Mainframe DBA Manager

Requirements:

• Extensive experience administering DB2 for z/OS, including subsystem management and data sharing
• Strong knowledge of buffer pools, database design, tablespaces, indexes, and the DB2 catalog
• Expertise in SQL performance tuning, access path analysis, capacity planning, backup and recovery, and DB2 utilities
• Proficiency with z/OS, JCL, SDSF, TSO/ISPF, and JES2
• Experience with SMP/E, DB2 upgrades, database encryption, and audit and compliance controls
• 12–20+ years of mainframe experience and 8–16+ years as a DB2 for z/OS DBA, including leadership of upgrades, performance projects, data sharing, disaster recovery exercises, major incidents, and standards
• Preferred: Experience with DB2 Data Sharing and Parallel Sysplex, BMC DB2 toolsets, DB2 automation frameworks, and REXX scripting
• Preferred: Familiarity with IMS, CICS, and MQ integrations, plus cloud connectivity and modernization initiatives

Responsibilities:

• Lead administration and support of enterprise DB2 for z/OS environments across development, test, UAT, disaster recovery, and production
• Establish and maintain database standards, best practices, and engineering procedures to support availability, performance, and resiliency
• Review and approve database architectures, including tablespace, partitioning, indexing, and storage designs for large-scale applications
• Lead database modernization and optimization initiatives
• Direct performance engineering, including analysis of SQL, access paths, buffer pools, dynamic SQL, distributed workloads, and locking and concurrency; establish baselines and capacity plans
• Manage and optimize DB2 utilities, including REORG, RUNSTATS, COPY, LOAD, UNLOAD, RECOVER, and REBUILD INDEX; schedule and automate maintenance
• Define, validate, and test backup, recovery, and disaster recovery strategies to meet RTO/RPO objectives, and maintain runbooks
• Lead DB2 version upgrades, subsystem migrations, software maintenance, and PTF implementations, keeping systems aligned with vendor updates
• Provide L3/L4 incident escalation support, troubleshoot issues, conduct root-cause analysis, implement lasting fixes, and oversee change governance
• Maintain security and compliance through RACF integration, access controls, audits, and regulatory adherence
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship, lead reviews and workshops, support knowledge transfer, and establish operational best practices
• Collaborate with z/OS, CICS, IMS, MQ, storage, security, and application teams on integration and modernization

Technologies:

• CICS
• Cloud
• IMS
• Support
• JCL
• SQL
• Security
• TSO
• TSO/ISPF

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We are BCforward, a global IT consulting and workforce solutions firm serving Fortune 500 and government clients. Founded in 1998, we have grown into a full-service business solutions provider, with offices and delivery centers across North America and India. We value long-term relationships, innovation, collaboration, and integrity. We are seeking a Mainframe DBA Lead/Manager specializing in DB2 for z/OS for a 12-month contract, remote within the US, at $65–$76 per hour on W-2. We offer competitive compensation and benefits, opportunities to grow through work with global clients, a supportive and inclusive culture, and exposure to advanced technologies and projects. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive workplace and fair consideration for qualified applicants.

last updated 43 week of 2026