Consultant, Product Architect (Mainframe)

Nationwide•Columbus, OH

13h•Hybrid

About The Position

If you’re passionate about being part of a dynamic organization that enables a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales to drive innovation and adopt new technologies that deliver business results, then Nationwide’s Technology team could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care. This role will work a hybrid schedule coming into the Columbus, Ohio office 2 days per week on Mondays & Thursdays. The Mainframe Product Architect role sits within Nationwide’s Security & Infrastructure Architecture organization, supporting the enterprise mainframe platform that underpins critical applications across Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, Nationwide Financial, and shared services. This team owns the long‑term strategy, modernization, and resiliency of our z/OS environment and its surrounding ecosystem (CICS, IMS, Db2, storage, security, and integration patterns), partnering with infrastructure engineering, application teams, and vendors to keep the platform secure, scalable, and cost‑effective. This is an attractive opportunity for someone who wants broad, enterprise‑wide impact and is passionate about unlocking capabilities of the mainframe. The Mainframe Product Architect leads the technical vision and architecture roadmap for one of Nationwide’s most critical platforms, driving modernization (automation, CI/CD, AI, and data protection) and designing how the mainframe integrates with off‑platform solutions—APIs, event streams, distributed services, and cloud. The role defines simple, secure, reusable patterns that allow other platforms to consume mainframe data and services. Key technical competencies include: Deep knowledge of z/OS, JES2, and core subsystems (CICS, IMS, Db2, z/OS Connect) to guide infrastructure and application decisions Mainframe connectivity and integration patterns (APIs, MQ, SFTP/file movement, data replication, event streaming) to build resilient flows between mainframe and distributed/cloud platforms Mainframe automation and CI/CD/DevOps practices, plus storage and DR strategies (including immutable copies) Experience with IBM and ISV batch tools (e.g., Debug, Fault Analyzer, FileManager, JCLPlus, UAC) and strong performance/capacity management to optimize cost and service levels Understanding of how AI and advanced analytics will be applied with the mainframe and mainframe applications Day to day, this architect sets and evolves reference architectures and guardrails, reviews and approves significant solution designs impacting the mainframe, leads deep‑dive design sessions with engineering and application teams (on and off platform), and translates platform needs into actionable roadmaps and investment proposals. They also play a visible role in mentoring and talent development—coaching engineers and architects, contributing to architecture talent programs and communities of practice, and helping grow the next generation of leaders at Nationwide. #LI-AC1 If you’re enthusiastic about delivering secure technology solutions to support a company providing extraordinary care to its customers, then Nationwide Technology is the place for you. Nationwide's industry-leading technology workforce embraces an agile work environment and a collaborative culture to deliver outstanding solutions and results. If that sounds like something you aspire to, we want to hear from you! As a Product Architect you will support a line or lines of business or infrastructure domain and are responsible for the technical quality, integrity and evolution of the application portfolio sustaining a product domain, a business function(s) within a Business Solution Area (BSA) or the technology portfolio. The Product Architect supports a line of business or infrastructure domain and is responsible for technical quality, integrity and evolution of the application portfolio sustaining a product domain, a business function(s) within a business solution area (BSA) or the technology portfolio.

Requirements

Deep knowledge of z/OS, JES2, and core subsystems (CICS, IMS, Db2, z/OS Connect) to guide infrastructure and application decisions
Mainframe connectivity and integration patterns (APIs, MQ, SFTP/file movement, data replication, event streaming) to build resilient flows between mainframe and distributed/cloud platforms
Mainframe automation and CI/CD/DevOps practices, plus storage and DR strategies (including immutable copies)
Experience with IBM and ISV batch tools (e.g., Debug, Fault Analyzer, FileManager, JCLPlus, UAC) and strong performance/capacity management to optimize cost and service levels
Understanding of how AI and advanced analytics will be applied with the mainframe and mainframe applications
Undergraduate studies in computer science, management information systems, or a related field is preferred.
Eight to ten years of experience in a Technology domain.
Shown skill in multiple architectural domains and various technologies.
Awareness of emerging technologies.
Good communication and facilitation skills.
Ability to make decisions and recommendations on technology strategies while considering various options and business needs.
Aptitude to influence, build relationships, negotiate and set priorities needed.
Strong executive presence.

Nice To Haves

Experience with cloud technologies is preferred.
Insurance/financial services industry knowledge a plus.
Technology certifications or designation are not required but encouraged.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain systems architecture for a product domain, business function or the technology portfolio.
Ensuring that the product meets functional and non-functional requirements.
Key contributor on strategies, blueprints and roadmaps for a given product/application/technology area focused on technical directions like Cloud First.
Ensure product/application roadmaps are aligned with solution and enterprise roadmaps with the correct guard rails.
Responsible for applying secure software and systems engineering practices throughout the delivery lifecycle to ensure our data and technology solutions are protected from threats and vulnerabilities.
Identifies technology risk, technical currency and technical debt related to applications when planning for new solutions, technology upgrades and maintenance of product/application platforms.
Crafts moderate to sophisticated build patterns, accelerators, building codes standard and carrying out compliance with architecture standards.
Drives technical quality by conducting or participating in architecture, design and code reviews, capacity planning, modeling and testing.
Runs the vitality of technical talent in area of responsibility and provides feedback, suggestions to other people leaders on technical talent.
Assists in mentoring lines involved in a product/application development when unfamiliar, new technologies or techniques are introduced.
May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

medical/dental/vision
life insurance
short and long term disability coverage
paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date
nine paid holidays
8 hours of Lifetime paid time off
8 hours of Unity Day paid time off
401(k) with company match
company-paid pension plan
business casual attire