IBM iSeries Programmer

Henricksen•Oak, IL

11h•$120,000 - $140,000•Onsite

About The Position

This position will be located in our Oak Brook, IL office. The IBM iSeries Programmer will design, develop, implement, support, and foster continuous improvement of business-critical applications operating on the IBM i platform. They will partner with cross-functional stakeholders to analyze and translate requirements into scalable, advanced technical solutions and maintain reliable, high-performing applications that support organizational objectives. They will leverage technical expertise to enhance existing systems, develop new functionality, and ensure seamless integration across enterprise applications. They will serve as project leader for assigned technology initiatives, managing projects from planning through implementation driving operational efficiency while maintaining business continuity across the organization.

Requirements

7+ years of hands-on development experience on IBM i, AS/400, iSeries, or Power Systems platforms.
Strong experience with RPG IV, ILE RPG, Free-Form RPG, RPGLE/SQLRPGLE, CL/CLLE, and legacy fixed-format RPG code.
Strong SQL skills, including embedded SQL, query development, data analysis, joins, views, stored procedures, indexing concepts, and performance tuning on Db2 for i.
Experience designing, modifying, troubleshooting, and supporting batch, interactive, reporting, and business application processes.
Experience developing or supporting system integrations using APIs, web services, JSON, XML, EDI, FTP/SFTP, ODBC/JDBC, or other data exchange methods.
Working knowledge of IBM i application architecture, job control, libraries, objects, security concepts, job queues, output queues, and production support practices.
Ability to analyze business requirements, document technical specifications, estimate work, test solutions, and communicate status clearly.
Strong troubleshooting, root cause analysis, debugging, and application performance analysis skills.
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with IT team members, business users, vendors, and leadership.
Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Experience with modern IBM i development tools such as RDi, Visual Studio Code with IBM i extensions, Git-based source control, Jira, or similar development workflow tools.
Experience with DevOps concepts, code review practices, deployment processes, CI/CD pipelines, or automated testing in an IBM i environment.
Exposure to IBM i modernization tools or approaches, including fixed-format to free-form RPG conversion, service programs, modular design, API enablement, or web application integration.
Experience with C#, .NET, JavaScript, Node.js, Python, PHP, HTML, CSS, or other technologies used to integrate IBM i applications with modern platforms.
Experience with ERP, dealer management, distribution, inventory, order management, warehouse, accounting, EDI, or project management systems.
Experience supporting reporting, analytics, dashboards, business intelligence tools, or data extracts from IBM i applications.
Furniture, dealership, manufacturing, distribution, professional services, or order lifecycle experience.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, test, implement, and maintain applications utilizing IBM i technologies, including RPG IV, RPGLE, CL, SQL, DB2, and related development tools.
Analyze business requirements and translate them into scalable, reliable technical solutions that support operational and strategic business objectives.
Modify and enhance existing applications while ensuring system stability, performance, and data integrity.
Diagnose and resolve application, system, and integration issues in a timely manner to minimize business disruption.
Develop and maintain interfaces between IBM i applications and other enterprise systems.
Perform code reviews and promote adherence to coding standards, quality assurance practices, and development methodologies.
Create and maintain technical documentation, including system specifications, process flows, testing plans, and support procedures.
Collaborate with business stakeholders to identify opportunities for process improvement, automation, and technology enablement.
Act as a technical consultant to business teams by providing recommendations on system capabilities, enhancements, and best practices.
Gather, document, and validate functional and technical requirements for new initiatives and system enhancements.
Support business users through troubleshooting, training, knowledge sharing, and ongoing system optimization efforts.
Lead and manage application development projects from initiation through implementation, ensuring scope, timelines, deliverables, and quality expectations are achieved.
Develop project plans, timelines, resource estimates, and work breakdown structures for assigned initiatives.
Coordinate activities across cross-functional teams, including business stakeholders, vendors, IT infrastructure teams, and application support personnel.
Facilitate project meetings, status updates, issue resolution sessions, and stakeholder communications.
Monitor project risks, dependencies, and obstacles, proactively developing mitigation strategies to ensure successful outcomes.
Manage multiple concurrent projects and enhancement requests while balancing operational support responsibilities.
Participate in project prioritization, portfolio planning, and technology roadmap discussions.
Support organizational change management efforts by assisting with user communication, training, testing, and implementation activities.
Identify opportunities to modernize legacy IBM i applications through process improvements, automation, integration, and emerging technologies.
Recommend and implement enhancements that improve system performance, reliability, maintainability, and user experience.
Evaluate new development tools, methodologies, and technologies to support ongoing innovation and operational efficiency.
Participate in disaster recovery planning, business continuity initiatives, and system upgrade projects.
Ensure applications comply with organizational security standards, regulatory requirements, and established IT controls.
Follow change management, release management, and software development lifecycle (SDLC) processes.
Support audit activities by providing documentation, evidence, and technical expertise as required.