Lead Db2 Data Administrator

Role: Lead DB2 Data Administrator (DB2 for z/OS /Oracle/SQL Server/Cloud)
Location: Tallahassee, FL (onsite)
Client: State of Florida
Rate: $70/hr C2C
Experience:10+ years of progressive database administration experience, with 5 years strong, non-negotiable depth in DB2 for z/OS.
VISA: H1B (I94 should fetch H1B), GC
Passport Number is must for submission.
 

Experience Requirements
10+ years of hands‑on database administration experience, with at least 5 years dedicated to DB2 for z/OS in large‑scale, high‑availability environments.
5+ years administering Oracle and/or SQL Server in production settings.
Demonstrated experience supporting financial systems (General Ledger, ERP, budgeting) – public sector experience is a plus.
Proven ability to work within structured change management processes (ITIL, ServiceNow).
Strong documentation skills – ability to maintain runbooks, recovery procedures, and standards.

Preferred Qualifications (Standout Candidates)
Prior experience supporting State of Florida agencies or PALM pilot phases.
Familiarity with Informatica PowerCenter or Cloud Data Integration (CDI) for ETL validation.
Basic knowledge of data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau) to support report certification.
Excellent communication skills – capable of explaining a DB2 timeout to an operator and documenting a recovery step for an auditor with equal clarity.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
*Candidates must possess a majority of the following, with depth in DB2 for z/OS being non‑negotiable.*

Core Mainframe & DB2 for z/OS Administration (Advanced Operational Depth)

DB2 for z/OS:
Hands‑on subsystem administration, including catalog maintenance, buffer pool tuning, storage management, and object maintenance (tablespaces, indexes, partitions).
Experience with sub‑system point‑in‑time recovery, version upgrades, and migration validation.
Proficient in DB2 performance monitoring and tuning using tools such as Omegamon, IOF, or similar.
Ability to interpret access paths, explain plans, and resolve locking/deadlock scenarios.

z/OS Platform:
Working knowledge of started task management, IBM IBI service support, AFOPER commands, and basic EXITs.
JCL: Advanced ability to write, debug, and optimize JCL for batch processes.
COBOL: Working knowledge sufficient to read code and perform impact analysis of data changes.

Tooling:
Expert in ISPF/PDF for dataset management and TSO commands.
Familiarity with ASG‑Zeke or similar mainframe scheduler.
CA GEN: Basic understanding of model management to assist in object impact analysis (not required to develop).
Cross‑Platform Database Administration (Solid Working Knowledge)

Oracle:
Ability to perform day‑to‑day administration (user maintenance, space management, performance troubleshooting).
Basic SQL tuning and understanding of Oracle Data Guard / RMAN concepts.

Microsoft SQL Server:
Administration experience including SSMS, SSIS package execution, SSRS report verification.
Familiarity with index maintenance, backup/restore, and linked server configurations.
GIS Database experience is a plus.

Infrastructure & Security
RACF: Solid working knowledge of user/group administration and dataset/profile permissions.
CICS: Ability to troubleshoot DB2‑CICS transaction abends and verify RDO definitions.
Disaster Recovery: Experience executing and documenting technical recovery procedures for mainframe and distributed databases.
Modern Data & Cloud (Working Knowledge – Preferred but not Required)
Basic familiarity with Windows Server environments and Azure data services (PaaS, VM‑based SQL Server).
Awareness of BMC AMI Ops Automation (formerly BJS) or similar job schedulers.

Role Summary
We are seeking a skilled Data Administrator with deep, hands‑on expertise in DB2 for z/OS to join the Florida PALM (Planning, Accounting, and Ledger Management) transition team. You will be the operational backbone of the mainframe database environment, ensuring the stability, performance, and integrity of critical financial data systems (General Ledger, Work Program Datamart). Working under the technical direction of the Lead Data Architect, you will execute day‑to‑day DBA tasks, support cross‑platform databases, and play a key role in validating interfaces during the state’s largest financial modernization effort.

If you thrive in a z/OS environment, can resolve a DB2 deadlock in your sleep, and enjoy keeping complex, mission‑critical systems running at peak performance – we want to talk to you.

About the Role: What You’ll Do
1. Mainframe Database Operations & Performance Engineering
Perform hands‑on DB2 for z/OS administration: catalog maintenance, storage management, version upgrades, and subsystem recovery.
Proactively monitor DB2 performance using mainframe tools; identify and resolve hot spots, deadlocks, and poor access paths.
Execute and validate point‑in‑time recoveries for sub‑systems and objects as part of disaster recovery testing.
Maintain and optimize JCL streams for batch ETL jobs feeding the Work Program Datamart.
2. Cross‑Platform DBA Support
Administer Oracle and SQL Server databases that interface with mainframe data; perform routine maintenance, backup/restore, and user administration.
Support SSIS package execution and troubleshoot data movement between SQL Server and downstream reporting systems.
Collaborate with the Lead Data Architect to validate data models and ETL transformations during PALM interface cutover testing.
3. PALM Transition & Data Integrity
Assist in impact analysis of new PALM data elements on existing mainframe database structures.
Execute SQL scripts to validate data lineage and integrity between legacy and future‑state systems.
Document current‑state database configurations and recovery procedures to support the PALM technical roadmap.
4. Process Automation & Continuous Improvement
Identify opportunities to automate routine DBA tasks (e.g., space monitoring, backup verification).
Contribute to the development of database administration standards, SQL code review checklists, and operational runbooks.
Support the evaluation of cloud‑ready database architectures under the guidance of the Lead Architect.
5. Collaboration & Technical Support
Serve as the escalation point for mainframe database incidents and service requests.
Work closely with OIT, application developers, and mainframe system programmers to resolve complex data‑related issues.
Mentor junior team members in DB2 for z/OS best practices and troubleshooting techniques.

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Thank You.