Role : Mainframe Production Support
Location : Toronto, ON
Fulltime
Job Summary :
We are seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Mainframe Production Support Specialist to maintain, monitor, and troubleshoot mainframe systems in a high-availability environment. The ideal candidate will work closely with IT teams to ensure seamless operations, address technical issues promptly, and minimize downtime.
Key Responsibilities :
- Monitoring and Maintenance :
- Monitor mainframe system performance and ensure uptime meets Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
- Perform regular system health checks, backups, and routine maintenance tasks.
- Incident and Problem Management :
- Provide Level 1 and Level 2 support for mainframe systems, addressing issues related to batch jobs, application failures, or performance bottlenecks.
- Analyze and resolve production incidents, escalating to Level 3 or vendor support when necessary.
- Perform root cause analysis (RCA) and document findings to prevent recurring issues.
- Batch Job Management :
- Schedule, monitor, and troubleshoot batch jobs using tools like CA-7, Control-M, or equivalent.
- Resolve job failures by debugging JCL (Job Control Language) or identifying issues in associated programs or datasets.
- Change Management :
- Coordinate with development and QA teams to implement application or system changes in production.
- Review and approve production changes to ensure minimal impact on operations.
- Documentation and Reporting :
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation, including runbooks, incident logs, and system configurations.
- Generate periodic performance and downtime reports for management.
- Collaboration :
- Work with cross-functional teams to resolve complex system issues.
- Participate in on-call rotations for after-hours and weekend support.
Required Qualifications :
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field (or equivalent experience).5+ years of experience in mainframe production support or a similar role.Proficiency in mainframe technologies such as COBOL, JCL, VSAM, DB2, CICS, and IMS.Familiarity with tools like CA-7, Control-M, Tivoli, or BMC.Strong understanding of ITIL practices, especially Incident, Problem, and Change Management.Excellent troubleshooting, analytical, and communication skills.Preferred Qualifications :
Experience with modernization initiatives or integrating mainframes with distributed systems.Knowledge of REXX or other mainframe scripting languages.Certification in ITIL or relevant mainframe technologies.Work Environment :
Rotational on-call support required.Must thrive in a fast-paced production environment with strict SLAs.