Lead Mainframe Developer

Job Title: Lead Mainframe Developer
Location: Buffalo, NY (Onsite)
Work Type: Full Time
Job Description:
Leads a cross-functional engineering team responsible for development, modernization, and support of mission-critical mainframe systems integrated with modern platforms (ZConnect, ZDIH) and enterprise DevOps tooling (GitLab CI/CD).
This role drives end-to-end ownership across architecture, engineering delivery, QA practices, and DevOps pipelines, ensuring scalable, secure, and high-quality solutions aligned with enterprise SDLC and regulatory standards.
Key Responsibilities
1. Technical Leadership & Delivery Ownership
* Lead design, development, and support of mainframe applications (z/OS, COBOL, JCL, DB2, VSAM) integrated with modern services
* Own end-to-end SDLC delivery: design → build → test → deploy → operate
* Serve as technical authority and SME across mainframe and modernization initiatives
1. Solution Architecture & Design Governance
* Define and enforce end-to-end solution architecture across:
* Mainframe systems
* ZConnect API layer
* ZDIH / data integration platforms
* Distributed/cloud ecosystems
* Own creation and governance of:
* Solution Architecture Documents (SAD)
* Component, integration, and data flow diagrams
* Ensure:
* Loose coupling between legacy and modern systems
* API-first and event-driven design where applicable
* Scalability, resiliency, and performance considerations
* Conduct architecture reviews and design approvals before development initiation
1. DevOps, GitLab & Pipeline Ownership
* Lead adoption and governance of GitLab-based CI/CD pipelines
* Define and enforce:
* Branching strategies (feature / release / hotfix)
* Merge request standards and approvals
* Code quality gates (Sonar, coverage thresholds)
* Drive pipeline standardization and automation, reducing manual steps
* Own pipeline troubleshooting and continuous improvement
1. Modernization & Integration (ZConnect / ZDIH)
* Lead delivery of z/OS Connect APIs enabling mainframe services
* Drive adoption of ZDIH and hybrid integration patterns
* Identify opportunities to:
* Decouple legacy logic
* Enable reusable APIs and services
* Ensure secure and scalable integration with distributed platforms
1. QA Engineering & Quality Practices
Test Strategy & Governance
* Define and enforce end-to-end QA strategy, including:
* Unit testing
* Integration testing
* System / end-to-end testing
* Regression testing
* Ensure test strategy is documented and approved prior to development
Automation & DevOps Integration
* Drive test automation integrated into GitLab pipelines:
* Automated unit tests
* Regression test suites
* Pipeline-based validation and quality gates
* Enforce shift-left testing practices across the team
Quality Engineering Standards
* Establish and enforce:
* Code quality standards (static analysis, peer review)
* Test coverage thresholds
* Defect lifecycle discipline and root cause analysis
* Ensure test data strategy and environment stability
Release & Production Quality
* Define release validation criteria:
* Pre-production validation
* Deployment smoke tests
* Post-deployment verification
* Reduce:
* Production defects
* Rework and regression failures
1. Engineering Excellence & Automation
* Drive automation-first mindset:
* Minimize manual batch/process work
* Automate validation, deployments, and monitoring
* Improve:
* Cycle time
* Deployment consistency
* Operational resilience
1. Team Leadership & Talent Development
* Lead and mentor engineers across:
* Mainframe technologies
* DevOps practices
* Modern integration stacks
* Build culture of:
* Accountability and ownership
* Peer review and quality discipline
* Continuous learning and upskilling
1. Stakeholder & Delivery Management
* Translate business requirements into scalable technical solutions
* Manage:
* Backlog prioritization
* Sprint execution
* Delivery commitments
* Ensure adherence to:
* SDLC controls
* Audit and compliance requirements
1. Strategic Leadership & Technology Direction (NEW)
* Define and drive technology strategy for mainframe modernization and hybrid architecture (Mainframe + ZConnect + ZDIH + DevOps)
* Align engineering roadmap with business priorities, cost optimization, and risk reduction goals
* Identify and execute opportunities to:
* Reduce technical debt
* Simplify legacy processes
* Improve platform scalability and resiliency
* Lead transformation initiatives from:
* Batch/report-driven systems → API-driven and data-integrated platforms
* Influence cross-team and enterprise decisions on standards, tooling, and architecture
1. Metrics-Driven Engineering & Execution Discipline (NEW)
* Establish and enforce a metrics-driven operating model across engineering and delivery
* Define, track, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs), including:
* Sprint predictability (≥90% commitment adherence)
* Deployment frequency and lead time
* Defect density and production leakage
* Test automation coverage
* Pipeline success/failure rates
* Drive data-based decision making for:
* Capacity planning
* Prioritization and backlog management
* Continuous improvement initiatives
* Implement regular performance reviews (team and system-level) using measurable outcomes
* Ensure all initiatives have:
* Clear success criteria
* Defined milestones
* Traceable outcomes aligned to OKRs
Required Qualifications
Technical Skills
* Strong experience in Mainframe technologies
* z/OS, COBOL, CICS, JCL, VSAM, Easytrieve+
* Experience with:
* z/OS Connect (ZConnect)
* ZDIH / data integration / hybrid architectures
* Hands-on expertise in:
* GitLab CI/CD pipelines, branching, release management
* DevOps practices
* Experience integrating with:
* distributed systems
Leadership & Delivery Skills
* Proven experience leading engineering teams / technical squads
* Strong understanding of:
* Agile / Scrum
* SDLC governance
* Ability to:
* Drive execution discipline
* Balance legacy stability and modernization
Preferred Qualifications
* Experience in solution architecture / system design leadership
* Exposure to:
* Cloud (Azure / OpenShift)
* Event-driven / API-first architecture
* Familiarity with:
* Enterprise schedulers (CA7, Automic)
* Observability / SRE practice