Role/Title: IA-DOM-DOIT-TS4 HHS CSRU Mainframe Developer (815494)
Loc: Des Moines, IA (Worksite Address: 510 E. 12th St, Office 1, Des Moines, IA 50319 / Polk County)
Position type: Contract (6-month project duration, from 12/07/2026 to 06/30/2027)
Work schedule: Remote
Position overview: The State of Iowa is undertaking a modernization initiative to replace an aging eligibility platform with a new statewide eligibility system (EDEN). The legacy Child Support Enforcement system (ICAR) must continue to exchange critical data with the new platform through file-based interfaces and batch processes. The Mainframe Developer will play a key role in supporting the integration, development, testing, deployment, and support of mainframe applications and interfaces, enabling seamless data exchange during this modernization effort.
Key responsibilities:
Mainframe Application Development: Develop, enhance, and maintain COBOL and JCL programs processing interface files between ICAR and EDEN; modify file layouts, data mappings, transformation logic, and validation routines; enhance batch processing workflows, GDG structures, and VSAM datasets.
Technical Analysis and Design: Translate requirements into technical designs; analyze legacy applications and integration points; modify and support applications interacting with IDMS databases (including schema/subschema navigation and ADS/O); perform record- and field-level analysis of interfaces; create/maintain technical documentation.
Testing and Quality Assurance: Develop unit test scenarios and execute comprehensive testing for mainframe applications and batch jobs; support system, integration, regression, and UAT testing; investigate and resolve defects.
Deployment and Operational Support: Create and maintain JCL, procedures (PROCs), scheduling definitions (CA7, Control-M, or equivalent), and operational documentation; support cutover planning, production deployment, and troubleshooting of production incidents.
Collaboration and Communication: Partner with project managers, business analysts, developers, testers, and stakeholders; participate in design reviews, technical walkthroughs, and sprint planning.
Qualifications & Requirements:
Mainframe Development: COBOL programming, JCL, VSAM datasets (indexing, REPRO/DEFINE utilities), IDMS database development and support (schema/subschema concepts, database navigation, IDMS COBOL integration, ADS/O preferred), batch processing development, flat file design/parsing, data transformation, and interface mapping.
Batch Processing & Infrastructure: GDG management, dataset lifecycle administration, FTP/SFTP processing/troubleshooting, file transfer automation, and enterprise scheduling tools (CA7, Control-M, or equivalent).
Integration & Analysis: Legacy system modernization experience, multi-system data integration, root cause analysis, technical specification interpretation, and strong analytical/problem-solving skills.
General: Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to work independently and collaboratively.
Experience: Hands-on mainframe development experience with strong expertise in COBOL, JCL, batch processing, IDMS (or comparable mainframe database technologies), and VSAM datasets, along with demonstrated experience supporting application integrations and analyzing/modifying legacy systems.
Preferred experience:
Experience supporting Child Support Enforcement systems or Human Services programs.
Experience with eligibility systems, public assistance systems, or government modernization initiatives.
Experience with large-scale legacy modernization projects.
Knowledge of production support, release management, and deployment practices.
Experience working in Agile or hybrid project environments.