IT Infrastructure Engineer / Mainframe

Job Title: IT Infrastructure Engineer / Mainframe

Location: New York, NY 10001

Job Type: Contract

Job Type : Full Time

Work schedule: Normal business hours Monday through Friday, 35 hours/week (not including mandatory unpaid meal break after 6 hours of work).

Pay Rate: $75 to $180K Yearly (Depending on experience)

Job Description / Justification:

Position Overview

The Financial Information Services Agency and the Office of Payroll Administration (FISA-OPA) are seeking an experienced and highly motivated IT Infrastructure Engineer / Mainframe Systems Manager to lead the Mainframe Systems team within the Shared Systems Division. This leadership role is responsible for overseeing enterprise mainframe operations, infrastructure stability, disaster recovery initiatives, capacity planning, and technology modernization.

The selected candidate will manage daily team operations, assign and monitor tasks, establish performance goals, and ensure the reliability and availability of mission-critical systems. This role also requires participation in after-hours support activities, scheduled upgrades, and resolution of critical production incidents in a 24/7 enterprise environment.

Key Responsibilities

Mainframe Operations & Leadership

• Lead and manage the Mainframe Systems team to ensure operational efficiency and system reliability.
• Maintain enterprise IBM mainframe systems, storage platforms, program products, and supporting subsystems.
• Ensure systems meet service-level agreements (SLAs) and organizational performance expectations.
• Provide technical leadership for z/OS administration, hardware configuration, performance tuning, and disaster recovery solutions.
• Monitor day-to-day operations and ensure issues are identified, escalated, and resolved promptly.
• Act as the primary lead for disaster recovery planning and recovery-related activities.
• Research, evaluate, and implement strategic technology solutions for enterprise mainframe environments.
• Ensure compliance with FISA-OPA technical standards, policies, and procedures.

Performance Monitoring & Capacity Planning

• Analyze infrastructure performance and capacity utilization data.
• Perform daily, monthly, and annual performance reviews and capacity planning for enterprise systems.
• Track new software releases, maintenance updates, and platform enhancements.
• Collaborate with the Mainframe team to remain current on emerging software and infrastructure technologies.

Project & Vendor Management

• Lead infrastructure-related projects, including hardware and software upgrades.
• Develop project plans, timelines, and implementation strategies for both large and small initiatives.
• Mentor and guide technical staff to ensure successful project delivery.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with hardware and software vendors.
• Coordinate with vendors on capacity planning, support, upgrades, and technology solutions

Technology Innovation & Documentation

• Stay informed about emerging technologies related to enterprise infrastructure and mainframe systems.
• Evaluate and implement new technologies that align with agency requirements and modernization goals.
• Develop, maintain, and manage technical documentation, operational procedures, and system standards.
• Coordinate with operations teams to ensure all procedural documentation remains accurate and up to date.

Strategic Planning & Budgeting

• Support long-term infrastructure planning and budgeting activities.
• Develop cost projections and upgrade plans for hardware and software lifecycle management.
• Identify infrastructure needs related to capacity growth, end-of-life replacements, software support expiration, and consolidation initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must meet one of the following requirements:

1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, along with four years of full-time experience in data center operations, cloud engineering, or complex IT infrastructure engineering.

OR

1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college and eight years of full-time experience in data center operations, cloud engineering, or complex IT infrastructure engineering.

OR

1. An equivalent combination of education and professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• 20+ years of experience managing enterprise infrastructure in large-scale environments.
• Strong experience with IBM mainframe technologies, subsystems, and enterprise infrastructure platforms.
• Candidates with extensive AIX, Linux, or UNIX infrastructure management experience will also be considered.
• Strong understanding of IBM z/OS architecture, security, system internals, and enterprise storage technologies.
• Excellent troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-resolution skills.
• Ability to work independently and make informed technical decisions.
• Strong communication and documentation abilities.
• Experience coordinating with cross-functional departments, agencies, vendors, and technical teams.
• Strong project management and time-management skills.
• Ability to learn and adapt quickly to new technologies.
• Excellent interpersonal and team collaboration skills.