Senior Mainframe Developer Jobs
Senior Mainframe Developer jobs are open across banking, insurance, government, and healthcare, from mid-level to staff and principal engineer, with specializations in COBOL, z/OS systems programming, and batch processing modernization. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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INTRODUCTION
The Senior Mainframe Developer is a senior level position responsible for establishing and implementing new or revised application systems and programs in coordination with the Technology team. The overall objective of this role is to lead applications systems analysis and programming activities.
Responsibilities:
- Partner with multiple management teams to ensure appropriate integration of functions to meet goals as well as identify and define necessary system enhancements to deploy new products and process improvements
- Resolve variety of high impact problems/projects through in-depth evaluation of complex business processes, system processes, and industry standards
- Provide expertise in area and advanced knowledge of applications programming and ensure application design adheres to the overall architecture blueprint
- Utilize advanced knowledge of system flow and develop standards for coding, testing, debugging, and implementation
- Develop comprehensive knowledge of how areas of business, such as architecture and infrastructure, integrate to accomplish business goals
- Provide in-depth analysis with interpretive thinking to define issues and develop innovative solutions
- Serve as advisor or coach to mid-level developers and analysts, allocating work as necessary
- Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- 5+ years in IBM mainframe development.
- Need experience with developing batch and online programs in Cobol.
- Experience with IBM utilities and other mainframe tools and data structures such as Fileaid, Rexx, JCL, CICS, Changeman, Github, Expediter, TSO/ISPF, VSAM, DB2
- 2+ years experience using AI tools such as Devin AI and CoPilot.
- Extensive experience system analysis and in programming of software applications
- Experience in managing and implementing successful projects
- Subject Matter Expert (SME) in at least one area of Applications Development
- Ability to adjust priorities quickly as circumstances dictate
- Demonstrated leadership and project management skills
- Consistently demonstrates clear and concise written and verbal communication
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree/University degree or equivalent experience
- Master’s degree preferred
This job description provides a high-level review of the types of work performed. Other job-related duties may be assigned as required.
Job Family Group: Technology
Job Family: Applications Development
Time Type: Full time
Primary Location: Jacksonville Florida United States
Primary Location Full Time Salary Range: $113,840.00 - $170,760.00
In addition to salary, Citi’s offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards. Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.
Most Relevant Skills
Please see the requirements listed above.
Other Relevant Skills
For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.
Anticipated Posting Close Date: Jun 15, 2026
Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.
If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our search tools and/or apply for a career opportunity review Accessibility at Citi. View Citi’s EEO Policy Statement and the Know Your Rights poster.
INTRODUCTION
The Senior Mainframe Developer is a senior level position responsible for establishing and implementing new or revised application systems and programs in coordination with the Technology team. The overall objective of this role is to lead applications systems analysis and programming activities.
Responsibilities:
- Partner with multiple management teams to ensure appropriate integration of functions to meet goals as well as identify and define necessary system enhancements to deploy new products and process improvements
- Resolve variety of high impact problems/projects through in-depth evaluation of complex business processes, system processes, and industry standards
- Provide expertise in area and advanced knowledge of applications programming and ensure application design adheres to the overall architecture blueprint
- Utilize advanced knowledge of system flow and develop standards for coding, testing, debugging, and implementation
- Develop comprehensive knowledge of how areas of business, such as architecture and infrastructure, integrate to accomplish business goals
- Provide in-depth analysis with interpretive thinking to define issues and develop innovative solutions
- Serve as advisor or coach to mid-level developers and analysts, allocating work as necessary
- Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- 5+ years in IBM mainframe development.
- Need experience with developing batch and online programs in Cobol.
- Experience with IBM utilities and other mainframe tools and data structures such as Fileaid, Rexx, JCL, CICS, Changeman, Github, Expediter, TSO/ISPF, VSAM, DB2
- 2+ years experience using AI tools such as Devin AI and CoPilot.
- Extensive experience system analysis and in programming of software applications
- Experience in managing and implementing successful projects
- Subject Matter Expert (SME) in at least one area of Applications Development
- Ability to adjust priorities quickly as circumstances dictate
- Demonstrated leadership and project management skills
- Consistently demonstrates clear and concise written and verbal communication
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree/University degree or equivalent experience
- Master’s degree preferred
This job description provides a high-level review of the types of work performed. Other job-related duties may be assigned as required.
Job Family Group: Technology
Job Family: Applications Development
Time Type: Full time
Primary Location: Jacksonville Florida United States
Primary Location Full Time Salary Range: $113,840.00 - $170,760.00
In addition to salary, Citi’s offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards. Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.
Most Relevant Skills
Please see the requirements listed above.
Other Relevant Skills
For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.
Anticipated Posting Close Date: Jun 15, 2026
Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.
If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our search tools and/or apply for a career opportunity review Accessibility at Citi. View Citi’s EEO Policy Statement and the Know Your Rights poster.
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Find JobsSenior Mainframe Developer Job Market
A snapshot from current openings nationwide, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Pacific Life2
- Capgemini1
- Citi1
- Epitec1
- Labcorp1
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software4
- Insurance2
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals1
- Government & Public Sector1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior mainframe developer jobs.
- Five or more years of COBOL or PL/I development on IBM z/OS mainframe environments
- Proficiency with JCL, CICS, DB2, VSAM, and batch job scheduling tools such as CA-7 or TWS
- Experience with IBM Rational Developer for z Systems or similar mainframe IDEs
- Ability to analyze, debug, and optimize large-scale legacy batch and online transaction systems
- Familiarity with mainframe security frameworks including RACF, ACF2, or Top Secret
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related technical discipline
Tips for Your Senior Mainframe Developer Job Search
Quantify your COBOL modernization impact
Hiring managers want to see what you improved, not just what you maintained. Replace vague resume lines with specifics: which legacy batch jobs you refactored, how you reduced run times, or what you migrated to a modern interface layer.
List every z/OS subsystem you know
JCL, CICS, IMS, DB2, VSAM, RACF, and MQ are screened by applicant tracking systems before a human reads your resume. Don't bury them in a paragraph. Put them in a dedicated skills section so they get parsed correctly.
Target sectors still running core mainframe workloads
Federal agencies, large insurance carriers, and legacy retail banks run the heaviest COBOL workloads. Filter your search to these verticals first. Fintech startups and cloud-native shops rarely have true mainframe openings at this seniority level.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists senior mainframe developer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare for a live coding screen in COBOL
Some employers still conduct hands-on assessments in COBOL or PL/I, not pseudocode. Refresh your ability to write and debug division structure, file I/O, and copybooks under time pressure before your first technical screen.
Negotiate using total compensation, not base alone
Senior mainframe roles at large financial institutions often include retention bonuses, defined-benefit pension access, and premium health plans that cloud-side roles don't offer. Get a full picture of every compensation component before comparing offers.
Senior Mainframe Developer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most senior mainframe developers?
The companies hiring the most senior mainframe developers right now include Pacific Life, Capgemini, and Citi, with the largest share of openings in California, North Carolina, and Michigan, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. Federal contractors, major banks, and large insurance carriers consistently account for the bulk of active postings at this seniority level.
How many senior mainframe developer jobs are remote?
About 56% of senior mainframe developer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of June 2026, though on-site requirements are more common in this field than in most software disciplines. Roles focused on application development and batch modernization tend to offer more location flexibility than those involving hardware operations or on-premises security compliance work.
How do you become a senior mainframe developer?
You typically start by learning COBOL and JCL through formal coursework or IBM's free training programs, then build hands-on experience in a junior or mid-level mainframe role at a bank, insurer, or government agency. Advancing to senior level means demonstrating ownership over complex systems, mentoring others, and showing you can lead modernization efforts without disrupting production workloads.
Can you break into senior mainframe developer roles with limited experience?
Breaking in is difficult without mainframe-specific experience, but not impossible. IBM offers free z/OS learning paths and sandbox environments that let you build verifiable skills. Targeting mid-level roles first at organizations with large legacy estates, then moving into senior positions after demonstrating production ownership, is the most realistic path if your background is in general application development.
What does the senior mainframe developer interview process look like?
Most hiring processes include an initial recruiter screen, a technical phone interview covering COBOL syntax and z/OS architecture concepts, and at least one hands-on coding or debugging assessment. Later rounds often involve a system design discussion focused on batch processing flows or CICS transaction handling, followed by a final panel with senior engineers or an architecture team.
Where can I find and apply to senior mainframe developer jobs?
You can find and apply to senior mainframe developer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Find roles that match your background and apply directly to each listing from the page.
See All Senior Mainframe Developer Jobs
Jump back to the full list of openings and apply to any senior mainframe developer role that fits.
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