Mainframe Programmer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Mainframe programmers qualify for H-1B visa, TN visa, and O-1 visa sponsorship as specialty occupation roles requiring computer science or related technical degrees. Legacy system expertise makes these positions highly valued by financial services, insurance, and government contractors who maintain critical mainframe infrastructure. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Position Summary
Provide premium software support and services to Ensono mainframe clients as they relate to CICS.
Key Areas of Focus for this Role
- Fulfill customer service orders (CSOs) for mainframe z/OS customers in a timely manner as they pertain to CICS TS and related OEM software products.
- Provide primary support for reported problems related to CICS TS and related OEM software products.
- Provide support on 24 x 7 x 365 basis and in multiple time zones.
- Follow procedures for installing OEM software products efficiently and according to best practices and Ensono standards (for productivity/scalability purposes).
- Work with members of other functional towers in preparing customer partitions for regular (approximately once per year) operating system upgrade process via a checklist of proactive actions.
- Provide key support for customer migration services (new customer transitions) as they pertain to CICS TS and related OEM software products.
- Assist the assigned project manager in the migration of newly acquired customers such that all technical hurdles are addressed in a timely manner and do not impede the expected progress of the transition nor the targeted migration date.
- In joint cooperation with the Disaster Recovery Services, successfully execute tasks associated with any given customer's disaster recovery plans.
- Adhere to a schedule that efficiently manages resources and allows timely implementations.
- Follow ITSM change control procedures:
- Implementing vendor product specific corrections ("fixes") and
- Upgrading, maintaining, enhancing or providing new options to applicable z/OS products within any given customer.
What the Ideal Candidate Brings to this Role
Required Qualifications help to assure new Associates are set up for success in their role with Ensono. 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.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree required and/or equivalent work experience.
- 5+ years experience on the zSeries (mainframe) platform including "hands on" technical experience (installation and maintenance of products) related to CICS TS and OEM product support.
- Thorough working knowledge of the capabilities and use of CICS TS and installation and tailoring of CICS TS and as well as CICS TS related OEM products.
- Thorough working knowledge and experience with the use of IBM's SMP/E.
- Strong analytical skills and understanding of CICS TS concepts, configuration and tailoring.
- Thorough working knowledge of products used to monitor performance of CICS TS regions.
- Self-motivated and able to work independently.
- Must be able to multi-task and work under short deadlines and in high pressure situations.
- Excellent communication skills (written, verbal and presentations).
- Ability to work as part of a team, as well as independently.
Standard Working Hours
- Shift: 8AM to 5PM Local time
- Oncall, overtime and scheduled weekend work required.
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
- 401k with company match
- Eligibility for dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life and AD&D coverage, and flexible spending accounts
- Family Forming Benefit including fertility coverage and adoption/surrogacy reimbursement
- Paid childbearing and paternal leave
- Education Reimbursement, Student Loan Assistance or 529 College Funding
- Sabbatical leave
- Wellness program
- Flexible work schedule
As of the date of this posting, a good faith estimate of the current pay scale for this role is $65,000 to $123,000 salary, based on a fulltime 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 Mainframe Programmer Jobs
Emphasize legacy system expertise
Highlight experience with COBOL, JCL, DB2, and CICS. Employers value mainframe skills because they're rare and critical for business operations that can't easily migrate to modern platforms.
Target industries with mainframe dependencies
Focus on banks, insurance companies, government contractors, and healthcare systems. These sectors rely heavily on mainframe systems and actively sponsor visas for qualified programmers.
Document specialized technical skills
Detail experience with z/OS, TSO/ISPF, Assembler, or mainframe security tools like RACF. Specific technical expertise strengthens your specialty occupation case with USCIS.
Highlight modernization project experience
Showcase work on mainframe-to-cloud migrations, API development, or DevOps integration. Employers sponsor candidates who can bridge legacy systems with modern architectures.
Consider government contractor positions
Federal agencies and defense contractors frequently hire mainframe programmers and routinely sponsor H-1B visas. These employers understand the specialized nature of mainframe work.
Prepare for technical interviews remotely
Many mainframe roles allow remote work, expanding your geographic options. Be ready to demonstrate coding skills and system knowledge through virtual technical assessments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do mainframe programmers qualify for H-1B specialty occupation status?
Yes, mainframe programming qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring specialized computer science knowledge. The role demands technical expertise in legacy systems, specialized programming languages like COBOL, and mainframe operating systems that require formal computer science training to master effectively.
What degree requirements apply for mainframe programmer visa sponsorship?
A bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, software engineering, or closely related technical field is typically required. Some employers accept mathematics or engineering degrees with relevant coursework. Three years of relevant work experience can substitute for one year of education under the 3-for-1 rule.
Which industries most commonly sponsor mainframe programmers?
Financial services, insurance companies, government contractors, healthcare systems, and large corporations with legacy infrastructure frequently sponsor mainframe programmers. Banks like JPMorgan Chase, insurance giants like State Farm, and federal contractors regularly file H-1B visa petitions for these specialized roles.
How does remote work affect mainframe programmer visa sponsorship?
Remote work is common for mainframe roles, but H-1B Labor Condition Applications must specify work locations. If you'll work remotely from multiple states, your employer needs LCAs covering each location. This doesn't prevent sponsorship but requires additional paperwork and wage compliance across locations.
How to find Mainframe Programmer jobs with visa sponsorship?
To find Mainframe Programmer jobs with visa sponsorship, use Migrate Mate to search for positions at large banks, insurance companies, and government contractors that frequently sponsor H-1B and TN visas. These organizations rely heavily on mainframe systems and actively recruit international talent. Focus on companies with established sponsorship programs and filter specifically for roles requiring COBOL, JCL, and DB2 experience.
What approval rates do mainframe programmer H-1B petitions typically see?
Mainframe programmer H-1B petitions generally see favorable approval rates because the specialty occupation requirement is clear-cut. The role requires specific technical knowledge of legacy systems that can't be learned quickly, making it easier to demonstrate the specialized degree requirement to USCIS.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Mainframe Programmer jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.