainframe Developer job openings in Pennsylvania as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 77% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 13% Contract. Highlights an 80% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,293 per year, or $53.5 per hour.

Mainframe z/VM System programmer

Broadcom

Pittsburgh, PA • On-site

$108K - $172K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 23 days ago


Broadcom rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 23 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

19th of 159 rated electronics manufacturers


Job description

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Job Description:

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Mainframe z/VM System programmer to support and maintain our enterprise IBM Z mainframe infrastructure. This is a critical role in a complex, high-availability mainframe product development environment, with a primary focus on the administration of the z/VM environment.

Key Responsibilities

  • z/VM System Administration & Support:

    • Install, configure, administer, and maintain IBM z/VM operating systems, providing expert-level support.

    • Define and manage VM guests for various operating systems, including z/OS, z/VM, z/Linux, and z/VSE.

    • Collaborate with VM guest owners to ensure the appropriate allocation of virtual and real resources.

    • Configure and administer essential VM service machines (e.g., RSCS, TCPIP SSL, VTAM, and Certificate Management).

    • Ensure proficiency in the building, backup, and restoration of DCSS and NSS segments.

  • Product Expertise & Troubleshooting:

    • Demonstrate extensive experience using the CA/Broadcom suite of VM products.

    • Install, maintain, and configure VM products from IBM and other third-party vendors.

    • Apply strong troubleshooting and implementation skills to quickly resolve complex issues and maintain system stability.

Required Skills and Experience

  • Extensive hands-on experience with IBM z/VM administration and support.

  • Proven ability to work effectively in a demanding, high-availability production environment.

  • Experience with guest provisioning and management of z/OS, z/VM, and z/VSE under z/VM.

Desirable Skills

  • Expertise in Hardware Configuration Definition (HCD) and Input/Output Configuration Data Set (IOCDS) management.

  • Ability to update and manage hardware configurations, including definitions for the processor, channels, control units, and devices.

  • Technical knowledge of IBM Z hardware configuration and I/O subsystem design.

Education/Experience

Bachelor's degree in Engineering and 8+ years of related experience or Masters degree in Engineering/Computer Science and 6+ years of related experience

Additional Job Description:

Compensation and Benefits

The annual base salary range for this position is$108,000 - $172,800

This position is also eligible for a discretionary annual bonus in accordance with relevant plan documents, and equity in accordance with equity plan documents and equity award agreements.

Broadcom offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401(K) participation including company matching, Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), company paid holidays, paid sick leave and vacation time. The company follows all applicable laws for Paid Family Leave and other leaves of absence.

Broadcom is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We will consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability status, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We will also consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records consistent with local law.

If you are located outside USA, please be sure to fill out a home address as this will be used for future correspondence.


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