H-1B Visa Mainframe Programmer Jobs
Mainframe Programmer roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations because they require at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related field. COBOL and z/OS expertise remain in high demand at financial institutions, insurance carriers, and government contractors that routinely sponsor H-1B petitions.
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Immediate need for a talented Mainframe Systems Programmer. This is a 12+ Months Contract opportunity with long-term potential and is located in Chandler, AZ | Plano, TX | Charlotte, NC | Pennington, NJ | Jersey City, NJ (Hybrid).
Job ID: 26-23498
Pay Range: $65 - $68/hour. Employee benefits include, but are not limited to, health insurance (medical, dental, vision), 401(k) plan, and paid sick leave (depending on work location).
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Install, configure, maintain, and support the z/OS operating system, including upgrades and maintenance using SMP/E.
- Apply and manage PTFs, APARs, and USERMODs.
- Develop and maintain automation, utilities, and system exits using REXX and Assembler (BAL).
- Administer and support z/OS UNIX System Services (USS), including file systems, scripting, permissions, and zFS.
- Configure and maintain JES2, including workload management, spool tuning, job classes, and initiator management.
- Support TSO/ISPF for system programming and operational activities.
- Configure and manage LPARs using Hardware Management Console (HMC).
- Diagnose and resolve system issues, including abends, dumps, hardware errors, and performance bottlenecks using IPCS, RMF, and EREP.
- Develop automation, reusable templates, operational standards, and deployment runbooks.
- Evaluate third-party mainframe software and contribute to infrastructure modernization initiatives.
- Support change management, risk management, and enterprise operational excellence.
KEY REQUIREMENTS AND TECHNOLOGY EXPERIENCE:
- Strong experience with IBM z/OS System Programming.
- Hands-on experience with SMP/E, including PTFs, APARs, and USERMODs.
- Proficiency in REXX and Assembler (BAL).
- Experience administering z/OS UNIX System Services (USS).
- Strong knowledge of JES2 administration and configuration.
- Experience with TSO/ISPF.
- Experience managing LPARs using HMC.
- Strong troubleshooting skills using IPCS, RMF, and EREP.
- Experience with Hardware Configuration Definition (HCD).
- Knowledge of enterprise server, storage, and network hardware configurations.
- Experience building automation and improving operational efficiency within enterprise mainframe environments.
Our client is a leading Banking and Financial Industry and we are currently interviewing to fill this and other similar contract positions. If you are interested in this position, please apply online for immediate consideration.
Pyramid Consulting, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
By applying to our jobs you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages, or emails from Pyramid Consulting, Inc. and its affiliates, and contracted partners. Frequency varies for text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You can reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. You can access our privacy policy here.
INTRODUCTION
Immediate need for a talented Mainframe Systems Programmer. This is a 12+ Months Contract opportunity with long-term potential and is located in Chandler, AZ | Plano, TX | Charlotte, NC | Pennington, NJ | Jersey City, NJ (Hybrid).
Job ID: 26-23498
Pay Range: $65 - $68/hour. Employee benefits include, but are not limited to, health insurance (medical, dental, vision), 401(k) plan, and paid sick leave (depending on work location).
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Install, configure, maintain, and support the z/OS operating system, including upgrades and maintenance using SMP/E.
- Apply and manage PTFs, APARs, and USERMODs.
- Develop and maintain automation, utilities, and system exits using REXX and Assembler (BAL).
- Administer and support z/OS UNIX System Services (USS), including file systems, scripting, permissions, and zFS.
- Configure and maintain JES2, including workload management, spool tuning, job classes, and initiator management.
- Support TSO/ISPF for system programming and operational activities.
- Configure and manage LPARs using Hardware Management Console (HMC).
- Diagnose and resolve system issues, including abends, dumps, hardware errors, and performance bottlenecks using IPCS, RMF, and EREP.
- Develop automation, reusable templates, operational standards, and deployment runbooks.
- Evaluate third-party mainframe software and contribute to infrastructure modernization initiatives.
- Support change management, risk management, and enterprise operational excellence.
KEY REQUIREMENTS AND TECHNOLOGY EXPERIENCE:
- Strong experience with IBM z/OS System Programming.
- Hands-on experience with SMP/E, including PTFs, APARs, and USERMODs.
- Proficiency in REXX and Assembler (BAL).
- Experience administering z/OS UNIX System Services (USS).
- Strong knowledge of JES2 administration and configuration.
- Experience with TSO/ISPF.
- Experience managing LPARs using HMC.
- Strong troubleshooting skills using IPCS, RMF, and EREP.
- Experience with Hardware Configuration Definition (HCD).
- Knowledge of enterprise server, storage, and network hardware configurations.
- Experience building automation and improving operational efficiency within enterprise mainframe environments.
Our client is a leading Banking and Financial Industry and we are currently interviewing to fill this and other similar contract positions. If you are interested in this position, please apply online for immediate consideration.
Pyramid Consulting, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
By applying to our jobs you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages, or emails from Pyramid Consulting, Inc. and its affiliates, and contracted partners. Frequency varies for text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You can reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. You can access our privacy policy here.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Mainframe Programmer
Document your COBOL experience precisely
Your resume should list specific mainframe environments, languages, and platforms you've worked on, such as COBOL, JCL, CICS, or DB2. Vague descriptions make specialty occupation harder for your employer to justify in the H-1B petition.
Target industries with legacy mainframe infrastructure
Financial services, insurance, healthcare payers, and federal contractors maintain large mainframe environments and file H-1B petitions regularly. Narrowing your search to these sectors increases the odds your prospective employer already has a sponsorship process in place.
Search verified H-1B sponsors on Migrate Mate
Filter by Mainframe Programmer roles on Migrate Mate to see employers with confirmed H-1B LCA filing history. This removes the guesswork of cold-applying to companies that don't sponsor.
Verify the prevailing wage before accepting an offer
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level I through Level IV prevailing wages for your SOC code and work location. Your offered salary must meet the applicable level, and knowing this protects you from underpayment before you sign.
Confirm employer E-Verify enrollment before your start date
If your offer extends through cap-gap, your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify for that authorization to remain valid. Ask your HR contact to confirm enrollment status before you rely on cap-gap to keep working past your OPT expiration.
Clarify who files and who pays petition fees
USCIS requires the employer to pay certain mandatory H-1B filing fees. Negotiate this explicitly in your offer letter. Some employers default to passing optional costs, like premium processing, to the employee, so spelling out each fee avoids disputes after you accept.
H-1B Visa Mainframe Programmer: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Mainframe Programmer role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes. USCIS treats Mainframe Programmer positions as specialty occupations when the employer can show the role normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a closely related field. If your job description mixes general IT support with mainframe work, your employer should document that the mainframe duties are the primary function to avoid a Request for Evidence.
Which employers sponsor H-1B visas for Mainframe Programmers?
Banks, insurance companies, healthcare payers, and federal IT contractors are the most consistent H-1B sponsors for mainframe roles because they run large legacy COBOL and z/OS environments that require ongoing programmer support. Consulting firms that place mainframe contractors also sponsor regularly. You can browse employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history for this role on Migrate Mate.
How does the H-1B lottery affect a Mainframe Programmer job search?
If you're subject to the annual cap, your employer must register you in the USCIS lottery held each March. Selection is random. If you're not selected, your current status determines your options, including changing employers, switching to a different visa category, or waiting for the next registration window. Some mainframe roles at universities or nonprofit research institutions are cap-exempt and bypass the lottery entirely.
What happens to my H-1B status if my mainframe project ends mid-petition?
If your employer terminates you before your H-1B period ends, you have a 60-day grace period to find a new sponsoring employer, change status, or depart the U.S. A new employer can file an H-1B transfer petition during this window, and you can begin work once USCIS receives the petition. Keep copies of your original I-797 approval and pay stubs to smooth the transfer process.
Can I use an O*NET profile to support my H-1B specialty occupation argument?
Yes. The O*NET profile for Mainframe Programmer roles documents the typical education requirements and technical skill sets associated with the occupation. Employers and their attorneys sometimes reference O*NET in H-1B petitions to demonstrate that a bachelor's degree is the normal entry requirement for the position, which is one of the four ways USCIS evaluates specialty occupation status.