Jobs › Ensono

Senior CICS Mainframe Systems Programmer

Ensono · Remote · $85,000–$148,000 a year · E2402 MF Run DBOL

Posted Sep 29, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a CICS problem that took a long time to solve. What did you learn?

What they are checking: Whether they persist on hard problems and use the lessons later.

How do you work with DB2, MQ and security teams when a CICS problem crosses their areas?

What they are checking: Whether they collaborate well across towers, which most CICS problems require.

What would you do

You get paged at night because a client's CICS region abended. Walk me through the next hour.

What they are checking: Whether they act calmly, restore service, preserve evidence and keep the client informed.

How do you handle a customer service order that you think is risky or poorly specified?

What they are checking: Whether they ask the right questions before acting, rather than doing something that could cause harm.

About the work

Walk me through installing and upgrading CICS TS using SMP/E, including how you test before production.

What they are checking: Whether they can upgrade CICS safely with a tested, repeatable process.

A CICS region is short on storage and transactions are slowing. How do you troubleshoot it?

What they are checking: Whether they understand CICS storage, tasks and monitoring well enough to fix live problems.

How do you prepare CICS for a client's annual z/OS upgrade?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the proactive checklist work that keeps an OS upgrade from breaking CICS.

How do you set up CICS for a new client moving into our data centers?

What they are checking: Whether they can handle migration details on time so the transition date is not missed.

What is your part in a client's disaster recovery test for CICS?

What they are checking: Whether they know how CICS recovery works in DR and how to verify it really works.

How do you keep up with CICS changes and new features?

What they are checking: Whether they keep their skills current as IBM evolves the product.

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The full job description

As published by Ensono.

Position Summary Provide premium software support and services to Ensono mainframe clients as they relate to CICS. Key Areas of Focus for this Role • Fulfill customer service orders (CSOs) for mainframe z/OS customers in a timely manner as they pertain to CICS TS and related OEM software products. • Provide primary support for reported problems related to CICS TS and related OEM software products. • Provide support on 24 x 7 x 365 basis and in multiple time zones. • Follow procedures for installing OEM software products efficiently and according to best practices and Ensono standards (for productivity/scalability purposes). • Work with members of other functional towers in preparing customer partitions for regular (approximately once per year) operating system upgrade process via a checklist of proactive actions. • Provide key support for customer migration services (new customer transitions) as they pertain to CICS TS and related OEM software products. • Assist the assigned project manager in the migration of newly acquired customers such that all technical hurdles are addressed in a timely manner and do not impede the expected progress of the transition nor the targeted migration date. • In joint cooperation with the Disaster Recovery Services, successfully execute tasks associated with any given customer’s disaster recovery plans. • Adhere to a schedule that efficiently manages resources and allows timely implementations. • Follow ITSM change control procedures g: • Implementing vendor product specific corrections (“fixes”) and • Upgrading, maintaining, enhancing or providing new options to applicable z/OS products within any given customer • undefined What the Ideal Candidate Brings to this Role Required Qualifications help to assure new Associates are set up for success in their role with Ensono. To be considered for this career opportunity, it is important that you meet all Required Qualifications. Candidates that may meet some, but not all, Other Qualifications are still encouraged to apply.  Required Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree required and/or equivalent work experience.  • 10+ years experience on the zSeries (mainframe) platform including “hands on” technical experience (installation and maintenance of products) related to CICS TS and OEM product support. • Thorough working knowledge of the capabilities and use of CICS TS and installation and tailoring of CICS TS and as well as CICS TS related OEM products. • Thorough working knowledge and experience with the use of IBM’s SMP/E.  • Strong analytical skills and understanding of CICS TS concepts, configuration and tailoring. • Thorough working knowledge of products used to monitor performance of CICS TS regions. • Self-motivated and able to work independently.  • Must be able to multi-task and work under short deadlines and in high pressure situations. • Excellent communication skills (written, verbal and presentations) • Ability to work as part of a team, as well as independently. Standard Working Hours: • Shift: 8AM to 5PM Local time • Oncall, overtime and scheduled weekend work required   Why Ensono ? Ensono is a place to make better happen – for our clients and for your career. You can do great things through innovation or collaboration, by learning or volunteering, or to promote diversity and inclusion. You can do great things for your own health or for a healthier planet. Whatever it means to you to do great things we want Ensono to be the place you can do it.  We are a client-facing business, but we do encourage clients to allow us to work remotely most of the time so if you are not required to be on a client site, you can choose to work from home or in our Ensono offices. Some of our benefits include: • Unlimited Paid Days Off • Three health plan options • 401k with company match • Eligibility for dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life and AD&D coverage, and flexible spending accounts • Family Forming Benefit including fertility coverage and adoption/surrogacy reimbursement • Paid childbearing and paternal leave • Education Reimbursement, Student Loan Assistance or 529 College Funding • Sabbatical leave • Wellness program • Flexible work schedule   As of the date of this posting, a good faith estimate of the current pay scale for this role is $85,000 to $148,000 salary, based on a fulltime schedule. Please note that placement in the range may vary based on numerous factors including but not limited to skills, experience, internal equity, and business needs. In addition to base salary, other compensation programs, depending on eligibility, include an annual bonus plan based on company and individual performance and an equity grant under our Associate Equity Appreciation Program.Ensono is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We are committed to providing equal employment to our Associates and building a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable law.Pay transparency nondiscrimination statement/posting OFCCP’s pay transparency policy can be found on OFCCP’s website .If you need accommodation at any point during the application or interview process, please let your recruiter know or email USTalentAcquisition@ensono.com .

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