Architect Mainframe Systems Programmer (IBM Z16) - Senior Systems Engineer

About AutoZone:

AutoZone is the nation's leading retailer and a leading distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories with more than 6,000 stores in the US, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Brazil. Each store carries an extensive line of cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured hard parts, maintenance items, and accessories. 

We also sell automotive diagnostic and repair software through ALLDATA, diagnostic and repair information through ALLDATAdiy.com, automotive accessories through AutoAnything.com, and auto and light truck parts and accessories through AutoZone.com.

Since opening its first store in Forrest City, Ark. on July 4, 1979, the company has joined the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: AZO) and earned a spot in the Fortune 500. 

AutoZone has been committed to providing the best parts, prices, and customer service in the automotive aftermarket industry. We have a rich culture and history of going the Extra Mile for our customers and our community. At AutoZone you’re not just doing a job; you’re playing a crucial role in creating a better experience for our customers while creating opportunities to DRIVE YOUR CAREER almost anywhere! We are looking for talented, customer-focused people, enjoy helping others, and have the DRIVE to excel in a fast-paced environment!

Position Summary

As a Mainframe Architect, you will play a critical role in the engineering, modernization, stability, security, and performance of our IBM Z16 enterprise computing platform. You will design, implement, and support scalable mainframe infrastructure solutions utilizing z/OS, Db2, CICS, MQ, RACF, TCP/IP, z/OS Connect, and related technologies to support mission-critical Retail, Supply Chain, Merchandising, and Financial systems.
You will be expected to lead strategic platform initiatives, drive modernization efforts, mentor Systems Programmers and Engineers, stay ahead of technology trends, and leverage modern AI-assisted engineering tools such as Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, or similar platforms to improve engineering productivity, operational efficiency, and delivery quality. Current strategic initiatives include z/OS modernization, API enablement, DevOps transformation, automation, capacity optimization, and hybrid-cloud integration.

• Lead the architecture, installation, configuration, maintenance, and modernization of IBM Z16 enterprise platform.

• Design and implement scalable, secure, and highly available z/OS infrastructure solutions supporting critical business applications and services.

• Plan and execute operating system, middleware, and subsystem upgrades including z/OS, Db2, CICS, RACF, and z/OS Connect.

• Monitor, analyze, and optimize system performance through workload management, capacity planning, RMF/SMF analysis, and specialty processor utilization (zIIP, GCP).

• Design and implement automation solutions that improve operational efficiency, reduce risk, and enhance system availability.

• Establish and maintain security standards, RACF controls, compliance requirements, and audit readiness across the enterprise mainframe environment.

• Provide technical leadership during critical incidents, perform advanced system diagnostics, dump analysis, root cause analysis, and drive long-term corrective actions.

• Lead mainframe modernization initiatives including API enablement, z/OS Connect services, DevOps integration, Git-based workflows, automation, and hybrid-cloud connectivity.

• Modernization & Cloud-Native Integration: Understanding of Parallel Sysplex and XCF (Cross-System Coupling Facility) to architect high-availability hybrid cloud networks. Knowledge of leveraging Sysplex Distributor for load balancing REST APIs, microservices, and external cloud traffic across multiple environments.

• Partner with application development, infrastructure, architecture, security, and managed service providers to deliver reliable and resilient platform services.

• Mentor Systems Programmers, Engineers, and support staff while establishing best practices in engineering excellence, automation, operational discipline, and modernization.

• Create and maintain technical architecture documentation, operational procedures, standards, and platform roadmaps

• Use Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, or other AI-assisted engineering tools to improve productivity, accelerate delivery, automate routine tasks, and enhance engineering quality and documentation.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

• 15 years of technical experience in enterprise application or platform infrastructure architecture, including at least 7 years of hands-on z/OS Systems Programming experience.

• Core Mainframe Expertise: Minimum 5+ years of hands-on mastery over z/OS, COBOL, JCL, DB2, and CICS transactional workloads (Mainframe Infrastructure Solution Architect / Mainframe Solution Architect).

• Strong experience with IBM z/OS including installation, customization, maintenance, SMP/E, JES2, z/OSMF, HCD, HMC, DFSMS, UNIX System Services (USS), SDSF, TSO/ISPF, and system automation.

• Extensive experience supporting and tuning key IBM Z subsystems including Db2, CICS, MQ, RACF, TCP/IP, and z/OS Connect.

• Strong experience planning and executing operating system upgrades, software maintenance, migrations, and infrastructure modernization initiatives.

• Modernization Experience: Proven history of leading legacy transformations, including re-platforming, re-architecting, or refactoring codebases into cloud-native structures (Migration Architect - Mainframe to Google Cloud Platform).

• Experience with performance analysis, workload management, RMF, SMF, MXG, OMEGAMON, capacity planning, and specialty engine utilization optimization.

• Experience implementing REST APIs, service enablement, and application integration using z/OS Connect or equivalent technologies.

• Cloud Migration: Must have experience in migrating mainframe applications to cloud-native platforms (GCP or AWS), with a preference for GCP

• Strong understanding of enterprise security architecture, RACF administration, vulnerability management, audit compliance, and platform resiliency.

• Experience with Git-based DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, automation frameworks, and modern mainframe engineering tools.

• Self-driven, highly accountable, and able to stay ahead of priorities, risks, dependencies, project execution, and operational commitments.

• Strong advocate of engineering excellence, automation, operational stability, platform modernization, and continuous improvement.

• Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership, mentor engineers, influence architecture decisions, and effectively communicate with technical and executive stakeholders.

• Proficiency with Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, or other AI-assisted engineering tools, with the ability to use them responsibly to improve engineering productivity, operational efficiency, testing, automation, troubleshooting, and technical documentation.