MAINFRAME DEVELOPER

Seeking a Mainframe Developer for a remote contract role with a State Government organization in Des Moines, IA.

Position Summary
The Mainframe Developer will design, develop, modify, test, and support mainframe programs and batch processes that facilitate integration between the legacy Child Support Enforcement system (ICAR) and the new Eligibility Determination system (EDEN). The resource will work closely with business analysts, architects, testers, and technical teams to implement interface updates, maintain data integrity, and support the transition from legacy data sources to modernized eligibility services.

Key Responsibilities
Mainframe Application Development
· Develop, enhance, and maintain COBOL and JCL programs that process interface files between ICAR and EDEN.
· Modify file layouts, data mappings, transformation logic, and validation routines based on business and technical requirements.
· Enhance batch processing workflows, GDG structures, and VSAM datasets to support evolving integration requirements.
· Support modernization efforts by replacing legacy eligibility data sources with EDEN-derived data.
· Maintain and troubleshoot existing production processes and interfaces.

Technical Analysis and Design
· Translate business and functional requirements into technical design specifications.
· Analyze existing mainframe applications and integration points to determine impacts of system changes.
· Modify and support applications that interact with IDMS databases, including schema and subschema navigation.
· Perform detailed record-level and field-level analysis of inbound and outbound interfaces.
· Identify dependencies, integration touchpoints, and risks associated with parallel operation of legacy and modern systems.
· Create and maintain technical documentation, process flows, program specifications, and interface designs.

Testing and Quality Assurance
· Develop unit test scenarios and execute comprehensive testing of mainframe applications and batch jobs.
· Support system, integration, regression, and user acceptance testing activities.
· Investigate and resolve defects identified during testing cycles.
· Validate end-to-end data processing and file exchanges between systems.
· Ensure data quality, processing accuracy, and compliance with business requirements.

Deployment and Operational Support
· Create and maintain JCL, procedures (PROCs), scheduling definitions, and operational documentation.
· Support implementation, migration, and production deployment activities.
· Assist with cutover planning and execution during modernization milestones.
· Troubleshoot production incidents, file processing failures, and data discrepancies.
· Develop operational runbooks, monitoring procedures, and post-deployment support documentation.

Collaboration and Communication
· Partner with project managers, business analysts, developers, testers, and business stakeholders.
· Participate in design reviews, technical walkthroughs, sprint planning, and status meetings.
· Communicate technical risks, issues, dependencies, and recommendations proactively.
· Support knowledge transfer activities and contribute to project documentation.
Required Technical Skills
Mainframe Development
· COBOL programming
· JCL (Job Control Language)
· VSAM datasets, indexing, REPRO/DEFINE utilities
· IDMS database development and support
o Schema/Subschema concepts
o Database navigation
o ADS/O experience preferred
o IDMS COBOL integration
· Batch processing development and support
· Flat file design and parsing
· Data transformation and interface mapping

Batch Processing and Infrastructure
· GDG management and dataset lifecycle administration
· FTP/SFTP processing and troubleshooting
· File transfer automation
· Scheduling tools such as:
o CA7
o Control-M
o Equivalent enterprise scheduling platforms

Integration and Analysis
· Legacy system modernization experience
· Multi-system data integration and interface support
· Technical specification interpretation
· Root cause analysis and troubleshooting
· Data mapping and transformation logic
· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Required Qualifications
· Hands-on mainframe development experience.
· Strong expertise in COBOL, JCL, and batch processing.
· Experience working with IDMS or comparable mainframe database technologies.
· Experience with VSAM datasets and file-processing applications.
· Demonstrated experience supporting application integrations and data exchange processes.
· Experience analyzing and modifying legacy systems.
· Strong verbal and written communication skills.
· Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
Preferred Qualifications
· 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.
Success Criteria
The selected candidate will successfully:
· Deliver high-quality mainframe code and interface enhancements.
· Support reliable data exchange between ICAR and EDEN.
· Minimize disruption during legacy-to-modern system transition activities.
· Contribute to successful testing, deployment, and production support efforts.
· Maintain system stability while enabling modernization objectives.