Senior Program Manager

Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Senior Program Manager to lead a complex mainframe modernization and rewrite initiative through planning, execution, testing, migration, and production go-live. This individual will be responsible for managing a large, cross-functional program involving mainframe applications, technology modernization, data migration, integration, testing, business readiness, and cutover. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record leading mainframe rewrite or modernization programs from inception through successful production deployment, with particular strength in managing the final stages of implementation, cutover, and go-live.
 Key Responsibilities 

• Lead the end-to-end program delivery for a major mainframe rewrite/modernization initiative, including planning, execution, migration, cutover, and production go-live.
• Develop and maintain an integrated program plan covering technology, application development, data migration, testing, infrastructure, security, operations, and business readiness.
• Drive the program toward key milestones, ensuring scope, schedule, budget, risks, dependencies, and resources are effectively managed.
• Lead cross-functional teams consisting of application developers, mainframe engineers, architects, infrastructure teams, QA, data teams, business stakeholders, vendors, and production support.
• Establish and manage the go-live and cutover strategy, including detailed runbooks, sequencing, dependencies, rollback plans, command-center procedures, and contingency planning.
• Coordinate multiple testing phases, including system integration testing, regression testing, performance testing, user acceptance testing, and production validation.
• Oversee data conversion and migration activities and ensure reconciliation and validation requirements are met prior to go-live.
• Manage production readiness assessments and ensure all technical, operational, business, and support requirements are completed before deployment.
• Lead go/no-go decision meetings and provide executive leadership with clear status, risks, recommendations, and readiness assessments.
• Coordinate the go-live command center, managing issues, escalations, decision-making, and communications throughout the deployment.
• Ensure post-go-live stabilization, defect resolution, production monitoring, and transition to business-as-usual support.
• Proactively identify and manage critical program risks, issues, assumptions, dependencies, and interdependencies.
• Manage third-party vendors and technology partners supporting the modernization effort.
• Prepare executive-level status reporting, dashboards, steering committee materials, and program communications.
• Drive accountability across workstreams and ensure teams meet committed deliverables and milestones.
• Ensure appropriate governance, change management, documentation, and operational handoff processes are in place.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field (Master's degree preferred).
• 10+ years of experience in program/project management within large-scale technology environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading mainframe modernization, mainframe rewrite, migration, or transformation programs.
• Proven experience taking a major technology program through testing, cutover, production deployment, and go-live.
• Strong understanding of mainframe environments and technologies such as COBOL, JCL, DB2, CICS, VSAM, and batch processing.
• Experience coordinating application rewrites, platform migrations, data conversion, and system integrations.
• Strong understanding of SDLC, testing methodologies, release management, and production implementation processes.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing detailed cutover/go-live plans and production readiness assessments.
• Excellent risk, issue, dependency, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience working with senior executives and steering committees.
• Strong communication, leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams and competing priorities within a highly complex environment.

• Experience with large-scale financial services, healthcare, insurance, or other highly regulated environments.
• Experience leading programs involving legacy-to-modern technology transformations.
• Experience with cloud migration or integration of modern platforms with legacy mainframe environments.
• PMP, PgMP, or similar program/project management certification.
• Experience managing large vendor teams and system integrators.
• Experience leading high-pressure production cutovers and post-go-live stabilization.

Locations: Pittsburgh, PA

About Techstra Solutions 
Techstra Solutions is a certified woman-owned (WBENC) management consulting firm specializing in strategy, technology, and implementation services for large organizations undergoing digital and talent transformation. Our experienced team partners with clients to co-create innovative solutions in applications, data, AI, and automation that accelerate measurable, sustainable change. From advisory consulting through technical execution, we are dedicated to driving world-class business solutions that fit your strategic requirements and deliver results. For more information: www.techstrasolutions.com