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Remote Mainframe Jobs in Pittsburgh, PA (NOW HIRING)

Regular meetings with customers (both remote and on-site) and presentations at customer conferences, including SHARE and Broadcom Mainframe Technical Exchange Required Education, Experience, and ...

Remote Mainframe information

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$9

$49

$67

How much do remote mainframe jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for remote mainframe in Pittsburgh, PA is $49.88, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $44.04 and $56.59 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a remote mainframe?

A Remote Mainframe job refers to positions where professionals manage, maintain, or develop mainframe computer systems while working remotely, often from home or another offsite location. Mainframes are powerful computers used by large organizations for critical applications, bulk data processing, and large-scale transaction processing. Remote mainframe professionals may work in roles such as system administrators, programmers, or support analysts. These roles typically require specialized knowledge of mainframe operating systems like IBM z/OS and experience with mainframe programming languages such as COBOL or Assembler.

What are remote mainframe jobs?

Remote mainframe jobs include a variety of positions, including those in development, customer service, and system administration. In these roles, you may telecommute to monitor existing mainframe systems, help develop new software, secure a computer network, or otherwise manage and control the operations of the mainframe from home. Some remote mainframe jobs also involve coordinating with an on-site engineer to reprogram or adjust mainframe systems as necessary. This is a relatively broad job title that can refer to many different positions, so you may need to narrow your search to specific roles in order to get results that match your education and experience.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a remote mainframe specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Remote Mainframe Specialist, you need deep expertise in mainframe systems (such as IBM z/OS), COBOL or Assembler programming, and experience with large-scale enterprise environments, typically backed by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with tools like JCL, TSO/ISPF, and mainframe performance monitoring tools, as well as certifications like IBM Certified System Programmer, are often required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and effective remote communication are crucial soft skills. These competencies ensure reliable system operations, timely resolution of critical issues, and seamless collaboration with distributed technical teams.

What are some common challenges faced by remote mainframe professionals, and how can they be addressed?

Remote Mainframe professionals often face challenges such as maintaining secure access to legacy systems, managing time zone differences with global teams, and troubleshooting issues without on-site support. To address these, organizations typically provide robust VPNs and multi-factor authentication for secure connections, implement effective communication tools, and foster detailed documentation practices. Staying proactive with regular updates, clear documentation, and open communication with colleagues ensures smoother remote operations and minimizes downtime.

What is the difference between Remote Mainframe vs Remote Data Analyst?

AspectRemote MainframeRemote Data Analyst
Required CredentialsMainframe certifications (e.g., IBM Certified Specialist)Data analysis certifications (e.g., Microsoft, SAS)
Work EnvironmentLegacy systems, mainframe terminals, specialized softwareModern computers, data visualization tools, databases
Employer & Industry UsageFinancial institutions, government agencies, large corporationsTech companies, marketing firms, healthcare organizations
Common Search & Comparison IntentTechnical skills, mainframe job roles, remote opportunitiesData analysis skills, remote data jobs, analytics roles

Remote Mainframe and Remote Data Analyst roles differ mainly in technical focus and work environment. Mainframe roles involve legacy systems and specialized certifications, often within finance or government sectors. Data Analyst positions focus on modern data tools and visualization, applicable across various industries. Both roles are in demand for remote work, but they serve different technical needs and skill sets.

What are the most commonly searched types of Mainframe jobs in Pittsburgh, PA?

The most popular types of Mainframe jobs in Pittsburgh, PA are:

What job categories do people searching Remote Mainframe jobs in Pittsburgh, PA look for?

The top searched job categories for Remote Mainframe jobs in Pittsburgh, PA are:

What cities near Pittsburgh, PA are hiring for Remote Mainframe jobs?

Cities near Pittsburgh, PA with the most Remote Mainframe job openings:

Infographic showing various Remote Mainframe job openings in Pittsburgh, PA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 10% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 8% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $103,746 per year, or $49.9 per hour.

Mainframe Senior Architect - Performance & Capacity Management - REMOTE - 1821

Pittsburgh, PA • Remote

PlacingIT
Recruiting and Staffing Services • 1 - 10 employees

$130K - $150K/yr

Full-time

Posted yesterday

New


Job description

Mainframe Senior Architect – Performance & Capacity Management - 1821
Position Tupe: Full-Time
Base Salary: $130,000–$150,000
U.S. Citizenship Required due to contractual/access requirements
Visa Sponsorship: Not available
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Mainframe Senior Architect specializing in IBM mainframe performance and capacity management. This is a highly technical, hands-on role responsible for maintaining and optimizing the performance, scalability, stability, and cost efficiency of a large IBM zEnterprise mainframe environment.
This position is approximately 80% IBM mainframe performance management and 20% capacity planning.
The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in IBM z/OS performance, real-time performance monitoring and tuning, Workload Manager (WLM), SMF/RMF data analysis, and large-scale Parallel Sysplex environments.
This person will analyze system and workload performance, identify and resolve bottlenecks, optimize resource utilization, and forecast future infrastructure requirements while balancing performance with cost.
Key Responsibilities
  • Monitor, analyze, troubleshoot, and optimize IBM z/OS mainframe performance across large, complex environments.
  • Perform real-time analysis of CPU, memory, storage, workload, and transaction performance.
  • Identify root causes of performance degradation and resolve bottlenecks during critical or high-volume processing periods.
  • Tune and optimize Workload Manager (WLM) policies and workload configurations.
  • Analyze and interpret SMF and RMF data to identify performance trends and opportunities for optimization.
  • Evaluate the performance impact of major mainframe workloads and subsystems, including Db2, CICS, IMS, and MQ.
  • Work within multi-LPAR and Parallel Sysplex environments.
  • Analyze general processor and zIIP utilization and configuration.
  • Perform capacity forecasting and modeling based on workload trends, business cycles, and anticipated growth.
  • Forecast future MIPS/MSU and infrastructure requirements.
  • Support mainframe cost optimization, including understanding IBM software pricing models and infrastructure costs.
  • Perform SCRT (Sub-Capacity Reporting Tool) processing and related analysis.
  • Develop reporting, dashboards, and performance analysis using tools such as SAS/MXG, Excel, OMEGAMON, IntelliMagic, REXX, and JCL.
  • Partner with application developers, database administrators, infrastructure teams, DevOps, and leadership to communicate performance findings and recommendations.
  • Develop preventative strategies to maintain system stability, availability, and low latency during peak workloads.
  • Provide technical leadership and mentoring in mainframe performance and capacity management.

Required Qualifications
  • Extensive hands-on experience with IBM mainframe performance management and tuning.
  • Strong expertise with IBM z/OS and IBM Z architecture.
  • Experience working in large multi-LPAR, Parallel Sysplex environments.
  • Deep knowledge of Workload Manager (WLM) configuration and tuning.
  • Strong experience analyzing SMF and RMF performance data.
  • Experience monitoring and optimizing CPU, memory, storage, and workload utilization.
  • Strong understanding of Db2, CICS, IMS, and MQ and how these workloads impact overall system performance.
  • Experience troubleshooting complex mainframe performance issues in real time.
  • Strong hands-on skills with REXX and JCL.
  • Experience with performance reporting and analytical tools such as SAS/MXG and OMEGAMON.
  • Strong knowledge of mainframe capacity concepts, including MIPS, MSUs, workload forecasting, and capacity modeling.
  • Understanding of IBM mainframe software pricing and cost optimization.
  • Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and the ability to present complex technical findings to both technical and executive audiences.
  • Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.

Highly Preferred / Eye-Catcher
Grafana experience is highly desirable. Candidates who have used Grafana for performance monitoring, dashboards, visualization, or mainframe-related operational reporting will receive strong consideration.
Additional preferred experience includes:
  • ZPCR
  • Macro4 Freezeframe
  • BMC Thruput Manager
  • TADz
  • IntelliMagic
  • SAS programming for reporting and analytics
  • Creating executive dashboards and operational reporting tools
  • Highly transactional, large-scale enterprise environments

Education
A Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline is desirable but not an absolute requirement.
Candidates without a Bachelor’s Degree may still be considered based on the strength and depth of their relevant IBM mainframe performance experience. If a candidate does not have a Bachelor’s Degree, this should be clearly noted when presenting the candidate.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The strongest candidate will be a true IBM mainframe performance specialist, rather than a general Mainframe Architect who has only had occasional exposure to performance or capacity management.
We are particularly interested in candidates who have spent significant portions of their careers actively:
  • Monitoring and tuning z/OS performance
  • Working with WLM, RMF, and SMF
  • Diagnosing real-time mainframe performance problems
  • Optimizing CPU and zIIP utilization
  • Working in Parallel Sysplex/multi-LPAR environments
  • Analyzing Db2, CICS, IMS, and MQ workloads
  • Using SAS/MXG, OMEGAMON, IntelliMagic, or similar performance tools
  • Forecasting MIPS/MSU and future capacity requirements
  • Balancing performance requirements against IBM mainframe infrastructure and software costs