J-1 Visa Senior Mainframe Developer Jobs
Senior Mainframe Developer roles in the U.S. are accessible through J-1 visa sponsorship under the Trainee or Specialist program category, connecting you with host employers in banking, insurance, and government IT. A U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor organization issues your DS-2019, not your employer.
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Position Summary
The Senior Mainframe Systems Programmer provides Automation support for multiple clients and on-going projects that could require the development, testing, and implementation of new Automation rules, programs, and other processes. Must be able to work in a multi lpar client environment. Also assist team members and other areas with technical questions and problem resolution. Functional knowledge of z/OS Opsmvs or z/SA Automation or both products and detailed knowledge of rexx programming and Netview.
Key Areas of Focus for this Role
- Lead self and others and/or established as Product SME and/or established as specialist
- Understands how whole picture aligns to overall Ensono strategy
- Provide thought leadership within the Automation team.
- Understand how to configure and support System state manager.
- Understand how to configure and support Opslog archive process.
- Understand how to configure and support MSF and the understanding of EPI.
- Processes communication skills to participate in Client meetings and new business deals.
- Work in a Team environment with Automation team and other State holders.
- Review and analyze existing automated processes and improve to standard if required.
- Enhance the performance of others through mentoring and guiding
- Design automated monitoring techniques for problem identification and prevention
- Provide and document problem analysis, resolution, and prevention, designing procedures and best practice techniques
- Owner of overly complex assignments
- Understanding of zSA architecture
- Defining automation policy
- Defining message automation especially EMM
- zSA commands
- Handling zSA defined resources / modifying goals
- Installation and upgrade experience
Required Qualifications
To be considered for this career opportunity, it is important that you meet all Required Qualifications. Candidates that may meet some, but not all, Other Qualifications are still encouraged to apply.
- Ten years hands on/industry experience with z/OS, Opsmvs, z/SA
- Bachelor’s degree required and/or equivalent work experience.
Preferred
- Ability to perform skill set of an Automation Mainframe System Programmer
- Ability to perform complex Automation changes without failure.
- Ability to perform and lead complex projects
- Ability to mentor and show leadership qualities
Why Ensono?
Ensono is a place to make better happen – for our clients and for your career. You can do great things through innovation or collaboration, by learning or volunteering, or to promote diversity and inclusion. You can do great things for your own health or for a healthier planet. Whatever it means to you to do great things we want Ensono to be the place you can do it. We are a client-facing business, but we do encourage clients to allow us to work remotely most of the time so if you are not required to be on a client site, you can choose to work from home or in our Ensono offices.
Some of our benefits include:
- Unlimited Paid Days Off
- Three health plan options through Blue Cross Blue Shield
- 401k with company match
- Eligibility for dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life and AD&D coverage, and flexible spending accounts
- Paid Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave, and Sabbatical Leave
- Education Reimbursement, Student Loan Assistance or 529 College Funding
- Enhanced fertility coverage
- Wellness program
- Flexible work schedule
- Depending on location, ability to take advantage of fitness centers
As of the date of this posting, a good faith estimate of the current pay scale for this role is $85,000 to $148,000 annually based on a full-time schedule. Please note that placement in the range may vary based on numerous factors including but not limited to skills, experience, internal equity, and business needs. In addition to base salary, other compensation programs, depending on eligibility, include an annual bonus plan based on company and individual performance, and an equity grant under our Associate Equity Appreciation Program.
Ensono is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We are committed to providing equal employment to our Associates and building a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable law.
Pay transparency nondiscrimination statement/posting OFCCP’s pay transparency policy can be found on OFCCP’s website. If you need accommodation at any point during the application or interview process, please let your recruiter know or email USTalentAcquisition@ensono.com.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Senior Mainframe Developer
Verify your COBOL experience meets category requirements
The J-1 Trainee category requires a degree plus one year of related experience, or five years of experience without a degree. Document your mainframe stack, including COBOL, JCL, and CICS, in a skills portfolio before approaching host employers.
Target industries with active mainframe infrastructure
Federal agencies, large banks, and insurance carriers still run core operations on IBM Z-series systems. Narrowing your search to these sectors dramatically improves your chances of finding a host employer whose work genuinely matches a J-1 training objective.
Search for J-1-aligned roles using Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate filters U.S. employer listings by visa sponsorship compatibility, saving you from applying to positions where mainframe roles exist but J-1 hosting is not possible. Use it to identify host employers before investing time in outreach.
Confirm your host employer will sign the training plan
Your designated sponsor, such as Cultural Vistas or AIPT, requires a detailed training plan signed by the host employer before issuing a DS-2019. Get written confirmation from the employer that they'll complete this step before accepting any offer.
Check the two-year home residency requirement early
J-1 participants from countries with exchange agreements, or those funded by their home government, may face a two-year home residency requirement before switching to H-1B or a green card. USCIS can grant a waiver in limited circumstances, but this affects long-term planning significantly.
Align your O*NET occupation code with your training objectives
Designated sponsors use O*NET codes to verify that your proposed training matches a recognized U.S. occupation. The O*NET profile for Software Developers or Computer Programmers is the most defensible fit for mainframe development training plans.
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Find Senior Mainframe Developer JobsSenior Mainframe Developer J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to Senior Mainframe Developer roles?
Most Senior Mainframe Developer candidates qualify under the J-1 Trainee or Specialist category. Trainee applies if you hold a degree and at least one year of mainframe-related experience, or five or more years of experience without a degree. Specialist is reserved for recognized experts in a field not widely taught at U.S. universities, which can fit narrow mainframe disciplines like IBM Z systems architecture or CICS transaction management.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a mainframe developer position?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not your employer. Organizations such as Cultural Vistas or AIPT issue the DS-2019 form that authorizes your J-1 status. Your employer acts as the host organization, providing the actual work environment and signing the required training plan. Confusing the host with the sponsor is one of the most common errors in J-1 applications.
Can I use Migrate Mate to find mainframe developer roles with J-1 hosting?
Yes. Migrate Mate lets you search U.S. employer listings filtered by visa sponsorship type, so you can identify host employers who have supported J-1 exchange visitors in technical roles. This is more efficient than applying broadly and asking about J-1 compatibility late in the process, which often results in rejections after significant time investment.
Does the J-1 two-year home residency requirement affect mainframe developers?
It depends on your country of nationality and your funding source. Participants from countries listed in the State Department's Exchange Visitor Skills List, or those receiving home-government funding, are typically subject to the two-year home residency requirement before they can change to H-1B or apply for permanent residence. USCIS administers waivers, but approval is not guaranteed and the process can take over a year.
What does a J-1 training plan need to cover for a mainframe developer role?
Your designated sponsor requires a structured training plan that identifies specific skills you'll develop during the program, the phases of training, and supervision arrangements. For a mainframe role, the plan should document objectives across areas such as batch processing, legacy system modernization, or COBOL application maintenance. The host employer signs the plan, and the sponsor reviews it before issuing your DS-2019.
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