Sr. Software/Platform Engineer - Mainframe

Location(s)

• Posting Location: Cary, North Carolina
• Posting Location: Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania
• Posting Location: Greenville, South Carolina

City/Cities

Cary, Clarks Summit, Greenville

Country

United States

Working Schedule

Full-Time

Work Arrangement

Hybrid

Travel Required

10%

Relocation Assistance Available

No

Posted Date

26-Jan-2026

Job ID

14948

Description and Requirements

Job Summary

MetLife is seeking a Senior Software Development Engineer to lead technical design and delivery for mission-critical mainframe applications supporting high-volume financial and payment systems. The role will focus on modernizing COBOL programs, optimizing z/OS performance, and enabling API integration through IBM z/OS Connect Enterprise Edition (EE), while ensuring reliability, security, and compliance across the PCTS, GPAY, and FMS platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize COBOL applications on z/OS, leveraging Enterprise COBOL 6.x features for performance and maintainability.
• Build and deploy RESTful APIs using IBM z/OS Connect EE: map copybooks/DFHCOMMAREA or CICS channels/containers to JSON; configure CICS IPIC connections; integrate with APIC/MQ.
• Author and maintain JCL, batch utilities (IDCAMS/DFSORT), and CICS transactions; ensure robust restart/recovery strategies and data integrity across DB2/VSAM.
• Implement and enforce RACF security for datasets, transactions, and API endpoints, partnering with platform/security teams on certificates and OAuth flows.
• Collaborate on workload scheduling (OPC/IBM Z Workload Scheduler) and release/change management, including lower-to-prod promotion and cutover/backout planning.
• Drive engineering best practices: code reviews, automated testing, documentation, runbooks, and operational readiness (monitoring/alerting, incident response).
• Mentor and upskill engineers; lead KT sessions and foster consistent Agile/SDLC practices across onshore/offshore teams.

Core Requirement – IBM z/OS Connect EE

• Demonstrated hands-on expertise building and operating IBM z/OS Connect EE services and APIs using IDz/z/OS Connect projects.
• Proficiency mapping mainframe data structures (copybooks/DFHCOMMAREA or CICS channels/containers) to JSON schemas and validating request/response payloads.
• Configuration experience for CICS IPIC connections, environment-specific endpoints/ports, APIC backend routing, OAuth/JWT, and certificate/keyring management.
• Troubleshooting experience across lower and production environments (e.g., BAQR* errors, authorization/JSON format issues) using logs/traces and collaboration with platform teams.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of mainframe development on z/OS with deep experience in COBOL, JCL, DB2, CICS, VSAM, and common utilities (IDCAMS/DFSORT).
• Strong command of TSO/ISPF, SDSF, dataset management, SMF awareness, and production debugging/troubleshooting.
• Experience with workload scheduling (OPC/TWS), recovery design, and change/release procedures.
• Practical Agile/Scrum experience and SDLC compliance in regulated environments; strong written communication and documentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to IBM MQ, API/messaging integration, or Red Hat/IBM CP4I (WMB/IIB modernization).
• Production experience designing, deploying, and operating IBM z/OS Connect EE APIs/services integrated with CICS, APIC/MQ, and enterprise security (OAuth/RACF/certificates).
• Proven success migrating/recompiling programs to Enterprise COBOL 6.x and applying tuning/optimization techniques.
• Familiarity with AI tools (examples include GitHub and Co-pilot).
• Experience with compiler optimization reports, RMF/SMF traces, JES/SDSF job stats, and LE runtime tuning.
• Test automation experience for mainframe components and API contracts; CI/CD practices adapted for z/OS.

Location Expectation: This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in office.

The expected salary range for this position is $100,000 - $135,000. This role may also be eligible for annual short-term incentive compensation. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms.

Benefits We Offer

Our U.S. benefits address holistic well-being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability. We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!

About MetLife

Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the "World's Most