Mainframe Programmer Jobs for OPT Students
Mainframe Programmer jobs on OPT are a strong fit for F-1 students with backgrounds in computer science, information systems, or engineering. Employers in banking, insurance, and government sectors regularly hire for COBOL and z/OS skills. Your 12-month OPT window, extendable to 36 months with STEM OPT, gives you real runway to land and grow in this field.
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Kforce has a client that is seeking a Mainframe Programmer in Westlake, TX. Summary: As a part of this team, you will have an opportunity to use your skills and knowledge to contribute to the team's success through analysis, design, development, and delivery. In this role you will develop an understanding of the business domain to enable you to participate in discussions, planning, and provide feedback to drive the team and product forward. You will have proven ability to focus on strong technical experience to ensure software product development is delivered on time and of the highest quality. You will cultivate partnership and a spirit of collaboration among team members and business partners while conveying a sense of urgency and responsiveness to meet business needs.
Requirements
- Must have Bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems or other Technology related degree
- Minimum 3 - 5 years of related technology experience
- Experience in Mainframe (JCL, COBOL, VSAM, DB2, CICS) mandatory
- Experience in the development and deployment of Batch and CICS applications
- Agile environment work experience
- Good understanding on the usage of mainframe tools - ENDEVOR, FILE-AID, ABEND-AID, CONTROL-M
- Ability to take up new challenges and explore new technology/tools
- Strong communication skills
- Proven ability to work in a high paced, dynamic, and culturally diverse environment
- Excellent presentation and interpersonal skills
- High level of dedication, initiative, and passion
The pay range is the lowest to highest compensation we reasonably in good faith believe we would pay at posting for this role. We may ultimately pay more or less than this range. Employee pay is based on factors like relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, location, performance, union contract and business needs. This range may be modified in the future. We offer comprehensive benefits including medical/dental/vision insurance, HSA, FSA, 401(k), and life, disability & ADD insurance to eligible employees. Salaried personnel receive paid time off. Hourly employees are not eligible for paid time off unless required by law. Hourly employees on a Service Contract Act project are eligible for paid sick leave.
Note: Pay is not considered compensation until it is earned, vested and determinable. The amount and availability of any compensation remains in Kforce's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified in its discretion consistent with the law. This job is not eligible for bonuses, incentives or commissions.
Kforce is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.
By clicking “Apply Today” you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages or emails from Kforce and its affiliates, and service providers. Note that if you choose to communicate with Kforce via text messaging the frequency may vary, and message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You will always have the right to cease communicating via text by using key words such as STOP.
Responsibilities
Kforce has a client that is seeking a Mainframe Programmer in Westlake, TX. Summary: As a part of this team, you will have an opportunity to use your skills and knowledge to contribute to the team's success through analysis, design, development, and delivery. In this role you will develop an understanding of the business domain to enable you to participate in discussions, planning, and provide feedback to drive the team and product forward. You will have proven ability to focus on strong technical experience to ensure software product development is delivered on time and of the highest quality. You will cultivate partnership and a spirit of collaboration among team members and business partners while conveying a sense of urgency and responsiveness to meet business needs.
Requirements
- Must have Bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems or other Technology related degree
- Minimum 3 - 5 years of related technology experience
- Experience in Mainframe (JCL, COBOL, VSAM, DB2, CICS) mandatory
- Experience in the development and deployment of Batch and CICS applications
- Agile environment work experience
- Good understanding on the usage of mainframe tools - ENDEVOR, FILE-AID, ABEND-AID, CONTROL-M
- Ability to take up new challenges and explore new technology/tools
- Strong communication skills
- Proven ability to work in a high paced, dynamic, and culturally diverse environment
- Excellent presentation and interpersonal skills
- High level of dedication, initiative, and passion
The pay range is the lowest to highest compensation we reasonably in good faith believe we would pay at posting for this role. We may ultimately pay more or less than this range. Employee pay is based on factors like relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, location, performance, union contract and business needs. This range may be modified in the future. We offer comprehensive benefits including medical/dental/vision insurance, HSA, FSA, 401(k), and life, disability & ADD insurance to eligible employees. Salaried personnel receive paid time off. Hourly employees are not eligible for paid time off unless required by law. Hourly employees on a Service Contract Act project are eligible for paid sick leave.
Note: Pay is not considered compensation until it is earned, vested and determinable. The amount and availability of any compensation remains in Kforce's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified in its discretion consistent with the law. This job is not eligible for bonuses, incentives or commissions.
Kforce is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.
By clicking “Apply Today” you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages or emails from Kforce and its affiliates, and service providers. Note that if you choose to communicate with Kforce via text messaging the frequency may vary, and message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You will always have the right to cease communicating via text by using key words such as STOP.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Mainframe Programmer
Lead with COBOL and z/OS proficiency
Mainframe roles are niche. Employers screening OPT candidates want to see COBOL, JCL, VSAM, and z/OS listed clearly on your resume. Generic software developer language won't get you through applicant tracking systems filtering for these specific technical terms.
Target industries with legacy mainframe dependencies
Banking, insurance, healthcare, and federal contractors run mission-critical workloads on mainframes and hire consistently. These industries also tend to have established immigration compliance teams, making OPT and H-1B sponsorship transitions smoother than at smaller companies.
Apply early in your OPT window
Mainframe hiring moves slower than software engineering roles. Enterprise procurement and compliance reviews take time. Starting your search at least three months before your current authorization expires gives employers enough runway to extend an offer comfortably.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility upfront
If your degree is in computer science, information systems, or a related STEM field, confirm your STEM OPT extension eligibility with your DSO before interviewing. Employers sponsoring H-1B need time to plan, and knowing you have 36 months available strengthens your candidacy.
Highlight modernization project experience
Many employers are migrating mainframe workloads to hybrid cloud environments. If you have experience bridging COBOL with Java, APIs, or cloud platforms like AWS or Azure, emphasize it. This positions you as a long-term investment, not just a legacy maintenance resource.
Address OPT authorization proactively with employers
Many hiring managers at large enterprises are unfamiliar with OPT and confuse it with H-1B sponsorship. Briefly explaining that OPT is pre-authorized federal work permission, requiring no employer petition, removes the most common objection before it becomes a reason to pass.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do Mainframe Programmer jobs typically qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Yes, in most cases. If your degree is in computer science, computer engineering, information technology, or a closely related STEM field, your Mainframe Programmer role will generally satisfy the STEM OPT requirement that the job be directly related to your degree. Your employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify. Confirm your specific degree classification with your DSO before relying on STEM OPT eligibility.
Why do some employers hesitate to hire OPT candidates for mainframe roles?
The most common concern is confusion between OPT and H-1B sponsorship. OPT is a federally authorized work period that requires no employer petition or cost. Mainframe roles are also often in regulated industries like banking or insurance, where HR compliance teams may be unfamiliar with F-1 work authorization. Clarifying that OPT involves no employer filing obligation typically resolves this hesitation quickly.
Where can I find Mainframe Programmer jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for employers open to work authorization sponsorship. General job boards show all postings regardless of visa compatibility, which wastes time. Searching on Migrate Mate surfaces roles where employers are already familiar with or actively hiring international candidates on OPT.
Can I switch employers during my OPT period as a Mainframe Programmer?
Yes, but the new job must be directly related to your degree and in a role consistent with your authorized field of study. For STEM OPT, you must report the employer change to your DSO within 10 days, and the new employer must be enrolled in E-Verify. Gaps in employment of more than 90 cumulative days during standard OPT can jeopardize your status.
How does OPT lead to H-1B sponsorship for Mainframe Programmers?
Mainframe Programmer roles qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B rules because they require at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific technical discipline. Employers in banking and enterprise IT who hire you on OPT often have established processes for filing H-1B petitions. The H-1B lottery runs annually in March for an October 1 start date, so your employer needs to begin the process no later than February of your target year.
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