ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Mainframe Programmer Contract Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

USM

Project Manager

Chester, VA · On-site

... Engineering, Business Intelligence, Data Management, SOA, BPM, Data Warehousing, SharePoint ... Proven track record in business P&L management, financial concepts and contract law. Experience ...

TechFlow, Inc.

Help Desk Specialist

Arlington, VA · On-site

$45K - $50K/yr

TechFlow Inc. is an employee-owned company delivering mission-critical technology, engineering, and ... Provide first and second-tier technical support to end users for PC, server, and mainframe ...

TechFlow, Inc.

Help Desk Specialist

Arlington, VA

$45K - $50K/yr

TechFlow Inc. is an employee-owned company delivering mission-critical technology, engineering, and ... Provide first and second-tier technical support to end users for PC, server, and mainframe ...

TechFlow, Inc.

Help Desk Specialist

Arlington, VA · On-site

$45K - $50K/yr

TechFlow Inc. is an employee-owned company delivering mission-critical technology, engineering, and ... Provide first and second-tier technical support to end users for PC, server, and mainframe ...

previous page

Showing results 41-52

All JobsMainframe Programmer Contract JobsMainframe Programmer Contract Jobs in Virginia

Mainframe Programmer Contract information

See Virginia salary details

$38

$53

$66

How much do mainframe programmer contract jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for mainframe programmer contract in Virginia is $53.65, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $46.73 and $62.69 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a mainframe programmer contract?

A Mainframe Programmer Contract job is a temporary position where a programmer develops, maintains, and troubleshoots software applications running on mainframe systems. Contractors are typically hired for specific projects or to fill short-term gaps in an organization's IT team. They work with legacy programming languages like COBOL, JCL, and assembler to ensure the smooth operation of critical business applications. Contract durations vary based on project needs and may be extended or converted into full-time roles. These roles often require experience with mainframe environments such as IBM z/OS.

What typical responsibilities can contractors expect in a mainframe programmer role?

As a Mainframe Programmer on a contract basis, you will often be responsible for writing, updating, and maintaining code in languages such as COBOL or PL/I, managing batch processing jobs, and performing data migrations or system integrations. You may also debug existing mainframe applications, resolve performance issues, and collaborate closely with business analysts, QA teams, and system administrators to meet project objectives. Contractors are frequently engaged in system upgrades or modernization initiatives, which require flexibility and strong problem-solving abilities. Project scopes and daily tasks can vary depending on the organization’s reliance on mainframe systems and current technical goals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in a mainframe programmer contract position?

To thrive as a Mainframe Programmer Contract, you need deep expertise in COBOL, JCL, and mainframe operating systems, often backed by a computer science degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with tools like IBM z/OS, TSO/ISPF, DB2, and knowledge of middleware or integration technologies is highly valuable and sometimes enhanced by relevant certifications. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are important soft skills for this position. These competencies enable you to efficiently maintain legacy systems, troubleshoot complex issues, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

What are popular job titles related to Mainframe Programmer Contract jobs in Virginia?

For Mainframe Programmer Contract jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Mainframe Programmer Contract jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Mainframe Programmer Contract jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Mainframe Programmer Contract jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Mainframe Programmer Contract job openings:

Mainframe Programmer Contract jobs near you

AI Solutions Architect & Federal Technical Lead - US Federal Sector

eTelligent Group LLC

Herndon, VA • Hybrid

Full-time

This job post has expired 2 days ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Company Overview:

Over the past 15 years, eTel has delivered essential solutions for the federal government by securing and managing data, providing scalable identity access, modernizing legacy systems, and building high-performance platforms. By integrating new technologies and ensuring reliable operations we help agencies stay prepared for future challenges As a premier technology solutions and services company to the US federal government, eTel possesses longstanding relationships across the federal civilian marketplace. Other customers include the broader Treasury Department, Commerce Department, and State Department.

eTel offers integrated CMMI Level 3 processes, tools, and techniques with innovative, cost-efficient, and secure solutions to address complex challenges. eTel also holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO/IEC 27001:2013, and ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 certifications, and offers dedicated subject matter experts (SMEs) and thought leaders that possess a deep understanding of customers' environments and challenges.

Mode: Hybrid (combining remote focused engineering work with onsite collaboration at our corporate office (Herndon, VA) and executive client sites for technical briefings/deployments).

Role Overview:

We are seeking a highly technical, mission-driven AI Solutions Architect & Technical Lead to drive the engineering and implementation of advanced artificial intelligence within the US Federal Government space. In this role, you will serve as the definitive technical authority, architecting and actively building modern, secure AI frameworks that drive agency transformation. You will utilize your deep understanding of legacy federal systems to design hybrid architectures, build functional proofs-of-concept (PoCs), and seamlessly bridge the gap between legacy infrastructure and cutting-edge GenAI capabilities. While deeply hands-on, you will also confidently engage with Senior Executive Service (SES) members, agency CIOs, and senior government technical leaders to validate technical approaches and shape the future of federal technology.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Hands-on AI Engineering & Prototyping
  • Act as the lead technical builder to rapidly engineer, code, and ship high-impact AI/ML Proofs of Concept (PoCs) and pilot programs within secure federal sandbox environments.
  • Develop and deploy custom Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines, fine-tune Large Language Models (LLMs), and implement robust vector databases tailored to federal mission data.
  • Bridge the gap between rigid government engineering standards and agile AI software deployment by implementing modern DevSecOps practices.
  • Enterprise Architecture & Modernization
  • Evaluate complex, legacy federal enterprise architectures (including monolithic databases and mainframes) to design and execute AI-driven optimization and integration strategies.
  • Design comprehensive, hybrid system blueprints that safely and effectively integrate modern cloud-native AI solutions with siloed on-premise government systems.
  • Ensure all proposed architectures are inherently designed to strictly comply with FedRAMP, DoD Impact Levels (IL4/IL5/IL6), and Zero Trust mandates.
  • Technical Strategy & Executive Advisement
  • Conduct deep-dive technical discovery sessions and briefings with SES leaders, flag officers, and agency technical directors (CIOs/CTOs).
  • Translate complex mission challenges into actionable, secure technical roadmaps and system designs.
  • Serve as the primary technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) and author for complex technical volumes in RFIs, RFPs, and whitepapers to secure prime contract vehicles.
  • Compliance & Deployment Leadership
  • Guide federal technical teams through the complex Authority to Operate (ATO) processes by providing comprehensive architectural documentation and security mappings.
  • Architect solutions specifically tailored for high-security, air-gapped, or disconnected edge environments.

Required Qualifications:

  • Technical Skills & Hands-On Expertise
  • AI/ML Stack: Deep, hands-on command of LLM orchestration (e.g., LangChain, LlamaIndex), RAG architectures, vector databases (e.g., Milvus, Pinecone, pgvector), and model fine-tuning/deployment.
  • Programming & Infrastructure: Strong proficiency in Python and experience deploying containerized applications (Docker, Kubernetes) within AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, or on-premise environments.
  • Systems Engineering: Proven ability to design data migrations, API integrations, and secure data pipelines connecting legacy systems to modern AI platforms.
  • Security & Compliance: Technical mastery of FedRAMP controls, NIST 800-53 guidelines, DevSecOps pipelines, and deploying software in highly restricted or air-gapped networks.
  • Professional & Leadership Experience
  • Federal Heritage: Foundational knowledge of legacy federal IT infrastructure, monolithic architectures, and agency enterprise tech stacks.
  • Executive Presence: 5+ years of experience acting as a technical SME, presenting complex architectural concepts to SES-level executives, political appointees, or military flag officers.
  • Delivery Track Record: Proven success in systems engineering, solutions architecture, or technical delivery within the US Federal Government or with Tier-1 Federal Systems Integrators (FSIs).
  • Education:
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or related field, or equivalent experience.

Commitment to Diversity -
eTelligent Group provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, nations origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, status as a covered veteran, and any other characteristic provided in accordance with applicable, federal, state and local laws.