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Mainframe Developer Jobs in Milwaukee, WI (NOW HIRING)

Jenkins * 2 yrs of SDET knowledge in PL1 (Mainframe) * 2 yrs of Insurance knowledge * Framework Design and Enhancement * Experience with Insurance domain * Ability to work in team environment and ...

Jenkins * 2 yrs of SDET knowledge in PL1 (Mainframe) * 2 yrs of Insurance knowledge * Framework Design and Enhancement * Experience with Insurance domain * Ability to work in team environment and ...

... (DevOps) Familiarity and experience with design, setup and management of Dev, QA & Production Environments for high availability distributed applications with very large user base Leadership and ...

Build & CI pipeline management tools - Ability to conceptualize, design and execute a customized end-to-end CI/CD pipeline and workflow solution (DevOps). * Familiarity and experience with design ...

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Mainframe Developer information

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$52

$71

How much do mainframe developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for mainframe developer in Milwaukee, WI is $52.59, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $46.44 and $59.66 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 Milwaukee, WI?

The most popular types of Mainframe Developer jobs in Milwaukee, WI are:

What job categories do people searching Mainframe Developer jobs in Milwaukee, WI look for?

The top searched job categories for Mainframe Developer jobs in Milwaukee, WI are:

What cities near Milwaukee, WI are hiring for Mainframe Developer jobs?

Cities near Milwaukee, WI with the most Mainframe Developer job openings:

Infographic showing various Mainframe Developer job openings in Milwaukee, WI as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, and 18% Contract. Highlights an 91% In-person, and 9% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $109,388 per year, or $52.6 per hour.

Actuarial Senior Software Engineer, Mainframe

Milwaukee, WI • Hybrid

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
Finance and Insurance • 5 - 10K employees

$136K - $205K/yr

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago


Northwestern Mutual rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 76 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

About the Role

The Actuarial Software Engineering team at Northwestern Mutual is responsible for creating and improving systems that ensure the company can meet its financial obligations to its customers, employees, and field representatives. These systems are financial in nature, centered on risk products and benefit plans, and based on the professional knowledge of the actuary. The applications are varied, generally are mathematical in nature, and involve working in close partnerships with technical peers and actuarial business experts.

As an Actuarial Senior Software Engineer, you will contribute to our mainframe team, with a focus on the financial reporting systems. Working with calculations related to customer premiums, claim payments and reserve calculations requires a comfort level with math, eye for details, and a strong sense of prioritization. Your NM product knowledge and ability to translate technical and business terms will provide you with a strong foundation for your direct client interactions.

This is an excellent place to start within this group, will help you build a foundation of knowledge about our risk products, and from there you can either stay mainframe focused or grow into other business application areas and other technologies. Regardless, you'll be part of a team that plays a crucial role in ensuring this great company continues to do great things for its customers.

What You'll Do in the Role

  • Work with subject matter experts and technical peers to translate business needs into software engineering projects.
  • Leverage technical experience to develop, create, and implement software changes that meet business needs.
  • Provide guidance and leadership to less experienced software engineers.
  • Strive to continually improve our core systems, with a focus on delivering excellence to the business experts who rely on your work.
  • Multiply the talent of your teammates by sharing your experiences and learnings and fostering a positive team focused atmosphere.
  • Establishes, aggregates, and shares team standards and best practices within department.
  • Utilizes working relationships across teams within their division.

What You'll Bring to the Role

  • Bachelor's Degree in a technical field or equivalent experience.
  • 4-5 years professional experience required.
  • Experience developing and supporting mainframe-based applications preferred.
  • Experience with JCL, PL/I, SAS or similar 4th generation tool ideal
  • Experience with SQL desired.
  • Experience with professional change management concepts and tools (e.g. ChangeMan, ServiceNow, Control-M)
  • Strong problem-solving skills.
  • Capable of communicating between product, engineering, and the business.
  • Manages own time to meet objectives.
  • Ability to perform peer reviews on code and design.
  • Solid understanding of design patterns and architecture.

Skills You Have

  • Accountability
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Business Application
  • Learning Agility & Critical Thinking
  • Software Development
  • Software Problem Solving
  • Technical Problem Solving

#LI-Hybrid

Compensation Range:

Pay Range - Start:

$118,960.00

Pay Range - End:

$178,440.00

Geographic Specific Pay Structure:

Structure 110:

$130,880.00 USD - $196,320.00 USD

Structure 115:

$136,800.00 USD - $205,200.00 USD

We believe in fairness and transparency. It's why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you're living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable, click here to learn more.


Grow your career with a best-in-class company that puts our clients' interests at the center of all we do. Get started now!


Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.



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About Northwestern Mutual

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Northwestern Mutual has been helping families and businesses achieve financial security for over 160 years through a distinctive planning approach that integrates risk management with wealth accumulation, preservation, and distribution. With more than $290 billion in assets, $30 billion in revenues and more than $1.9 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than 4.6 million clients. People are the power behind Northwestern Mutual, and diversity makes us better. We are committed to reflecting and serving the marketplace. We do so by attracting and improving the engagement of those who bring their outstanding perspectives, ideas, and beliefs.

Industry

Finance and insurance

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Milwaukee, WI, US