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Senior Mainframe Developer Jobs in Kenosha, WI (NOW HIRING)

Senior Mainframe Developer information

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$37

$56

$64

How much do senior mainframe developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for senior mainframe developer in Kenosha, WI is $56.24, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $52.74 and $61.44 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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 the most commonly searched types of Mainframe Developer jobs in Kenosha, WI?

The most popular types of Mainframe Developer jobs in Kenosha, WI are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Mainframe Developer jobs in Kenosha, WI look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Mainframe Developer jobs in Kenosha, WI are:

What cities near Kenosha, WI are hiring for Senior Mainframe Developer jobs?

Cities near Kenosha, WI with the most Senior Mainframe Developer job openings:

Infographic showing various Senior Mainframe Developer job openings in Kenosha, WI 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 $116,980 per year, or $56.2 per hour.

Mainframe Senior Sys Prog / Database Administrator - Db2

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Franklin, WI • On-site

$46.25 - $63.50/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago


Northwestern Mutual rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 76 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

166th of 311 rated insurance


Job description

Mainframe Senior Sys Prog / Database Administrator - Db2
What You'll Do
  • Work closely with all levels of IT to deploy and support z/OS Db2 infrastructure and the associated application stack
  • Provide leadership in technical aspects of assigned projects and support issues; bring new ideas to the table when appropriate
  • Work with companion teams to set up and enforce database standards
  • Identify opportunities to improve availability, reliability, and performance of system and application infrastructure
  • Monitor system and application performance & provide performance improvement recommendations
  • Upgrade, configure, and migrate new releases of Db2; regularly apply maintenance, and when necessary, apply PTFs/APRS
  • Manage Db2 active and archive logs
  • Modify Db2 zParms
  • Recycle Db2
  • Ensure recoverability of the system and applications' database components
  • Support DR activities (RTO/RPO: synchronization methods)
  • Monitor instances for events and resolutions/escalations
  • Ensure the proper alerting is occurring for Db2 messages
  • Perform triage and troubleshooting
  • Install, upgrade, configure and migrate new releases of Db2 ISV products, apply maintenance, and when necessary, apply fixes
  • Support Db2 Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Products
  • Develop scripting to automate Db2 systems engineering tasks

What You'll Bring to the Role
  • Solid knowledge in Db2 subsystems and application tuning
  • A keen eye on process improvement and automation
  • Competence in Incident, Problem, and Change Management
  • In-depth experience in supporting mainframe technology (i.e. z/OS ISPF, JCL, JES2, etc.) specifically SMP/E or ZOSMF
  • Experience reviewing HOLDDATA
  • Utilize stand-alone utilities (i.e. DSNJLOGF, DSNJU004, DSNJU003, etc.)
  • Understand logical and physical database design
  • Experience as a z/OS DB2 administration, working with DDL, DML/DQL, DCL, DTL, DB2 commands, and SQL
  • System and Application Performance tuning; including tuning bufferpools
  • Experience in the Db2 Utilities (i.e. COPY, QUIESCE, REPAIR, REORG, LOAD, etc.)
  • Understand RACF Security
  • Understand Db2 managed security using RACF opposed to Db2 security
  • Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience
  • 4-5 years professional experience. May include:
    • 5 years of professional IT experience
    • 5 years' experience with at least one OS/hosting platform
    • 5 years' experience in performance tuning of application stacks
    • 5 years' experience with monitoring and performance management of systems
    • 3-5 years' experience with identity platform and tools
    • 2 years' experience with modern development and scripting languages
  • Experience with CICD concepts, tools, branching strategies, and leveraging knowledge to assist in delivering an infrastructure as a product
  • Excellent troubleshooting skills within area of expertise, and solid troubleshooting in adjacent domains
  • Solid understanding of traditional or cloud computing technologies including Networking, Compute, Storage, Development, Data, Operations, or Security
  • Experience with multiple delivery methodologies such as Agile and Waterfall

Skills You Have
  • Accountability: Holds self and their direct reports accountable for measurable, high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results, delivery, and execution. Determines objectives, sets priorities, delegates work to direct reports, and accepts responsibility for mistakes.
  • Adaptive Communication: Formulates strategies to be used to convey complex information about services, products, systems, or processes to targeted audiences; communicates and liaises between technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Analytical Thinking: Organizes and compares various aspects of a situation to comprehend and identify key or underlying complex issues through the use of quantitative data and analysis; leverages strong business acumen, problem solving, and interpersonal skills to think critically about situations from multiple perspectives and consistently seeks ways to improve processes.
  • Cross Functional Partnering & Planning: Facilitates collaboration, communication, coordination, and planning with individuals and teams from different functions within the organization, and who have different areas of expertise, to achieve common goals.
  • Infrastructure Development: Applies the knowledge of endpoint management and infrastructure platforms to analyze, design, implement, secure, and maintain hardware, network, and data storage platforms while ensuring that the infrastructure platforms align with the strategic direction of the organization. Designs, maintains, upgrades, and manages data centers and other operational components to support development operations efforts. Understands impacts on software development from Hardware design review.
  • Learning Agility & Critical Thinking: Pursues learning and obtains knowledge continuously in relevant fields, methods, or technologies in current and future practices; continuously utilizes critical thinking to identify opportunities, execute solutions, and measure impact to constantly improve existing practices and processes based on feedback, lessons learned, and market trends.
  • Monitor System Health: Applies the knowledge of various tools and techniques to monitor the performance of computer systems, networks, applications, and other infrastructure components to identify and diagnose problems, optimize performance, and ensure that the systems meet the established performance standards. Analyzes performance data, identifies trends, establishes performance baselines, sets up alerts and notifications, conducts periodic performance testing, and recommends solutions to improve system performance.
  • OS Level Knowledge: Leverages the fundamental concepts, principles, and components of an operating system to interact with and manage different operating systems, including installation, configuration, and maintenance. Demonstrates knowledge of how an operating system manages hardware resources, such as memory, processors, and storage, and how software interacts with these resources to design, develop, and maintain software that operates effectively on different platforms and provides the best possible user experience.
  • Technical Problem Solving: Conducts in-depth analysis of technology needs, issues, and roadblocks within assigned scope, applies best practice based on experience and expertise, explores the "art of possible". Solves problems effectively and gains alignment on the path forward. Defines, understands, and documents what is being solved for.

#LI-Remote
Compensation Range:
Pay Range - Start:
$108,160.00
Pay Range - End:
$162,240.00
Geographic Specific Pay Structure:
Structure 110:
$118,960.00 USD - $178,440.00 USD
Structure 115:
$124,400.00 USD - $186,600.00 USD
We believe in fairness and transparency. It's why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you're living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable, click here to learn more.
Grow your career with a best-in-class company that puts our clients' interests at the center of all we do. Get started now!
Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.

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About Northwestern Mutual

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Northwestern Mutual has been helping families and businesses achieve financial security for over 160 years through a distinctive planning approach that integrates risk management with wealth accumulation, preservation, and distribution. With more than $290 billion in assets, $30 billion in revenues and more than $1.9 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than 4.6 million clients. People are the power behind Northwestern Mutual, and diversity makes us better. We are committed to reflecting and serving the marketplace. We do so by attracting and improving the engagement of those who bring their outstanding perspectives, ideas, and beliefs.

Industry

Finance and insurance

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Milwaukee, WI, US