zOS Connect SME

Computer Task Group, Inc•UNAVAILABLE, UNAVAILABLE

1d•Remote

About The Position

CTG is seeking to fill a zOS Connect SME position for our client. As a z/OS Connect Specialist / System Administrator, you will solve complex technical problems and support modernization across mainframe platforms and services. You will work with critical enterprise clients to enable secure API integration between core mainframe applications and modern distributed, digital, and cloud platforms. There is no typical day in this role, as each client environment and integration requirement may be different. You will be responsible for supporting z/OS Connect runtime environments, configuring API services, managing security, troubleshooting production issues, supporting deployments, and working closely with application, infrastructure, security, network, and architecture teams. You will also contribute to modernization initiatives by helping expose mainframe applications and data through secure REST APIs, improving integration capabilities, reducing operational risk, and supporting faster delivery of business requirements. Not only will you be responsible for ensuring the security of our computer systems, but you'll also work closely with other IT professionals to design and implement cutting-edge technology that keeps Kyndryl ahead of the curve. In this role, you'll provide the underlying Mainframe operating system platform programming and DBDC subsystem programming support that forms the backbone of our applications. You'll guide functional objectives on technologies and make use of your expert knowledge to drive solutions to complex problems. As a leader in this field, you'll also be expected to conduct RCA discussions for the products you work on and provide ongoing technical and operational guidance to lead professional work teams. You may even manage departments on a national or international level, defining objectives and managing resources to ensure the success of your projects.

Requirements

8+ years of experience with IBM z/OS Connect Enterprise Edition
Proven expertise in installation, customization, configuration, and support of z/OS Connect environments
Deep understanding of: z/OS Connect server configuration and runtime components, API provider/requester configuration
REST API enablement, JSON processing, and OpenAPI/Swagger definitions
Policy management and service archive deployment
Strong experience integrating z/OS Connect with CICS, IMS, Db2, and MQ
Expertise in troubleshooting API-related issues including performance, connectivity, and authentication failures
Strong z/OS System Programming / Administration experience, including SMP/E, JCL, JES2, TSO/ISPF, USS, RACF, TCP/IP, and SDSF
Experience managing system datasets, libraries, and configuration components
Strong knowledge of WebSphere Liberty profile on z/OS, including JVM and deployment configuration
Hands-on experience with RACF/SAF security, TLS/SSL, and certificate management
Strong understanding of enterprise production support processes (incident, problem, change, release management).
Excellent verbal and written English communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with a diverse group are required.

Nice To Haves

Experience with mainframe API modernization initiatives and hybrid cloud integration
Exposure to enterprise integration patterns and microservices architecture
Experience working in large-scale, global delivery or managed services environments
Domain experience in Banking, Financial Services, Insurance (BFSI), Retail, or Healthcare
Familiarity with automation tools and DevOps practices in mainframe environments
Experience with performance monitoring and tuning for API workloads and z/OS systems

Responsibilities

Install, configure, customize, upgrade, and maintain IBM z/OS Connect environments.
Perform end-to-end administration of z/OS Connect Enterprise Edition, including runtime setup, server configuration, API/service deployment, security configuration, and operational support.
Configure and manage z/OS Connect server.xml, started tasks, runtime libraries, configuration files, and related system components.
Support API provider and API requester configurations within z/OS Connect.
Create, deploy, validate, and troubleshoot REST API services using JSON, OpenAPI/Swagger definitions, and service archives.
Configure and support backend integration with: CICS, IMS, Db2, MQ, Batch or REST-enabled mainframe services
Administer and troubleshoot WebSphere Liberty profile components used by z/OS Connect.
Configure and manage security for z/OS Connect environments, including: RACF / SAF authentication and authorization, TLS / SSL certificates, Keyrings and keystores, User and group access controls, API-level security policies
Support certificate management, secure communication, network connectivity, and port configuration.
Troubleshoot z/OS Connect startup issues, API invocation failures, backend connectivity problems, security failures, response delays, and runtime errors.
Analyze logs, traces, dumps, Liberty messages, z/OS Connect diagnostics, and system logs to resolve technical issues.
Support performance monitoring, tuning, and capacity review for z/OS Connect API workloads.
Work with application teams to expose existing mainframe transactions and data as secure APIs.
Collaborate with architecture, security, network, middleware, and application teams to support API modernization requirements.
Manage incident, problem, change, release, and service request activities as per ITIL processes.
Support production deployments, planned maintenance, DR activities, upgrades, patching, and audit/compliance requirements.
Create and maintain technical documentation, including installation guides, configuration documents, runbooks, troubleshooting guides, and operational procedures.
Recommend modernization, automation, and continuous improvement opportunities related to mainframe API enablement.