Cobol Developer Jobs

Cobol Developer jobs are open across banking, insurance, government agencies, and healthcare, from junior programmer to senior architect and team lead, with specializations in batch processing, mainframe systems, and legacy modernization. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles21
Top stateNew Jersey
Top employerPeraton
Top cityJersey City, NJ
Work type50% Remote
Top industryTechnology

Showing 4 of 21+ Cobol Developer jobs

Mainframe COBOL Developer
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Added 3d ago
Mainframe COBOL Developer
Palmetto Tech
Remote
Backend Engineering
Software Engineering
$80 - $90/hr
Remote (US)
Experience equivalent to degree accepted

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Java Developer - COBOL Modernization Project
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Added 4d ago
Java Developer - COBOL Modernization Project
Helpware
Remote
Data Engineering
Database Administration (DBA)
Software Engineering
Remote (US)
1,001-5,000

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Senior Mainframe Full Stack Developer – COBOL, DB2 & VSAM
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Added 5d ago
Senior Mainframe Full Stack Developer – COBOL, DB2 & VSAM
J2B GLOBAL LLC
Jersey City, New Jersey
Data Analytics
IT Support
Technical Program Management

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Mainframe COBOL Developer
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Added 1w ago
Mainframe COBOL Developer
Index Systems Inc
Indianapolis, Indiana
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
Software Engineering
$79k - $110k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree

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Cobol Developer Job Market

Who's Hiring

Peraton3 open roles
U-Haul1 open role
Conduent1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in cobol developer jobs.

  • 5+ years of experience writing and maintaining Cobol programs in a production mainframe environment
  • Proficiency with JCL, VSAM file structures, and IBM z/OS operating systems
  • Experience with DB2, IMS, or CICS for database access and transaction processing
  • Ability to read, debug, and refactor existing Cobol code with minimal documentation
  • Familiarity with SDLC processes, change management procedures, and production support protocols
  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related technical field

Tips for Your Cobol Developer Job Search

Quantify your mainframe throughput on your resume

Cobol resumes live or die on specifics. List the batch job volumes you handled, the file sizes you processed, and the systems you supported. Hiring managers in banking and insurance scan for JCL, VSAM, and DB2 experience in the first pass.

Target industries still running mainframe infrastructure

Banking, federal agencies, and large insurance carriers are where most cobol developer openings cluster. Filter your search by industry first, then seniority. Applying to cloud-native startups listing cobol as a bonus skill rarely leads anywhere.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists cobol developer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Translate legacy modernization work into interview stories

Employers running migration projects want proof you can bridge old and new. Prepare two or three examples of cobol code you refactored, wrapped in APIs, or connected to modern middleware. Concrete before-and-after examples outperform general claims about modernization experience.

Ask targeted questions about the codebase age

During interviews, ask how old the core codebase is, what the test coverage looks like, and whether the team uses a copybook library. Your answers tell you what day one actually looks like, and your questions signal real mainframe fluency to the interviewer.

Negotiate around on-call and batch window obligations

Batch jobs often run overnight or on weekends, and on-call rotations for production support are common. Clarify the schedule and rotation frequency before accepting an offer. Factor that into your total compensation comparison, not just the base salary.

Cobol Developer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most cobol developers?

The companies hiring the most cobol developers right now include Peraton, U-Haul, and Conduent, with the largest share of openings in New Jersey, New York, and South Carolina, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Banking, insurance, and federal agencies consistently account for the bulk of active postings in this role.

How many cobol developer jobs are remote?

About 100% of cobol developer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, which is lower than in many software roles because mainframe access often requires a secure network environment. Roles focused on legacy modernization, testing, or documentation tend to offer the most location flexibility compared to production support positions.

How do you become a cobol developer?

Start by learning Cobol syntax through IBM's free training materials or community college courses that cover mainframe fundamentals. Build hands-on experience by setting up a free IBM Z Xplore account, which gives you access to a real z/OS environment. Then focus on JCL and VSAM, since most job listings require both alongside core Cobol. Entry-level roles often come through government contractors and regional banks that still run legacy systems and actively train new programmers.

Can you get hired as a cobol developer with little experience?

Yes, entry-level cobol developer roles exist, particularly at government contractors, mid-size insurance carriers, and banks that have structured training programs for mainframe work. Employers care more about demonstrated familiarity with JCL and batch processing concepts than years on a resume. Building a small portfolio of Cobol programs, even academic ones, and completing IBM's free Z learning paths signals genuine commitment in a field where motivated juniors are scarce.

What does the cobol developer interview process look like?

Most cobol developer interviews include a phone screen focused on your mainframe background, followed by a technical round where you read or debug a short Cobol program and explain your logic out loud. Interviewers frequently ask how you handle abend codes, how you trace a batch job failure through JCL, and how you approach working with undocumented legacy code. A final round with a hiring manager typically covers team fit, production support expectations, and project timelines.

Where can I find and apply to cobol developer jobs?

You can find and apply to cobol developer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search for roles that match your mainframe background and experience level, then apply directly to each listing. Openings update regularly, so checking back often gives you the best shot at catching newly posted positions before the applicant pool grows.

See All 21 Cobol Developer Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Cobol Developer Jobs