Senior Mainframe Systems Programmer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Senior Mainframe Systems Programmers are among the most consistently sponsored roles in U.S. enterprise IT. Employers filing H-1B visa petitions for this role typically require a computer science or information systems degree, and sponsorship rates remain strong given the severe shortage of qualified mainframe talent. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Financial Information Services Agency and the Office of Payroll Administration (FISA-OPA) has a vacancy for a Mainframe Programmer Analyst. FISA maintains a mainframe payroll application that is integrated with the City's timekeeping and personnel application for active employees. Additionally, FISA maintains a mainframe Pension Payroll system that is integrated/interfaces with five separate pension agencies for retirees. Mainframe development work is triaged through the analyst group and as a mainframe programmer analyst, along with the Lead, the programmer analyst shall review the business/technical requirements, and provide technical guidance as well as architectural suggestions. The programmer analyst shall support the current ongoing development work of the long term, highly complex PMS replacement project. The programmer analyst shall work closely with the technical Lead and FISA analyst, testing, and operations staff to create accurate and efficient processes. The programmer analyst shall support production payroll and pension payroll activities.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direction of the technical lead, work in a techno-functional capacity with a strong understanding of business processes, mainframe programming (COBOL), and relational databases to design, program, and assist in determining impact of change to programs and systems. Shall also review and analyze program specifications to determine the effort needed to make changes. The programmer analyst shall also be On-Call for overnight and weekend Payroll and Pension Payroll processes.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college in computer science, engineering, human computer interaction, interactive media, digital and graphics design, data visualization, communication or a related field, and four years of satisfactory full-time experience related to the area(s) required by the particular position and a specialization in a relevant technology, process, methodology and/or domain; or
- An associate degree from an accredited college in computer science, engineering, human computer interaction, interactive media, digital and graphics design, data visualization, communication or a related field, and six years of satisfactory full-time experience related to the area(s) required by the particular position and a specialization in a relevant technology, process, methodology and/or domain; or
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, and eight years of satisfactory full-time experience related to the area(s) required by the particular position and a specialization in a relevant technology, process, methodology and/or domain; or
- Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1", "2", or "3" above.
PREFERRED SKILLS
- Strong experience as a senior mainframe (COBOL/UIMS/D82) programmer
- Strong experience with JCUPROCS/CTLCARDS
- Strong experience design/program and architecture in a mainframe environment
- Strong production coverage and troubleshooting experience
- Strong knowledge of RMDS/EXPEDITER/File-Aid for IMS/D82
- Strong experience with management of Technical Staff
- Extensive experience in the preparation of structure charts or invocation diagrams
- Extensive experience designing the architecture of mainframe applications and dependencies
- Excellent understanding of systems development lifecycle methodologies
- Experience working with enterprise wide, large-scale implementation
- Knowledge of the City's legacy payroll management system
- Knowledge of the City's personnel processing
- Knowledge of the City's timekeeping processing
- Excellent communication skills (Oral and Written), interpersonal, and organizational skills
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The City of New York offers a comprehensive set of benefits and programs to employees, including health insurance, pension plan, Deferred Compensation Plan (with 457, 401K and Roth IRA options), pre-tax Commuter Benefit program, pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts programs and more. Additional benefits such as prescription drug coverage, dental benefits, vision care benefits and more are also available through District Council 37 – Local 2627, the union that represents employees in this title.
To Apply
Applicants may visit the Jobs NYC website and apply to Job ID: 783081. While all complete applications will be given consideration, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
PUBLIC SVC LOAN FORGIVENESS
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment program. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website.
HOURS/SHIFT
35 hours Weekly/Day.
WORK LOCATION
5 Manhattan West, NY, NY
COMPENSATION
$75,000.00 – $125,000.00
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT
New York City Residency is not required for this position.
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
INTRODUCTION
The Financial Information Services Agency and the Office of Payroll Administration (FISA-OPA) has a vacancy for a Mainframe Programmer Analyst. FISA maintains a mainframe payroll application that is integrated with the City's timekeeping and personnel application for active employees. Additionally, FISA maintains a mainframe Pension Payroll system that is integrated/interfaces with five separate pension agencies for retirees. Mainframe development work is triaged through the analyst group and as a mainframe programmer analyst, along with the Lead, the programmer analyst shall review the business/technical requirements, and provide technical guidance as well as architectural suggestions. The programmer analyst shall support the current ongoing development work of the long term, highly complex PMS replacement project. The programmer analyst shall work closely with the technical Lead and FISA analyst, testing, and operations staff to create accurate and efficient processes. The programmer analyst shall support production payroll and pension payroll activities.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direction of the technical lead, work in a techno-functional capacity with a strong understanding of business processes, mainframe programming (COBOL), and relational databases to design, program, and assist in determining impact of change to programs and systems. Shall also review and analyze program specifications to determine the effort needed to make changes. The programmer analyst shall also be On-Call for overnight and weekend Payroll and Pension Payroll processes.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college in computer science, engineering, human computer interaction, interactive media, digital and graphics design, data visualization, communication or a related field, and four years of satisfactory full-time experience related to the area(s) required by the particular position and a specialization in a relevant technology, process, methodology and/or domain; or
- An associate degree from an accredited college in computer science, engineering, human computer interaction, interactive media, digital and graphics design, data visualization, communication or a related field, and six years of satisfactory full-time experience related to the area(s) required by the particular position and a specialization in a relevant technology, process, methodology and/or domain; or
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, and eight years of satisfactory full-time experience related to the area(s) required by the particular position and a specialization in a relevant technology, process, methodology and/or domain; or
- Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1", "2", or "3" above.
PREFERRED SKILLS
- Strong experience as a senior mainframe (COBOL/UIMS/D82) programmer
- Strong experience with JCUPROCS/CTLCARDS
- Strong experience design/program and architecture in a mainframe environment
- Strong production coverage and troubleshooting experience
- Strong knowledge of RMDS/EXPEDITER/File-Aid for IMS/D82
- Strong experience with management of Technical Staff
- Extensive experience in the preparation of structure charts or invocation diagrams
- Extensive experience designing the architecture of mainframe applications and dependencies
- Excellent understanding of systems development lifecycle methodologies
- Experience working with enterprise wide, large-scale implementation
- Knowledge of the City's legacy payroll management system
- Knowledge of the City's personnel processing
- Knowledge of the City's timekeeping processing
- Excellent communication skills (Oral and Written), interpersonal, and organizational skills
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The City of New York offers a comprehensive set of benefits and programs to employees, including health insurance, pension plan, Deferred Compensation Plan (with 457, 401K and Roth IRA options), pre-tax Commuter Benefit program, pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts programs and more. Additional benefits such as prescription drug coverage, dental benefits, vision care benefits and more are also available through District Council 37 – Local 2627, the union that represents employees in this title.
To Apply
Applicants may visit the Jobs NYC website and apply to Job ID: 783081. While all complete applications will be given consideration, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
PUBLIC SVC LOAN FORGIVENESS
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment program. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website.
HOURS/SHIFT
35 hours Weekly/Day.
WORK LOCATION
5 Manhattan West, NY, NY
COMPENSATION
$75,000.00 – $125,000.00
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT
New York City Residency is not required for this position.
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
See all 2,939+ Senior Mainframe Systems Programmer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Senior Mainframe Systems Programmer Jobs
Target large enterprises with legacy infrastructure
Banks, insurers, government contractors, and healthcare systems run mainframe environments at scale. These organizations sponsor H-1B visas regularly and have established immigration counsel, making the process faster and more predictable than smaller employers.
Highlight z/OS and COBOL depth specifically
Visa petitions for this role require proving specialty occupation status. Detailed documentation of z/OS, JCL, VSAM, and COBOL experience strengthens the employer's case that a specific technical degree is a minimum requirement for the position.
Confirm the job requires a relevant bachelor's degree
H-1B approval depends on the role qualifying as a specialty occupation. Ensure the job description explicitly requires a degree in computer science, information systems, or a related field rather than treating a degree as preferred or optional.
Ask about cap-exempt sponsorship opportunities
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and certain government contractors are H-1B cap-exempt. These employers can file petitions year-round without waiting for the lottery, which is valuable if you missed the annual registration window.
Use your experience to substitute for degree mismatches
If your degree is in a tangentially related field, three years of specialized mainframe experience can substitute for one year of formal education under USCIS rules. Document your technical experience thoroughly to support this equivalency argument.
Get familiar with the LCA before your offer is finalized
Your employer must file a Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor before your H-1B petition. Understanding LCA requirements early helps you flag any wage or worksite issues before they delay your start date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Senior Mainframe Systems Programmer a qualifying specialty occupation for the H-1B?
Yes, this role consistently qualifies as a specialty occupation under H-1B visa rules. USCIS requires that the position normally demands a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field such as computer science or information systems. Given the highly technical nature of mainframe programming, employers can document this requirement clearly, which reduces RFE risk compared to more generalist IT roles.
What degree do I need for an employer to sponsor my H-1B as a Mainframe Systems Programmer?
A bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, electrical engineering, or a closely related technical field is the standard requirement. A degree in an unrelated discipline combined with substantial specialized mainframe experience may still qualify through the three-for-one experience equivalency rule, where three years of relevant work can substitute for one year of formal education.
How competitive is H-1B sponsorship for mainframe roles compared to other IT jobs?
Mainframe roles are significantly less contested than general software engineering positions in the H-1B lottery because fewer candidates compete for them. The pool of qualified mainframe professionals is small globally, which gives employers a strong business justification for sponsorship and means approvals, once selected, face relatively low RFE rates due to the clearly specialized nature of the work.
Where can I find Senior Mainframe Systems Programmer jobs that offer H-1B or visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for roles where employers have a demonstrated history of visa sponsorship, saving you from applying to positions where international candidates are quietly screened out. Mainframe roles appear across financial services, insurance, and large enterprise sectors on the platform, and listings are updated to reflect current sponsorship availability rather than stale postings.
Can I transfer my H-1B to a new mainframe employer if I change jobs?
Yes. Under H-1B portability rules, you can start working for a new employer as soon as the new petition is filed, without waiting for approval, provided you are currently in valid H-1B status. The new employer must file a cap-exempt transfer petition and obtain a certified LCA for the new position. Your mainframe specialization typically makes transfer petitions straightforward to document.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Senior Mainframe Systems 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.