Mainframe Developer

Position Description:Modernization Architect (GCP) We are executing a high-visibility, enterprise-wide digital transformation to migrate our mission-critical systems from a legacy Mainframe ecosystem (DB2 z/OS, COBOL, JCL) to a modern, cloud-native architecture on Google Cloud Platform (GCP). As the Mainframe Modernization Architect (GCP), you will act as the principal technical authority for this transition. Partnering directly with our Senior Technical Product Management team, you will design the technical roadmap to untangle decades of legacy business logic without disrupting ongoing business operations. You are the bridge between our veteran DB2 administrators and our modern full-stack Java development teams. You will not just be lifting and shifting; you will be fundamentally re-architecting how our business processes data. Key Responsibilities Architectural Strategy & Design • Design and own the end-to-end target state architecture on GCP, utilizing Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL (or AlloyDB), Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), and Cloud Run. • Architect a safe, iterative Strangler Fig migration pattern, entirely avoiding high-risk Big Bang cutovers. • Define the High Availability (HA) and Disaster Recovery (DR) posture for the new cloud environment, translating Mainframe RTO/RPO expectations into GCP realities. Database & Data Layer Transformation • Lead the complex heterogeneous database migration from Mainframe DB2 to GCP PostgreSQL. • Architect solutions for systemic data translation challenges, including EBCDIC to UTF-8/ASCII conversion, packed decimal transformations, and proprietary DB2 constraint mappings. • Implement and manage Change Data Capture (CDC) pipelines (e.g., Google Datastream, Debezium, Striim) to ensure bidrectional or unidirectional real-time data synchronization during the coexistence phase. • Guide the engineering teams in transitioning from DB2 pessimistic locking models to PostgreSQL's Multi-Version Concurrency Control (MVCC) to eliminate lock contention. Compute & Batch Modernization • Map and translate heavy Mainframe batch processing (JCL, scheduled jobs) into modern, stateless, and restartable cloud patterns using Java Spring Batch, Cloud Composer (Airflow), and GCP Dataflow. • Advise Java engineering teams on refactoring heavy legacy Stored Procedures (SQL PL) into scalable Spring Boot microservices. Technical Leadership & Mentorship • Act as the central technical translator between legacy Mainframe engineers and modern cloud developers. • Establish FinOps best practices to ensure the newly migrated architecture is highly cost-optimized, shifting the team from a fixed-MIPS mindset to cloud consumption models. • Design and oversee the Dual Run (Shadow Testing) strategy to guarantee absolute functional and financial equivalence before legacy deprecation. Required Qualifications Experience • 10+ years of experience in enterprise software engineering or architecture. • 3+ years of direct, hands-on experience leading Heterogeneous Database Migrations (specifically from Mainframe DB2/zOS or Oracle to PostgreSQL). The Legacy Pillar • Deep understanding of Mainframe architectures, specifically IBM DB2, JCL, and COBOL ecosystems. • Proven ability to analyze legacy code and extract undocumented business rules. The Modern Pillar • Expert-level proficiency in PostgreSQL internals (query optimization, autovacuum tuning, connection pooling strategies like PgBouncer). • Expert-level proficiency in Google Cloud Platform (GCP), specifically around managed databases (Cloud SQL, AlloyDB), networking, and IAM security. • Strong architectural understanding of the modern Java ecosystem (Spring Boot, Spring Batch, JPA/Hibernate, RESTful APIs). Preferred Qualifications • Certifications: Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect or Professional Cloud Database Engineer. • Tooling: Experience with automated legacy-to-cloud refactoring toolsets (e.g., Google Cloud G4, Advanced, or similar).Skills Required:Mainframe DB, GCPSkills Preferred:Java, COBOLExperience Required:Senior Specialist Exp.: 10+ years in IT; 7+ years in concentrationExperience Preferred:Migration from Mainframe(COBOL / DB/2) to GCP (Java / Postgres DB)Education Required:Bachelor's DegreeEducation Preferred:

Additional Safety Training/Licensing/Personal Protection Requirements:

Additional Information :What Success Looks Like • Month 1: Complete a comprehensive technical discovery of the current DB2 environment and establish the structural baseline for the target GCP architecture. • Month 3: Successfully deploy a functioning CDC pipeline bridging the Mainframe and GCP environments, and migrate the first low-risk batch job to Spring Batch. • Month 6: Establish a stable coexistence phase, with live production traffic being successfully shadow tested against the new GCP architecture with 100% data reconciliation.