Mainframe Technical Lead

Location: Chennai or Bangalore

The Opportunity:
We are embarking on a significant strategic initiative to modernize our core legacy systems from the Mainframe platform to a modern Java-based architecture. This transformation is critical to our future success, enabling greater agility, scalability, and innovation. We are seeking experienced and forward-thinking Mainframe Technical Leads to play a pivotal role in this journey.

As a Mainframe Technical Lead, you will be a key technical authority, guiding a team of mainframe developers and collaborating closely with Java architects and development teams. You will leverage your deep mainframe expertise to analyze existing systems, define modernization pathways, ensure stability during transition, and provide technical leadership throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership: Lead, mentor, and guide a team of mainframe developers/SMEs involved in the modernization project. Foster a collaborative and knowledge-sharing environment.

Legacy System Analysis: Perform in-depth analysis of existing Mainframe applications (COBOL, JCL, CICS, DB2, VSAM, etc.) to understand business logic, data structures, system integrations, and dependencies.

Modernization Strategy & Design: Collaborate with architects (Mainframe and Java) to define and refine modernization strategies (e.g., re-platforming, re-hosting, refactoring, strangler patterns). Contribute to technical design decisions for migration, interfacing, or decommissioning of mainframe components.

Bridging Technologies: Act as a key liaison between mainframe SMEs and Java development teams. Translate mainframe concepts and constraints for the Java teams and vice-versa. Facilitate technical discussions on integration points and data migration.

Risk & Impact Assessment: Identify technical risks, challenges, and dependencies associated with migrating specific mainframe applications or functionalities. Propose mitigation strategies.

Technical Oversight: Oversee the technical execution of mainframe-related tasks within the project, ensuring adherence to standards, best practices, and project timelines. Review code and technical artifacts where applicable.

Problem Solving: Troubleshoot complex technical issues arising from the legacy environment or during the migration process. Ensure the stability and performance of mainframe systems interfacing with modernized components.

Testing Strategy: Contribute to the definition and oversight of testing strategies, particularly for integration, regression, and parallel testing between mainframe and Java systems.

Documentation: Ensure comprehensive technical documentation is created and maintained for existing systems and the transition process.

Communication: Clearly communicate technical details, progress, and challenges to project managers, stakeholders, and technical teams.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, OR equivalent extensive practical experience.

8+ years of hands-on experience in Mainframe application development and support.

Proven experience (at least 2+ years) in a technical leadership role (Tech Lead, Senior Developer with mentoring responsibilities) within a mainframe environment.

Deep technical expertise in core mainframe technologies: COBOL, JCL, CICS, DB2, VSAM.

Strong understanding of Mainframe architecture, batch processing, online transaction processing, and system utilities.

Demonstrable experience or significant involvement in mainframe modernization projects or initiatives.

Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and debugging skills, especially concerning complex legacy systems.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with diverse technical teams and explain complex concepts clearly.

Experience analyzing and understanding complex, large-scale legacy applications.

Preferred Qualifications & Skills:

Familiarity with Java / J2EE concepts, microservices architecture, and modern development practices.

Experience with specific mainframe modernization tools (code analysis, automated refactoring, data migration tools).

Knowledge of additional mainframe technologies (e.g., Assembler, IMS DB/DC, specific scheduling tools like TWS/Control-M).

Exposure to cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and concepts related to migrating mainframe workloads.

Understanding of DevOps principles and CI/CD pipelines, and how they might apply in a hybrid environment.

Experience working in Agile/Scrum development methodologies.