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Mainframe Operations Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

About the Role Are you a seasoned Mainframe Specialist with deep, hands-on command of COBOL, JCL ... operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services-creating tangible value at speed ...

About the Role Are you a seasoned Mainframe Specialist with deep, hands-on command of COBOL, JCL ... operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services-creating tangible value at speed ...

Mainframe Engineer - IBM

Jacksonville, FL · On-site

$45.25 - $58.25/hr

Additionally, the role will ensure the reliability and availability of production, non-production, and disaster recovery mainframe systems critical to business operations. Essential Responsibilities

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Mainframe Operations information

See Florida salary details

$7

$39

$54

How much do mainframe operations jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for mainframe operations in Florida is $39.89, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $35.19 and $45.29 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are mainframe operations?

Mainframe operations refer to the processes and tasks involved in managing, monitoring, and maintaining mainframe computer systems. These systems are powerful computers used by large organizations for critical applications, bulk data processing, and large-scale transaction processing. Mainframe operators ensure system reliability, perform backups, monitor performance, troubleshoot issues, and coordinate with IT teams to support business operations. Their work is essential to keeping core business systems running smoothly and securely.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Mainframe Operations professional, and why are they important?

To thrive in Mainframe Operations, you need expertise in mainframe system administration, strong problem-solving skills, and a background in IT or computer science. Familiarity with IBM z/OS, JCL (Job Control Language), automation tools, and monitoring systems is typically required, along with certifications like IBM Certified System Programmer. Attention to detail, strong communication, and the ability to work under pressure help professionals quickly resolve incidents and coordinate with teams. These skills are essential to ensure the reliability, security, and optimal performance of critical enterprise computing environments.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in Mainframe Operations, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Mainframe Operations often encounter challenges such as managing legacy systems, ensuring 24/7 uptime, and swiftly resolving system outages. Staying up to date with new automation tools and best practices can help address these challenges. Additionally, effective communication with application teams and constant monitoring are key to minimizing downtime and ensuring smooth operations. Continuous learning and participation in cross-training sessions can also help team members stay proficient as technologies evolve.

What is the difference between Mainframe Operations vs Mainframe System Programmer?

AspectMainframe OperationsMainframe System Programmer
Primary ResponsibilitiesMonitoring, maintaining, and supporting mainframe systems to ensure smooth operationInstalling, configuring, and optimizing mainframe system software and operating systems
Required SkillsKnowledge of mainframe hardware, job scheduling, and system monitoring toolsExpertise in system software, scripting, and system tuning
CertificationsIBM Certified System Administrator, z/OS certificationsIBM Certified System Programmer, z/OS certifications
Work EnvironmentData centers, mainframe rooms, enterprise IT departmentsData centers, enterprise IT teams, mainframe software support

Both roles are essential in mainframe environments, with Mainframe Operations focusing on system support and monitoring, while Mainframe System Programmers handle system software installation and optimization. They often collaborate but require different skill sets and certifications.

Infographic showing various Mainframe Operations job openings in Florida as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Locum Tenens, 20% Internship, 63% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 6% Contract, and 4% Summer. Highlights an 84% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,969 per year, or $39.9 per hour.

$125K/yr

Other

Posted 23 days ago


Job description

WHAT IS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY?
A description of the business units can be found at: https://www.jobs.irs.gov/about/who/business-divisions

  • Position(s) are to be filled in the following area(s):
    • IT - Mainframe Operations
  • Consider each location carefully when applying. If you are selected for a location, that location will become your official post of duty.
REVIEW THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BELOW FOR FURTHER DETAILSQualifications:

Federal experience is not required. Experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or through Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.
You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Minimum requirements for Grade 12 and UP (GS or Equivalent): Applicants must have Information Technology related experience demonstrating each of the following nine competencies: 1) Attention to Detail, 2) Customer Service, 3) Decision Making, 4) Information Management, 5) Interpersonal Skills, 6) Oral Communication, 7) Problem Solving, 8)Team Work and 9) Technical Competence.
Specialized Experience GS-14 Level: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:

  • Leading or coordinating IT projects, application-related efforts, operational initiatives, or system-related activities that affect multiple users, teams, programs, or business processes.
  • Applying IT principles, concepts, methods, and practices to evaluate requirements; resolve technical issues; guide system, application, or code testing and configuration decisions; and ensure technical documentation and federal cybersecurity, privacy, or regulatory requirements are addressed.
  • Engaging customers, stakeholders, users, product or business owners, and technical teams to define business or technical requirements, communicate technical impacts, and guide delivery of secure, reliable, scalable IT solutions.
  • Evaluating system, service, or application performance, availability, reliability, security controls, usability, and operational effectiveness; identifying risks, issues, defects, or gaps; and leading corrective actions or improvement efforts.
  • Analyzing competing technical approaches and providing authoritative recommendations to management, stakeholders, or IT specialists on the selection, design, configuration, implementation, or improvement of IT solutions with organizational impact.
  • Led the planning, implementation, modernization, and maintenance of enterprise IBM mainframe environments, ensuring high availability, reliability, performance, and compliance with organizational and operational requirements.
  • Directed system upgrades, hardware refreshes, and infrastructure improvements to support mission-critical business operations and continuity of service.
  • Analyzed, diagnosed, and resolved complex issues involving IBM z/OS hardware, operating systems, and supporting infrastructure.
  • Provided expert technical guidance and recommendations to senior leadership, systems programmers, engineers, and technical staff on system performance, operational readiness, risk mitigation, and strategic technology initiatives.
  • Served as an IBM z/OS Systems Programmer responsible for the installation, configuration, and integration of mainframe hardware and storage peripherals.
  • Performed equipment planning, rack layout design, cabling coordination, power requirements analysis, and implementation activities to support enterprise computing operations.
  • Managed and maintained Input/Output Definition Files (IODFs) using Hardware Configuration Definition (HCD) and Hardware Configuration Manager (HCM), ensuring accurate hardware configuration, resource allocation, and system integrity across production and non-production environments.
  • Administered and configured Hardware Configuration Manager (HCM), Server Time Protocol (STP), cryptographic hardware, and Integrated Cryptographic Service Facility (ICSF) components to support secure, synchronized, and compliant enterprise mainframe operations.
  • Implemented and maintained Coupling Facilities and related Parallel Sysplex infrastructure, supporting high availability, workload balancing, data sharing, and enterprise resiliency.
  • Planned, installed, configured, tested, and supported IBM mainframe software products and system-level components.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional technical teams, project stakeholders, and vendor service personnel to plan, coordinate, and execute hardware and software installations, system upgrades, maintenance activities, and problem resolution efforts. Fostered productive working relationships to ensure timely project completion and operational excellence.

AND
You must also meet the following requirements

  • MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT: Minimum age for federal employment is 18 years old, or at least 16 years old and have:
    • Graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or
    • Completed a formal vocational training program; or
    • Received a statement from school authorities agreeing with your preference for employment rather than continuing your education.

For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards.

Education:A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click here (Section 3, Explanation of Terms) or here for Foreign Education Credentialing instructions.
We recommend choosing an evaluator from a member organization of one of the following national associations of credential evaluation services: National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE).Employment Type: OTHER