At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a global team to maintain and enhance mainframe systems for a leading bank.
- Company: Be part of a prestigious bank known for its innovation and reliability in financial services.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Work on cutting-edge technology while collaborating with talented professionals in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in mainframe CICS software; strong problem-solving skills required.
- Other info: Ideal for tech enthusiasts eager to upskill and tackle complex challenges.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
As a CICS System Programmer, the candidate will be part of a Global team responsible for building, configuring, and maintaining the Bank’s mainframe systems availability, efficiency, and resilience, underpinned by the architectural principle of cloned infrastructure, system configurations, applications.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform mainframe CICS software upgrades coupled with administration and tuning to support mainframe environments. Current version is CICS 5.6.
- Provide high degree of technical support (24*7) to reduce the likelihood of significant service outage or disaster.
- Analyse new versions of CICS for functionality improving systems performance and reduce cost.
- Tracking and analyzing performance and resource utilization of CICS systems.
- Recommend changes, upgrades, and enhancements based on the technical analysis.
- Perform problem diagnostics and resolutions as well.
- Participate in incident and problem management activities related to applications and CICS.
- Encourage and ensure collaboration across functional users and vendors to provide guidance and manage different tasks with a “can-do” attitude.
- Execute project and internal initiative responsibilities as assigned or delegated.
- Walking ahead by being enthusiastic and responsible for strengthening and developing system skills.
- Develop and maintain operational documentation, best practices, and run books for the operational platform.
- Upskill junior systems programmers.
Mandatory skills
- Have 10+ years of experience of installing and/or customizing mainframe CICS software in Large Data sharing environments.
- Have 5+ years of experience with CICSplex and CICS Explorer to manage CICS systems.
- Solid understanding of resource definitions and its dependencies.
- CF structures and its practical use in a business environment.
- Experience with Omegamon and Fault Analyzer along with basic dump analysis skills on IPCS.
- Experience in cloning and sunsetting CICS regions.
- Basic understanding of CICS security with RACF.
- Exposure to working with SMF 110 records and its practical application in terms of problem determination.
- Strong problem determination skills in both system and application areas.
- Proficient in working with high availability environment along with alignment to process (ITIL).
- Experience working with and maintaining other vendor tools for CICS as well as exposure to common z/OS tools like SDSF RMF etc.
- Experience with automating CICS events via CICSplex RTA and/or system automation tools on z/OS.
CICS System Programmer (Mainframe) employer: Ampstek
Contact Detail:
Ampstek Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land CICS System Programmer (Mainframe)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest CICS versions and features, especially CICS 5.6, as this will demonstrate your up-to-date knowledge during discussions. Being able to discuss specific functionalities and improvements can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the mainframe community, particularly those who work with CICS. Engaging in forums or attending relevant meetups can provide insights into current trends and challenges, which you can reference in conversations with us.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with problem determination and diagnostics in detail. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've resolved issues in high availability environments, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your ability to collaborate effectively across teams. Highlight any past experiences where you worked with functional users and vendors, as teamwork is essential in our global environment at StudySmarter.
We think you need these skills to ace CICS System Programmer (Mainframe)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your 10+ years of experience with mainframe CICS software and your familiarity with CICSplex and CICS Explorer. Use specific examples to demonstrate your skills in problem determination and system administration.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Mention your experience with high availability environments and your ability to provide 24/7 technical support, as well as your commitment to upskilling junior programmers.
Showcase Relevant Skills: Highlight your knowledge of resource definitions, CF structures, and CICS security with RACF. Be sure to mention any experience you have with Omegamon, Fault Analyzer, and z/OS tools, as these are crucial for the position.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting your application, carefully proofread your CV and cover letter for any errors or inconsistencies. A polished application reflects your attention to detail and professionalism, which is essential for a technical role like this.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ampstek
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your extensive experience with CICS software, particularly in large data sharing environments. Highlight specific projects where you've performed upgrades or tuning, and be ready to explain the impact of your work on system performance.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills
Expect questions that assess your problem determination skills. Prepare examples of past incidents you've managed, detailing your approach to diagnostics and resolution, especially in high availability environments.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Current Technologies
Stay updated on the latest versions of CICS and related tools like Omegamon and Fault Analyzer. Being able to discuss recent advancements and how they can improve system efficiency will show your commitment to continuous learning.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Leadership
Since the role involves working with global teams and upskilling junior programmers, be ready to share experiences where you've successfully collaborated across functions or led initiatives. A 'can-do' attitude is essential, so convey your enthusiasm for teamwork.