Title: Sr. Mainframe Database Systems Engineer
Location: Hartford, CT
Job Type: Contract-to-Hire (6 Month contract period)
Compensation: $55-$65 per hour (W2)
Industry: Insurance & Financial Services
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About the Role
We are seeking a Sr. Mainframe Database Systems Engineer on behalf of our client, a large organization in the insurance and financial services industry. This position will serve as a lead technical resource for Db2 for z/OS environments, with responsibility for the installation, configuration, maintenance, availability, and modernization of critical database infrastructure.
The ideal candidate brings deep hands-on experience with Db2 for z/OS systems programming and will provide technical leadership across database infrastructure, production support, disaster recovery, security, performance, and automation initiatives. This role will also partner with DBAs, managed service providers, and infrastructure teams to support reliable and scalable mainframe database environments.

Job Description
As a Sr. Mainframe Database Systems Engineer, you will:

Serve as the lead Db2 for z/OS systems programmer and engineer, supporting Db2 subsystems across production and non-production environments.
Install, configure, maintain, and monitor Db2 infrastructure to support system health, availability, and reliability.
Plan and apply software maintenance using SMP/E, including PTFs, RSUs, HIPER service, and maintenance for IBM, BMC, and Broadcom tools.
Lead Db2 version migrations and function-level activations, including planning, testing, implementation, and fallback strategies.
Configure and tune Db2 subsystems, including:
- DSNZPARMs
- Buffer pools
- Memory and EDM pools
- Active and archive logs
- BSDS
- IRLM
- WLM application environments
- RRS
Participate in IMS infrastructure activities involving DBRC, HALDB, and ACB management.
Lead subsystem-level problem determination and recovery involving restart issues, logs, BSDS, storage constraints, and dump analysis.
Manage technical support cases with IBM and other software vendors.
Support Db2 connectivity and security, including DDF/DRDA, TCP/IP, certificates, TLS, and RACF integration.
Partner with z/OS security, network, storage, and other technology teams.
Support database performance and capacity monitoring using SMF data and monitoring tools.
Maintain subsystem-level disaster recovery and business continuity procedures and participate in disaster recovery exercises.
Support audit and SOX evidence requirements.
Provide technical direction and oversight to managed service partners responsible for routine operational work, including reviewing plans, approving changes, and validating results.
Mentor DBAs, engineers, and managed service resources while developing and maintaining technical documentation and runbooks.
Maintain a product currency roadmap covering software versions, end-of-support dates, and dependencies across mainframe database technologies.
Identify opportunities to automate systems programming activities using REXX, JCL, Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC), and modern development tooling.
Support distributed Db2 components that connect to the mainframe, including Db2 Connect, Data Server Client, and Db2 gateway.
Design and improve database deployment processes and automation workflows across hybrid cloud and on-premises environments.
Contribute to database infrastructure architecture and long-term technical strategy.
Work independently on complex database infrastructure and engineering challenges.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, a related STEM field, or equivalent professional experience.
8+ years of hands-on Db2 for z/OS systems programming experience, including installation, maintenance, and version migrations.
Strong working knowledge of:
- SMP/E
- z/OS
- JCL
- TSO/ISPF
- SDSF/IOF
- REXX
Experience configuring and tuning Db2 subsystems, including DSNZPARMs, buffer pools, logging, and memory.
Demonstrated experience with subsystem-level problem determination and recovery.
Experience working with IBM Support on complex technical issues.
Working knowledge of RACF as it relates to Db2 and IMS environments.
Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, with the ability to break complex technical issues into manageable components.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document technical processes and communicate complex database concepts clearly.
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across infrastructure and technology teams.
Willingness to occasionally work weekends, overnight hours, or holidays for scheduled maintenance and production issues.
Willingness to provide occasional advanced support to team members participating in an on-call rotation.

Preferred Qualifications:

IMS systems programming experience, including DB/DC, DBRC, HALDB, managed ACBs, and the IMS catalog.
Experience with Db2 data sharing, Parallel Sysplex, and coupling facility technologies.
Experience with BMC AMI, Broadcom/CA, and IBM database tools, including File Master, Db2 SQL Tuning Services, and QMF.
Experience with Informatica PowerExchange listeners on z/OS.
Experience with Db2 LUW and distributed Db2 connectivity.
3+ years of technical leadership experience, ideally including oversight of vendors or managed service teams.
Experience planning and conducting disaster recovery exercises for Db2 and IMS.
IBM Db2 for z/OS certification.
Experience building automation for systems programming or database infrastructure using REXX, JCL, Infrastructure-as-Code, or related tooling.
Experience mentoring technical resources and establishing effective documentation and operational runbooks.
Ability to evaluate technical tradeoffs, accurately estimate database-related work, and contribute to database architecture strategy.

Benefits
Dahl Consulting is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees that will allow you to choose the best coverage to meet your family’s needs. For details, please review the DAHL Benefits Summary: https://www.dahlconsulting.com/benefits-w2fta/.

How to Apply
Take the first step on your new career path! To submit yourself for consideration for this role, simply click the apply button and complete our mobile-friendly online application. Once we’ve reviewed your application details, a recruiter will reach out to you with next steps!

Equal Opportunity Statement
As an equal opportunity employer, Dahl Consulting welcomes candidates of all backgrounds and experiences to apply. If this position sounds like the right opportunity for you, we encourage you to take the next step and connect with us. We look forward to meeting you!

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Sr. Mainframe Database Systems Engineer

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About this role