Mainframe CICS Systems Administrator
📍 Job Overview
- Job Title: Mainframe CICS Systems Administrator
- Company: Kyndryl
- Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India (Hyderabad, Telangana, India; Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India)
- Job Type: On-site
- Category: System Administrator
- Date Posted: June 25, 2025
- Experience Level: 10+ years
- Remote Status: On-site (with remote work available for some locations)
🚀 Role Summary
- Key Responsibilities: Manage and maintain Mainframe CICS systems, ensure security compliance, provide technical support, and participate in disaster recovery planning.
- Key Skills: CICS, System Administration, Root Cause Analysis, Performance Tuning, Backup/Restore, Disaster Recovery, Technical Support, Troubleshooting, Customer Service, Java, VSAM, Unix System Services, REXX, SMP/E, DB2, Assembler, COBOL.
💻 Primary Responsibilities
- System Management: Manage CICS systems, including work management, user management, journal management, and performance management.
- Problem Determination: Diagnose and resolve CICS system and related product issues, perform root cause analysis, and prevent problems within expected time frames.
- Disaster Recovery: Participate in disaster recovery planning and tests, ensuring business continuity.
- Technical Support: Provide direct technical support to clients and other IT teams, including new product installation and evaluation.
- Process Documentation: Develop, document, and maintain procedures for system utilities such as backup/restore, performance tuning, and configuration of environments.
- On-Call Support: Serve as the primary on-call support for CICS and associated ISV products.
- Meeting Facilitation: Lead daily operations meetings and aid in identifying problem management trends.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in an IT-related field or equivalent work experience.
Experience: Over 10 years of experience in CICS systems programming, with a strong focus on system administration and management.
Required Skills:
- Proven experience in CICS system administration environment.
- Experience in CICS transaction server, related ISV products, and third-party tools like Robot/TATTOOL.
- Basic knowledge of z/OS, Unix System Services, SMP/E, REXX, Java, VSAM, and third-party products.
- Proficient in technologies like P2V, V2V, and P2P migrations.
- Experience in EMC's storage (VMAX and DLM) and replication (SRDF) technologies.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in the banking or financial services industry.
- Knowledge of Assembler, COBOL, CICS, and DB2.
- Process-driven management of technical operations and support.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Excellent troubleshooting and customer service skills.
📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- Demonstrate experience in CICS system administration, including system management, problem determination, and disaster recovery.
- Showcase proficiency in related technologies, such as z/OS, Unix System Services, SMP/E, REXX, Java, VSAM, and third-party tools.
- Highlight successful problem-solving and root cause analysis examples.
Technical Documentation:
- Provide documentation showcasing system utilities, performance tuning, and configuration procedures.
- Include examples of disaster recovery planning and testing.
- Demonstrate understanding of security compliance and customer service principles.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: INR 12,00,000 - 18,00,000 per annum (based on experience and location)
Benefits:
- Learning Opportunities: Access to industry-leading learning programs, including certifications from Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Skillsoft.
- Employee Well-being Programs: Comprehensive employee well-being programs tailored to individual needs.
- Volunteering and Giving Platform: A company-wide volunteering and giving platform, allowing employees to donate, start fundraisers, volunteer, and search over 2 million non-profit organizations.
Working Hours: Full-time position with standard working hours, including on-call rotation with engineering teams.
🎯 Team & Company Context
🏢 Company Culture
Industry: Kyndryl operates in the IT services industry, focusing on designing, building, managing, and modernizing mission-critical technology systems for clients worldwide.
Company Size: Kyndryl is a global company with a large employee base, offering extensive opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Founded: Kyndryl was founded in 2021, following the separation from IBM.
Team Structure:
- The team consists of experienced system administrators, technical specialists, and engineers.
- The reporting structure is hierarchical, with clear lines of communication and collaboration.
- The team works cross-functionally with other IT technical teams, providing technical consultation and support.
Development Methodology:
- Kyndryl follows Agile methodologies for project management and software development.
- The company emphasizes process-driven management, continuous improvement, and customer success.
- Kyndryl encourages innovation, creativity, and a growth mindset among its employees.
Company Website: Kyndryl
📝 Enhancement Note: Kyndryl's focus on mission-critical technology systems requires system administrators to have strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to customer success.
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Web Technology Career Level: Senior System Administrator - Experienced professionals responsible for managing and maintaining complex Mainframe CICS systems, ensuring security compliance, and providing technical support to clients and other IT teams.
Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Systems Administration Manager or a similar role, depending on the specific team structure and location.
Technical Impact: Senior System Administrators have a significant impact on the performance, availability, and security of mission-critical systems, ensuring business continuity and customer satisfaction.
Growth Opportunities:
- Technical Specialization: Develop expertise in specific Mainframe technologies, such as z/OS, DB2, or specific ISV products, to become a technical specialist or subject matter expert.
- Team Leadership: Demonstrate strong leadership skills and mentoring abilities to progress into a team lead or management role.
- Architecture and Design: Gain experience in system design, architecture, and modernization to transition into an architect or senior technical role.
📝 Enhancement Note: Kyndryl's focus on mission-critical systems and commitment to customer success provide ample opportunities for technical growth and career progression within the organization.
🌐 Work Environment
Office Type: Kyndryl's offices are modern, collaborative workspaces designed to facilitate teamwork and innovation.
Office Location(s): Bangalore, Karnataka, India (Hyderabad, Telangana, India; Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India)
Workspace Context:
- Collaborative Environment: Kyndryl encourages cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing among team members.
- State-of-the-art Resources: Employees have access to cutting-edge technology, tools, and resources to perform their jobs effectively.
- Flexible Work Arrangement: Kyndryl offers flexible work arrangements, including remote work options for some locations and roles.
Work Schedule: Standard full-time working hours, including on-call rotation with engineering teams to provide 24/7 support.
📝 Enhancement Note: Kyndryl's commitment to employee well-being and work-life balance is reflected in its flexible work arrangements and comprehensive employee well-being programs.
📄 Application & Technical Interview Process
Interview Process:
- Phone/Video Screen: A brief phone or video call to assess communication skills, cultural fit, and initial technical proficiency.
- Technical Assessment: A hands-on assessment focusing on CICS system administration, problem determination, and root cause analysis.
- Behavioral Interview: An in-depth discussion of past experiences, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit.
- Final Interview: A meeting with the hiring manager or a panel of stakeholders to discuss the role, company culture, and next steps.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Highlight successful CICS system administration projects, problem-solving examples, and disaster recovery experiences.
- Demonstrate proficiency in related technologies, such as z/OS, Unix System Services, SMP/E, REXX, Java, VSAM, and third-party tools.
- Showcase strong communication skills, attention to detail, and customer service orientation.
Technical Challenge Preparation:
- Brush up on CICS system administration fundamentals, including system management, problem determination, and disaster recovery.
- Practice root cause analysis techniques and problem-solving strategies.
- Familiarize yourself with Kyndryl's company culture, values, and commitment to customer success.
ATS Keywords: CICS, System Administration, Mainframe, z/OS, Unix System Services, SMP/E, REXX, Java, VSAM, Third-party tools, Disaster Recovery, Technical Support, Troubleshooting, Customer Service, Problem Determination, Root Cause Analysis, Performance Tuning, Backup/Restore, Security Compliance, IT Services, Agile, Collaboration, Knowledge Sharing, Employee Well-being, Learning Opportunities, Volunteering, Giving Platform.
📝 Enhancement Note: Kyndryl's focus on mission-critical systems and commitment to customer success require strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure
Mainframe Technologies:
- CICS: The primary transaction processing system, enabling high-volume, mission-critical applications.
- z/OS: The operating system that manages and controls the resources and services of the z/Series mainframe computer.
- DB2: A family of database server products that support both relational and non-relational data.
- VSAM: A virtual storage access method used to store and manage data in a z/OS environment.
Related Technologies:
- Unix System Services: A set of system services and utilities that enable z/OS to run UNIX-based applications.
- SMP/E: A software management product that enables the installation, maintenance, and upgrade of software on z/OS systems.
- REXX: A programming language that supports both procedural and object-oriented programming.
- Java: A general-purpose, object-oriented programming language that can be used to develop a wide range of applications.
Third-party Tools:
- Robot/TATTOOL: Automation tools used to streamline and optimize CICS system administration tasks.
📝 Enhancement Note: Kyndryl's focus on mission-critical systems requires expertise in Mainframe technologies, including CICS, z/OS, DB2, and related tools and utilities.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Kyndryl Values:
- Customer Success: Kyndryl is committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences and driving business outcomes through innovative technology solutions.
- Innovation: Kyndryl fosters a culture of continuous learning, improvement, and innovation, encouraging employees to challenge the status quo and drive change.
- Collaboration: Kyndryl promotes a collaborative work environment, encouraging teamwork, knowledge sharing, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Integrity: Kyndryl upholds the highest ethical standards, fostering a culture of trust, transparency, and accountability.
Collaboration Style:
- Cross-functional Integration: Kyndryl encourages collaboration between technical teams, business units, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment with business objectives and customer needs.
- Code Review Culture: Kyndryl promotes a culture of code review and peer programming to ensure high-quality, maintainable, and secure systems.
- Knowledge Sharing: Kyndryl encourages employees to share their expertise and learn from one another, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth.
📝 Enhancement Note: Kyndryl's commitment to customer success, innovation, collaboration, and integrity creates a dynamic, challenging, and rewarding work environment for system administrators.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Technical Challenges:
- System Complexity: Mainframe CICS systems can be complex and challenging to manage, requiring strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
- Legacy Systems: Maintaining and modernizing legacy systems can present unique challenges, requiring a deep understanding of historical systems and processes.
- Performance Optimization: Ensuring optimal performance and scalability of mission-critical systems can be demanding, requiring continuous monitoring, tuning, and optimization.
- Security Compliance: Maintaining security compliance in a dynamic threat landscape can be challenging, requiring vigilance, proactive measures, and continuous learning.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Technical Specialization: Develop expertise in specific Mainframe technologies, such as z/OS, DB2, or specific ISV products, to become a technical specialist or subject matter expert.
- Leadership Development: Gain experience in team leadership, mentoring, and architecture decision-making to progress into a senior technical or management role.
- Industry-specific Knowledge: Expand your knowledge of the banking, financial services, or other relevant industries to better understand client needs and business objectives.
📝 Enhancement Note: Kyndryl's focus on mission-critical systems and commitment to customer success provide ample opportunities for technical growth, leadership development, and industry-specific knowledge acquisition.
💡 Interview Preparation
Technical Questions:
- CICS System Administration: Demonstrate a deep understanding of CICS system administration, including system management, problem determination, and disaster recovery.
- Root Cause Analysis: Showcase your ability to diagnose and resolve complex technical issues, performing root cause analysis and preventing problems within expected time frames.
- Technical Troubleshooting: Exhibit strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and customer service orientation in a hands-on technical assessment.
Company & Culture Questions:
- Kyndryl Values: Demonstrate a strong understanding of Kyndryl's values, including customer success, innovation, collaboration, and integrity, and how you would apply them in your role.
- Agile Methodologies: Showcase your familiarity with Agile methodologies, including sprint planning, code review, testing, and quality assurance practices.
- Customer Success Stories: Share examples of successful customer projects, problem-solving strategies, and business impact.
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- CICS System Administration Projects: Highlight successful CICS system administration projects, problem-solving examples, and disaster recovery experiences.
- Technical Documentation: Present clear, concise, and well-organized technical documentation, including system utilities, performance tuning, and configuration procedures.
- Customer Service Orientation: Demonstrate strong communication skills, attention to detail, and customer service orientation throughout the interview process.
📝 Enhancement Note: Kyndryl's focus on mission-critical systems and commitment to customer success require strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this Mainframe CICS Systems Administrator position:
- Submit Your Application: Visit the Kyndryl careers page and search for the "Mainframe CICS Systems Administrator" role, then submit your application.
- Prepare Your Portfolio: Highlight successful CICS system administration projects, problem-solving examples, and disaster recovery experiences. Include clear, concise, and well-organized technical documentation, demonstrating your proficiency in related technologies and commitment to customer service.
- Research Kyndryl: Familiarize yourself with Kyndryl's company culture, values, and commitment to customer success. Understand the specific business needs and objectives of the role and how your skills and experiences align with them.
- Prepare for Technical Assessment: Brush up on CICS system administration fundamentals, including system management, problem determination, and disaster recovery. Practice root cause analysis techniques and problem-solving strategies. Familiarize yourself with Kyndryl's technology stack, including Mainframe technologies, related tools, and third-party utilities.
- Prepare for Behavioral Interview: Reflect on your past experiences, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit. Prepare examples of successful customer projects, problem-solving strategies, and business impact. Demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively, share knowledge, and drive continuous learning and improvement.
⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.
Application Requirements
The role requires over 7 years of experience in CICS systems programming and a bachelor's degree in an IT-related field. Strong troubleshooting, communication skills, and the ability to work independently or as part of a team are essential.