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- Tasks: Administer IBM MQ on z/OS, ensuring production stability and incident resolution.
- Company: Atrium Global, supporting a leading client in financial services.
- Benefits: Competitive day rate of £550, hybrid working, and potential contract extension.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a dynamic financial services sector.
- Why this job: Join a specialist team and make a real impact in a critical Mainframe environment.
- Qualifications: Strong experience with IBM MQ on z/OS and troubleshooting skills required.
DURATION: 6 months (extension - very likely)
LOCATION: Edinburgh, Leeds or Manchester
WORKING HOURS: Standard business hours with out of hours support required
ONSITE REQUIREMENTS: Hybrid - 2 days onsite per week
ENGAGEMENT TYPE: Contract - Outside IR35
DAY RATE: £550 per day
LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK: Candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK. Sponsorship is not available for this role.
Summary
Atrium Global is supporting a client within the financial services sector who is seeking a highly experienced IBM MQ z/OS Administrator to join a specialist Mainframe Middleware team.
Job Overview
This role sits within a Mainframe-only environment and requires a contractor who can contribute immediately with minimal ramp-up. You will provide hands‑on support and delivery across a critical IBM MQ estate on z/OS, focusing on production stability, incident resolution and controlled change delivery. This is a pure z/OS MQ role - candidates with primarily distributed MQ or broader platform backgrounds will not be suitable.
Responsibilities
- Provide hands‑on administration of IBM MQ on z/OS across production environments
- Deliver incident, problem and change resolution within strict SLAs
- Support and maintain MQ queue managers, channels and configurations
- Perform production deployments, upgrades and migrations
- Troubleshoot complex MQ issues across mission-critical systems
- Maintain service stability, resilience and performance optimisation
- Work closely with stakeholders across Mainframe and infrastructure teams
- Ensure adherence to governance, processes and security standards
- Participate in out of hours support and deployment activities
Requirements
- Strong hands‑on experience administering IBM MQ on z/OS (v9.x preferred)
- Proven experience working in Mainframe-only MQ environments
- Deep understanding of queue managers, channels, MQ objects, and Clustering/Queue Sharing Groups (QSG)
- Experience with TLS/SSL configuration and MQ security (RACF)
- Strong troubleshooting skills within production MQ environments
- Experience delivering changes independently into production
- Familiarity with z/OS panels, ISPF and Mainframe tooling
- Experience working within ITIL-controlled environments
Nice to Have
- Experience with MQ monitoring tools on z/OS (e.g., Omegamon)
- Experience within UK banking or financial services environments
- Experience supporting high-volume payments or core banking systems
IBM MQ Administrator - Z/OS (Mainframe) employer: Atrium Workforce Solutions UK Limited
Contact Detail:
Atrium Workforce Solutions UK Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land IBM MQ Administrator - Z/OS (Mainframe)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the financial services sector and let them know you're on the lookout for an IBM MQ Administrator role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on opportunities that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your z/OS knowledge and MQ troubleshooting skills. We recommend doing some mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to get comfortable discussing your experience and how it relates to the job.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to showcase your hands-on experience! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, highlight specific projects where you’ve successfully managed IBM MQ on z/OS. Real-life examples can make a huge difference.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we’re always looking for talented individuals like you to join our team in the exciting world of Mainframe Middleware.
We think you need these skills to ace IBM MQ Administrator - Z/OS (Mainframe)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the IBM MQ Administrator role. Highlight your hands-on experience with IBM MQ on z/OS and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention your experience in Mainframe environments and your troubleshooting skills. We love seeing passion and enthusiasm!
Showcase Relevant Experience: When filling out your application, be sure to showcase your experience with queue managers, channels, and MQ security. We’re looking for candidates who can hit the ground running, so make it clear how you meet our requirements.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it makes the process smoother for everyone involved!
How to prepare for a job interview at Atrium Workforce Solutions UK Limited
✨Know Your MQ Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your IBM MQ knowledge, especially on z/OS. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with queue managers, channels, and configurations. They’ll want to hear about specific challenges you've faced and how you resolved them.
✨Showcase Your Troubleshooting Skills
Prepare to share examples of complex MQ issues you've tackled in production environments. Highlight your approach to incident resolution and how you ensure service stability. This is crucial for demonstrating your ability to handle the demands of the role.
✨Familiarise Yourself with ITIL Practices
Since the role requires working within ITIL-controlled environments, it’s a good idea to understand ITIL principles. Be ready to discuss how you’ve applied these practices in your previous roles, particularly in relation to change management and governance.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you’ve collaborated with different teams in the past. Be prepared to talk about your communication style and how you ensure alignment with stakeholders across Mainframe and infrastructure teams. This will show that you can work effectively in a hybrid environment.