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Senior Mainframe Developer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Employee Ensono is a leading, large-scale provider of mainframe and infrastructure services serving ... Work closely with Sales Engineering and the customer on solution, value, and pricing scenarios

Engineers are expected to deliver a superior customer experience by exhibiting our core principles ... A senior level professional role. Evaluation, originality or ingenuity required. Knows and applies ...

We are looking for a seasoned Software Engineer who has navigated complex production mainframe environments and is ready to contribute meaningfully from day one. This is a senior individual ...

Mainframe systems are at the heart of the digital economy, with 80% of the world's structured ... programming concepts, and source control. Key Responsibilities Content Creation and Management ...

The Senior/Lead Hadoop Developer is responsible for designing, developing, testing, tuning and ... systems/mainframe and vice-versa. 3+ years' experience in Importing and exporting the data using ...

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Senior Mainframe Developer information

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$37

$55

$64

How much do senior mainframe developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for senior mainframe developer in Illinois is $55.87, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $52.40 and $61.01 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Senior Mainframe Developer, you need deep expertise in mainframe programming languages (like COBOL, JCL, and PL/I), systems analysis, and a strong understanding of legacy application architectures, typically supported by a degree in computer science or related experience. Familiarity with tools such as IBM z/OS, DB2, CICS, and version control systems is essential, along with relevant certifications like IBM Certified System Programmer. Excellent problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills help you collaborate effectively and mentor junior developers. These skills are crucial for maintaining mission-critical systems, ensuring reliability, and guiding modernization efforts in complex enterprise environments.

What are some common challenges faced by senior mainframe developers when integrating legacy systems with modern technologies?

Senior Mainframe Developers often encounter challenges when integrating legacy mainframe systems with newer technologies such as cloud platforms, APIs, or microservices. These challenges include ensuring data consistency, maintaining system security, and minimizing downtime during migrations. Collaboration with cross-functional teams, such as infrastructure engineers and application developers, is key to developing seamless integration solutions. Staying up-to-date with modernization tools and best practices can help address these complexities and support the organization's digital transformation goals.

What is a senior mainframe developer?

Senior Mainframe Developers are experienced professionals who design, develop, and maintain mainframe systems—large-scale computers used by organizations for critical applications, bulk data processing, and enterprise resource planning. They are proficient in languages like COBOL, JCL, and Assembler, and often work with databases and transaction processing systems. Their responsibilities include troubleshooting system issues, optimizing performance, mentoring junior developers, and ensuring the reliability and security of mainframe operations.
What are the most commonly searched types of Mainframe Developer jobs in Illinois? The most popular types of Mainframe Developer jobs in Illinois are:
What are popular job titles related to Senior Mainframe Developer jobs in Illinois? For Senior Mainframe Developer jobs in Illinois, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Mainframe Developer jobs in Illinois look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Mainframe Developer jobs in Illinois are:
What cities in Illinois are hiring for Senior Mainframe Developer jobs? Cities in Illinois with the most Senior Mainframe Developer job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Mainframe Developer job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 18% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $116,202 per year, or $55.9 per hour.

Senior z/OS Administrator / Systems Programmer (Remote)

DivIHN

Springfield, IL • On-site, Remote

$85K - $115K/yr

Full-time

Posted 24 days ago


Job description

For further inquiries regarding the following opportunity, please contact our Talent Specialist, Abdul at (224) 507-1295 or Saravanakumar at (224) 507-1183 or Ragu at (224) 704 1713 or Justeen at (224) 394-4903
Title: Senior z/OS Administrator / Systems Programmer (Remote)
Location: Remote
Duration: 6 Months

Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week, with 7.5 hours per day.
Initial 2 days onsite visit (Springfield, IL) is required for onboarding purposes; the rest of the engagement will be remote.
Only W2 candidates are eligible for this position. Third-party or C2C candidates will not be considered.
Job Description
Job Summary:
• The Senior z/OS Administrator / Systems Programmer is responsible for the overall administration, maintenance, security, and optimization of the organization's z/OS mainframe environment.
• This role requires deep expertise in z/OS system internals, storage and hardware management, networking, and virtualization.
• The Senior Administrator ensures high availability, reliability, and performance of mission critical mainframe systems while supporting modernization initiatives and maintaining robust operational documentation.
Key Responsibilities:
1. z/OS System Administration:
Install, configure, maintain, and administer z/OS operating systems. Perform performance tuning, system health checks, problem determination, and root cause analysis to ensure stable and efficient system operation.
2. Storage Management:
Manage DASD and tape storage environments, oversee allocation and placement of datasets, perform capacity planning, and implement backup and recovery strategies using DFSMS and related technologies.
3. Hardware Infrastructure Management:
Maintain and support IBM mainframes, storage subsystems, and peripheral hardware. Coordinate and execute hardware upgrades, lifecycle maintenance, and incident remediation.
4. System Security:
Implement and maintain mainframe security controls to safeguard data and system resources. Utilize security tools, monitor access, and ensure compliance with established cybersecurity and audit requirements.
5. Performance Monitoring and Optimization:
Monitor system performance using RMF, WLM, and other tools. Identify performance bottlenecks and implement tuning strategies to enhance resource utilization, throughput, and reliability.
6. z/OS TCP/IP and Networking Administration:
Administer and support all networking components within the z/OS environment, including TCP/IP configuration, network security, connectivity troubleshooting, and performance tuning.
7. z/VM and Virtualization Support:
Install, configure, and maintain z/VM environments. Build, administer, and support virtualized Linux servers running under z/VM, ensuring stable interoperation with z/OS and supporting workloads.
8. Documentation and Knowledge Transfer:
Develop and maintain detailed documentation for system configurations, procedures, standards, and operational policies. Provide guidance, training, and mentorship to junior staff and operational support teams as needed.
Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent experience.
• More than 10 years of hands on experience as a z/OS administrator or systems programmer in an enterprise environment.
• Expert level knowledge of z/OS internals, subsystems, utilities, and operational best practices.
• Strong proficiency in DASD management, DFSMS, tape management, catalog management, and related storage technologies.
• Solid understanding of IBM mainframe architecture, hardware components, and system integration.
• Experience with performance tools such as RMF, WLM, Omegamon, and similar monitoring solutions.
• Effective communication skills and ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills with a focus on reliability and operational excellence.
Additional Technical Requirements:
• Deep knowledge of JES2, WLM, SMF, ICSF, DFSMS, ISPF, TSO, 3270 interfaces, TCP/IP, SMP/E, ISH, OMVS, Omegamon, and z/OS Connect.
• Familiarity with third party tools including Syspertec Virtel (browser based 3270 emulator), Rocket TMON (monitoring tool), and Chicago Soft QuickRef (reference tool).
• Experience supporting IBM software such as Tivoli Workload Scheduler, Fault Analyzer, File Manager, zSecure, DB2 Tools, and zLinux.