Mainframe Developer (COBOL)

CAI•Trenton, NJ

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Mainframe Developer (COBOL) will be maintaining and enhancing mission-critical systems while collaborating with the ITS development team to support modernization efforts. We are seeking an experienced Mainframe Developer (COBOL) for a long-term support engagement. This position will be a full-time, hybrid, and is a contract position.

Requirements

Minimum 5 years of hands-on COBOL development experience in enterprise mainframe environments
Minimum 5 years of experience with JCL, including job scheduling and batch processing
Minimum 3 years of experience with NATURAL programming
Minimum 3 years of experience with ADABAS, including database structures and file access methods
Strong experience analyzing, maintaining, and enhancing large legacy codebases
Proven ability to troubleshoot and debug batch and online mainframe applications
Experience developing data interfaces, file transfers, and system integrations
Strong understanding of technical specifications, system flows, and data models
Experience with mainframe utilities, job monitoring tools, and debugging tools
Excellent documentation, communication, and collaboration skills.
Ability to work independently while coordinating with cross‑functional technical teams

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting taxation, revenue, or government systems
Experience with legacy system modernization or data migration initiatives
Knowledge of mainframe security, scheduling systems, and source code management tools
Experience working in large-scale enterprise or public-sector IT environments
Familiarity with TSO/ISPF
Experience with AFP, PAGEDEF, FORMDEF, and OVERLAY for report and print processing

Responsibilities

Analyze, design, develop, test, and maintain application code for mission‑critical mainframe systems within a client application team
Design, code, enhance, and maintain COBOL and NATURAL programs and associated JCL jobs based on functional specifications and enhancement requests
Perform maintenance and enhancements for both batch and online mainframe applications
Troubleshoot and resolve production issues, including job failures, system abends, and root-cause analysis
Develop and maintain data feeds, file layouts, and interface processes between legacy systems and modernized ITS components
Conduct code walkthroughs, logic breakdowns, and technical knowledge transfer for ITS development teams
Create and maintain technical documentation, including program specifications, data definitions, job flows, and system architecture artifacts
Support system, integration, and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) efforts
Participate in design reviews, technical planning sessions, and code reviews
Follow and promote best practices related to coding standards, version control, performance optimization, and change management
Provide ongoing production support for mission-critical applications and participate in issue resolution as required