Mainframe Infra Engineer

• Own the IBM z/OS patch management strategy, including SMP/E maintenance (PTFs, APARs, RSU/CSI management) and subsystem patching (CICS, DB2, IMS, MQ, RACF, and related products).
• Define the rolling patch and maintenance calendar in alignment with IBM service delivery cycles, security advisories, and enterprise change freeze windows.
• Assess incoming IBM and ISV maintenance for applicability, risk, and priority; triage HIPER, security, and integrity PTFs for expedited handling.
• Set technical direction for, and provide hands-on oversight of, an offshore mainframe operations team executing patch installs, regression testing, and validation across the z/OS estate.
• Establish and enforce patching standards, runbooks, and quality checkpoints so offshore-executed work meets the same bar as work performed directly.
• Review and approve patch testing results, rollback plans, and go/no-go decisions before production implementation, including for changes executed by the offshore team.
• Coordinate with systems programmers, security, and application teams to plan patch windows and manage changes through the CAB process.
• Track patch compliance across the mainframe estate; report on outstanding vulnerabilities, aging maintenance, and remediation timelines to management.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for patch-related incidents, including issues surfaced by the offshore team during off-hours windows; lead root cause analysis and remediation.
What are the top 3 skills required for this role?
1. IBM z/OS
2.MQ
3. RACF