IMS / DB2 Database Engineer (L3 Support)

Job Title: IMS / DB2 Database Engineer (L3 Support) Location: Richardson, TX 75082 / Baskin Ridge ,NJ / Tampa FL (Hybrid) Duration: 12+ Months IMS / DB2 Database Engineer (L3 Support) • Need an experienced IMS and DB2 (Mainframe) database engineer with prior expertise supporting large telecom OSS applications running on IBM z/OS. • The engineer will provide Tier 3 support for database-related code fixes, performance tuning, schema changes, bind/plan/ACB maintenance, and resolution of data-related issues in production. • The engineer should be able to support Tier 1 and Tier 2 teams responsible for operational monitoring, ensuring that all database components remain available, optimized, and stable 24/7. • This role supports multiple integrated systems that depend on DB2 and IMS databases for planning, dispatch, inventory, scheduling, and network operations. Responsibilities Provide Tier 3 support for DB2 and IMS database subsystems including: • Support database changes required for code fixes, enhancements, or vulnerability remediation • Analyze DB2 packages, plans, SQL performance, and buffer pool behavior • Support bind, rebind, package versioning, and collection maintenance • Modify DB2 tables, indexes, views, synonyms, and statistics as needed • Perform IMS database maintenance including ACBGEN, DBDGEN, PSBGEN • Review and deploy IMS database structural changes across TEST, PRE-RELEASE, and RELEASE • Assist in resolving production data issues involving record corruption, mismatched keys, or incorrect table loads • Debug SQL-related abends (SQLCODEs, SQLSTATEs) and IMS abends (U- or A-codes) • Review SAS or batch jobs for database access patterns impacting performance • Ensure database availability during nightly, weekly, and monthly batch cycles • Monitor space utilization, reorganize databases, and maintain high-performance availability Assist Tier 2 Support as needed by: • Responding to questions or failures involving DB2 or IMS batch jobs • Validating database connectivity for applications during upgrades or migrations • Providing routine maintenance such as RUNSTATS, REORG, image copies, and index rebuilds • Supporting refresh processes between environments (TEST, PREL, REL) • Supporting SQL and DLI/DBB calls used by application teams • Maintaining integration flows with external systems (NDM, MQ, TIRKS, WFA subsystems) Requirements • Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience with DB2 for z/OS (packages, plans, utilities, SQL tuning) • Minimum 7 years of experience with IMS (DB + DC), including DBD/PSB/ACB management • Strong understanding of IMS and DB2 utilities such as REORG, RUNSTATS, LOAD/UNLOAD, ICOPY, CHANGE ACCUM • Experience with SQL tuning, EXPLAIN, access path analysis, and performance monitoring • Familiarity with mainframe file systems (VSAM, GDGs, PDSEs) • Strong knowledge of the compilation flow between DB2 precompile, bind, load module, and execution • Experience supporting DB2 and IMS changes via Endevor or similar CM tools • Ability to participate on-call support for critical database escalations (as needed) Nice to Have • Experience with telecom OSS systems such as WFA-DO, WFA-DI, TIRKS, Ericsson/Telcordia applications • Experience with IBM tools: OMEGAMON, MainView, FileAid/DB2, IMS Explorer, QMF, Platinum tools • Experience handling database migrations (DB2 version upgrades, IMS version upgrades) • Experience debugging SAS/REXX/COBOL/PL1 programs that use DB2 or IMS • Experience integrating mainframe databases with distributed platforms (AWS, Oracle, Kafka, ETL tools) • Experience in a high availability 24/7 operational environment