ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Mainframe System Programmer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

ipolarity

Mainframe System Programmer

Plano, TX · On-site

$52.75 - $67.25/hr

Mainframe ZOS System Programmer PLANO, TX CHARLOTTE, NC RICHMOND, VA JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL PENNINGTON, NJ CHICAGO, IL The Mainframe z/OS System Programmer is responsible for the installation ...

CREATIVE GLOBAL CONSULTING

Mainframe z/OS System Programmer

$56.25 - $71.75/hr

Mainframe z/OS System Programmer Client: IBM POP: 12+ months Location: Remote US Citizen REQUIRED SKILLS * 10+ years of experience installing, customizing, and maintaining z/OS operating system * 5+ ...

Ourhrconnect

Mainframe System Programmer III

Columbia, SC · Hybrid

$51 - $64.75/hr

Cross train in all areas of systems programming in order to efficiently perform on-call rotation ... Experience with Mainframe System technologies including Db2, z/OS, SYSVIEW or other IBM mainframe ...

TriOptus LLC

Mainframe Network System Engineer

Tampa, FL · On-site

$52 - $66.25/hr

Mainframe Network system programmer; configure, implement, maintain, support host network definitions (VTAM, TCPIP etc.) for IBM/Kyndryl and IBM customer mainframe systems. * Provide Tier3 host ...

IDEALFORCE LLC

Mainframe Systems Programmer(34394)

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

$54.50 - $69.50/hr

Company Description IDEALFORCE has a Contract position available immediately for a Mainframe System Programmer to join our customer in Phoenix, AZ. Please find below additional details about this job.

Taproot Solutions

Mainframe ZOS System Programmer

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

$54.50 - $69.50/hr

Mainframe ZOS System Programmer Location : Phoenix, AZ area. Duration : 6 to 12+Months The Mainframe z/OS System Programmer is responsible for the installation, customization, maintenance, and ...

Cognizant

Mainframe Z/OS Systems Admin

The role involves performing system programming activities, supporting software standardization, and collaborating with teams to implement improvements in the mainframe environment. Responsibilities ...

Kyndryl

Mainframe ZOS System Programmer

Phoenix, AZ · On-site +1

$79K - $152K/yr

The Role The Mainframe z/OS System Programmer is responsible for the installation, customization, maintenance, and optimization of IBM z/OS operating systems and associated system software. This role ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsMainframe System Programmer Jobs

Mainframe System Programmer information

See salary details

$10

$58

$78

How much do mainframe system programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for mainframe system programmer in the United States is $58.18, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $52.88 and $67.31 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Mainframe System Programmer, you need deep knowledge of mainframe operating systems (such as z/OS), programming languages like COBOL or Assembler, and a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with mainframe tools (e.g., IBM ISPF, JCL, SMP/E) and certifications such as IBM Certified System Programmer are typically required. Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for diagnosing issues and collaborating with IT teams. These skills are vital to ensure the stability, security, and efficiency of critical enterprise computing environments.

What are some common challenges Mainframe System Programmers face when supporting legacy systems?

Mainframe System Programmers often encounter challenges such as integrating modern applications with legacy mainframe environments, ensuring system security while maintaining uptime, and troubleshooting complex issues that span both old and new technologies. They may also face difficulties due to limited documentation or retiring expertise as experienced colleagues leave the workforce. Staying current with evolving mainframe tools and best practices helps address these challenges and keeps systems running smoothly.

What is the difference between Mainframe System Programmer vs Mainframe Application Developer?

AspectMainframe System ProgrammerMainframe Application Developer
Required CredentialsCertifications in mainframe systems, such as IBM Certified System ProgrammerProgramming certifications, often in COBOL, Java, or other languages
Work EnvironmentOperate primarily on mainframe hardware, focus on system setup and maintenanceDevelop and modify applications running on mainframes
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by organizations with large-scale legacy systems, banking, insuranceDevelops business applications for mainframe environments in similar industries

While both roles work within mainframe environments, Mainframe System Programmers focus on system setup, maintenance, and optimization, whereas Mainframe Application Developers concentrate on creating and updating applications that run on mainframes. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus.

What are mainframe system programmers?

Mainframe system programmers are IT professionals who specialize in installing, configuring, maintaining, and optimizing mainframe computer systems. They are responsible for the underlying software infrastructure, such as operating systems (like IBM z/OS), network configurations, and middleware. Their work ensures that mainframe environments run efficiently, securely, and with minimal downtime, supporting critical applications for large organizations. System programmers also troubleshoot complex issues and implement updates or enhancements as needed.
More about Mainframe System Programmer jobs
What cities are hiring for Mainframe System Programmer jobs? Cities with the most Mainframe System Programmer job openings:
What states have the most Mainframe System Programmer jobs? States with the most job openings for Mainframe System Programmer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Mainframe System Programmer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Mainframe System Programmer jobs are:
What are popular job titles related to Mainframe System Programmer jobs? For Mainframe System Programmer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Mainframe System Programmer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Mainframe System Programmer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 20% Locum Tenens, 69% Full Time, 2% Part Time, 7% Contract, and 2% Summer. Highlights an 83% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $121,006 per year, or $58.2 per hour.

Mainframe System Programmer

Kanak Elite Services Inc

New York, NY • On-site

$60.25 - $76.50/hr

Contractor

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

Job Title: Mainframe System Programmer

Location: New York City, NY (Hybrid – 3x/week in the office)

Independent Candidate

*Local to NY only

*Looking for Mainframe System Programmer not a mainframe developer

* Automation and leadership experience is no longer mandatory. So, Mainframe system programmer only

Job Description:

Impact

  1. Own the mainframe automation strategy and roadmap to improve reliability, detection, and recovery.
  2. Client is looking for someone who is having 10+ years of experience in Mainframe System programmer.
  3. Scale automated solutions across infrastructure domains (batch, storage, networking, middleware) using APIs, orchestration, and infrastructure-as-code.
  4. Architect and govern multi-site failover automation; maintain and test DR playbooks and runbooks.
  5. Define and operationalize SLOs/SLIs, error budgets, and alerting standards; reduce MTTA/MTTR through event correlation and automated remediation.
  6. Instill disciplined engineering: peer reviews, version control, change management gates, and automation standards aligned to risk/compliance.
  7. Build and lead a high-performing team; develop talent in REXX, z/OS automation, DevOps, and integration.
  8. Partner across platforms, applications, cyber, risk, and compliance to prioritize automation investments that reduce toil and operational risk.
  9. Own KPIs and continuous improvement cycles; communicate performance, risks, and outcomes to senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

  1. Technical leadership and hands-on guidance in:
    1. Mainframe automation frameworks and system state management
    2. Expert-level REXX scripting; deep z/OS operating environment expertise
    3. Designing/supporting automated failover in multi-site environments
    4. RESTful APIs and systems integration for orchestration
    5. DevOps tooling (e.g., Jenkins including Zowe plug-in, Ansible) and CI/CD for mainframe workloads
    6. ServiceNow ITSM workflows and automation
    7. AIOps/event-management platforms (e.g., Moogsoft or equivalent)
    8. SQL, JCL, ISPF/TSO and related toolchains
  1. Governance, risk, and controls:
    1. Strong change control discipline (Git, peer reviews, deployment safeguards)
    2. High-quality documentation: runbooks, process/architecture standards
    3. Alignment with audit and compliance requirements
  1. Stakeholder and vendor management:
    1. Partner with infrastructure leaders and vendors; drive outcomes via SLAs and measurable KPIs
    2. Translate functional requirements into automation workflows; steward solution documentation and training
  1. Operations ownership:
    1. Troubleshoot and drive root-cause fixes; prepare detailed problem reports
    2. Resilience/DR: hands-on experience with GDPS and Safeguarded Copy
    3. Collaborate on performance tuning, capacity planning, and cost efficiency

Leadership Expectations

  1. Lead engineers/SREs with clear objectives, coaching, and succession planning; foster documentation and knowledge sharing.
  2. Shape automation standards across TSG; align priorities to business outcomes and risk posture.
  3. Present strategy, results, and risks to senior technology leadership; influence cross-platform adoption.
  4. Practice financial stewardship for tooling, licensing, and infrastructure; identify savings via automation and improved change success rates.
  5. Model BNY's Principles: Be Client Obsessed, Spark Progress, Own It, Stay Curious, Thrive Together.

Qualifications

  1. Extensive experience leading mainframe automation in large, multi-site enterprises
  2. Expert REXX and deep z/OS knowledge with a track record of robust automation delivery
  3. Demonstrated success implementing resilience/DR automation (GDPS, Safeguarded Copy)
  4. Proficiency with DevOps tooling (Jenkins incl. Zowe plug-in, Ansible) and REST API integrations
  5. ServiceNow ITSM automation; familiarity with AIOps/event correlation platforms
  6. Strong SQL, JCL, ISPF/TSO; ability to mentor across these domains
  7. Proven change management discipline (Git, peer reviews) and excellence in documentation/runbooks
  8. Exceptional communication skills for complex topics, training, and stakeholder engagement
  9. Experience owning KPIs, quarterly improvement cycles, and executive-level reporting.
     

    Thanks & Regards,

    Recruitment Manager

    Ravi Pratap

    Email : Recruiters@kanakits.com

    Kanak IT Services LLC.|| Hamilton Square, NJ 08690

    Website : www.kanakits.com