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Mainframe Developer Jobs in Buffalo Grove, IL (NOW HIRING)

Huntington

Site Reliability Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$58.75 - $78/hr

Support Mainframe technologies including z/OS, MVS, CICS, MQ, DB2, COBOL, JCL, TSO/ISPF, Easytrieve, IBM Utilities, SORT, FileAid, Xpediter, ChangeMan, AbendAid, and related tools. * Monitor and ...

Kyndryl

Mainframe z/VM & Linux

Chicago, IL · On-site

The Role We are seeking an experienced Mainframe z/VM & Linux Engineer to support IBM Z virtualization environments and Linux on Z platforms. This role is responsible for provisioning, maintaining ...

Infosys

Mainframe Modernization Program Lead

Chicago, IL · On-site

$101K - $132K/yr

... program management, DevOps practices • Drive end-to-end transformation of legacy mainframe ... applications and data to cloud platforms • Align modernization initiatives with enterprise ...

Ensono

Senior Sales Executive

Downers Grove, IL · On-site

Employee Ensono is a leading, large-scale provider of mainframe and infrastructure services serving ... Work closely with Sales Engineering and the customer on solution, value, and pricing scenarios

Collabera

SAS Programmer

Lake Bluff, IL · On-site

SAS developer with 10+ year experience in base SAS plus Proc SQL Experience in SDTM standards ... and Mainframe applications. Interprets process, data modules, and business requirements into ...

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All JobsMainframe Developer JobsMainframe Developer Jobs in Buffalo Grove, IL

Mainframe Developer information

See Buffalo Grove, IL salary details

$10

$54

$74

How much do mainframe developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for mainframe developer in Buffalo Grove, IL is $54.74, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48.32 and $62.12 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

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.

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.

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 operations. The role offers stable employment, competitive salaries, and requires skills in languages like COBOL and tools such as JCL. Demand remains steady in industries like finance and government, making it a viable career choice for those with relevant expertise.

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.

Is mainframe developer still in demand?

Mainframe developers are still in demand in industries such as finance, government, and insurance that rely on legacy systems. They typically work with COBOL, JCL, and mainframe environments, and demand remains steady due to the ongoing need for system maintenance and integration. However, the overall job market is gradually shifting toward modern technologies, so acquiring skills in related areas can enhance job prospects.

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 popular job titles related to Mainframe Developer jobs in Buffalo Grove, IL?

For Mainframe Developer jobs in Buffalo Grove, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Mainframe Developer jobs in Buffalo Grove, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Mainframe Developer jobs in Buffalo Grove, IL are:

What cities near Buffalo Grove, IL are hiring for Mainframe Developer jobs?

Cities near Buffalo Grove, IL with the most Mainframe Developer job openings:

Mainframe Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Mainframe Developer job openings in Buffalo Grove, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 78% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 14% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 80% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,862 per year, or $54.7 per hour.

Server & Storage Engineering Lead, Digital & Technology Services

Alvarez & Marsal

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 17 days ago

Alvarez & Marsal rating

7.2

Company rating: 7.2 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

54th of 72 rated business consultants

Job description

Description
About Alvarez & Marsal
Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) is a global consulting firm with over 10,000 entrepreneurial, action and results-oriented professionals in over 40 countries. We take a hands-on approach to solving our clients' problems and assisting them in reaching their potential. Our culture celebrates independent thinkers and doers who positively impact our clients and shape our industry. The collaborative environment and engaging work-guided by A&M's core values of Integrity, Quality, Objectivity, Fun, Personal Reward, and Inclusive Diversity-are why our people love working at A&M.
The Team
Alvarez & Marsal's Corporate Performance Improvement practice is looking for a Server & Storage Engineering leader with deep expertise in enterprise compute and storage platforms, legacy system modernization, and infrastructure rationalization. This role requires someone who has driven server consolidation and storage optimization at enterprise scale - across mainframe, midrange, and x86 environments.
Experience Should Include
  • Enterprise server platform architecture - x86, IBM z (mainframe), Unisys, P Series, SPARC, Itanium
  • Storage platform architecture - SAN, NAS, object storage, tiered storage design, and capacity optimization
  • Server consolidation, virtualization strategy, and legacy platform decommission planning
  • Storage growth management, data tiering, and decommission targeting
  • Hybrid infrastructure design - bridging on-premises compute/storage with cloud-based equivalents
  • Federal infrastructure environments preferred - experience managing classified compute/storage platforms is a strong advantage given the complexity of multi-classification environments
  • AI-assisted infrastructure analysis, capacity modeling, and optimization - must demonstrate active use of AI tools in delivery; AI fluency is required for this role
  • Design and implement Kubernetes-native auto-scaling architectures across AWS, Azure, and GCP. Expert-level experience with HPA, VPA, and event-driven scaling (KEDA). Proven ability to balance predictive pre-scaling with reactive real-time capacity adjustments, optimizing sub-second response times while maintaining cost efficiency. Strong background in multi-cloud workload orchestration and resource right-sizing
How you will contribute
  • Lead server and storage assessments - inventory analysis, utilization profiling, age/EOL mapping, and platform rationalization
  • Develop legacy platform retirement roadmaps (mainframe, SPARC, Itanium) with clear decommission timelines, migration paths, and risk mitigation
  • Analyze resource utilization patterns (CPU, memory, I/O, storage capacity) to identify rightsizing and consolidation opportunities
  • Design target-state compute and storage architectures balancing cost, performance, availability, and security requirements
  • Assess workload placement options across on-premises, private cloud, and commercial cloud for compute and storage workloads
  • Integrate findings into A&M's broader engagement scope and deliverables
  • Support practice development through internal training, thought leadership, and people development
Qualifications
  • 8-12+ years of professional experience in enterprise server and storage engineering, with consulting or advisory delivery
  • Demonstrated experience leading server consolidation or legacy platform migration programs at enterprise scale
  • Deep understanding of mainframe economics and modernization trade-offs (rehost, replatform, refactor, retire)
  • Federal infrastructure experience preferred - deep transformation experience in regulated industries can substitute
  • Bachelor's degree required; relevant vendor certifications (IBM, Dell/EMC, NetApp, VMware) valued
  • Comfortable with travel up to 80%
  • Full-time, contract, and project-based engagements available
What Distinguishes a Great Candidate
Has personally driven legacy platform retirement programs - not just assessed them. Understands mainframe-to-cloud economics and can articulate the trade-offs to executive audiences. Brings AI-assisted capacity analysis and optimization modeling as a standard part of the delivery toolkit. Knowledge of extinction risk on legacy platforms is real - this candidate has the institutional knowledge that is disappearing from the market.
Your journey at A&M
We recognize that our people are the driving force behind our success, which is why we prioritize an employee experience that fosters each person's unique professional and personal development. Our robust performance development process promotes continuous learning, rewards your contributions, and fosters a culture of meritocracy. With top-notch training and on-the-job learning opportunities, you can acquire new skills and advance your career.
We prioritize your well-being, providing benefits and resources to support you on your personal journey. Our people consistently highlight the growth opportunities, our unique, entrepreneurial culture, and the fun we have together as their favorite aspects of working at A&M. The possibilities are endless for high-performing and passionate professionals.
Regular employees working 30 or more hours per week are also entitled to participate in Alvarez & Marsal Holdings' fringe benefits consisting of healthcare plans, flexible spending and savings accounts, life, AD&D, and disability coverages at rates determined periodically as well as a 401(k) retirement savings plan. Provided the eligibility requirements are met, employees will also receive an annual discretionary contribution to their 401(k) retirement savings plan from Alvarez & Marsal. Additionally, employees are eligible for paid time off including vacation, personal days, seventy-two (72) hours of sick time (prorated for part time employees), ten federal holidays, one floating holiday, and parental leave. The amount of vacation and personal days available varies based on tenure and role type. Click here for more information regarding A&M's benefits programs.
The salary range for Manager is $135,000 - $160,000 annually and Director is $150,000 - $210,000 annually, dependent on several variables including but not limited to education, experience, skills, and geography. In addition, A&M offers a discretionary bonus program which is based on a number of factors, including individual and firm performance. Please ask your recruiter for details.
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