Mainframe DB2

Role Summary

About Infrastructure Technology

Infrastructure Services is a team based in South Africa and Rest of African countries. We are accountable for delivering and supporting resilient, secure infrastructure technology and services to customers, clients and colleagues, both in South Africa and Rest of Africa.

Mainframe Capacity and Performance Team

The mainframe Capacity and Performance team is responsible for ensuring that all z/Os and z/VM / z/Linux systems on the mainframe are managed in a way that is acceptable to both the organisation and their customers.

Overall Purpose of Role

The role is as an Engineer Database Specialist working in the Mainframe Infrastructure team to provide technical maintenance and support for DB2 Databases.

Responsibilities

• Support for end user programmers and application teams.
• Natural and Cobol / Rexx and Assembler.
• Writing of and analyzing SQL statements.
• Extensive performance tuning and enhancements.
• Creating DB2 databases, table spaces, tables, indexes, fields, for Test / Dev / QA and Production environments.
• Partitioning.
• Automation of processes.
• Responsible for data and object housekeeping and maintenance.
• Reorg/Run stats/Backups.
• Automation of processes.
• Database availability: Uptime and stability.
• High availability and SYSPLEX knowledge.
• Database backups and environmental restores.
• High availability
• Recover procedures
• Automation of processes.
• Database structure support.
• Altering table spaces, table, indexes, and fields.
• Manage, monitor and configure database security.
• DCL (Data Control Language)
• RACF
• TWS
• Maintain processes and schedules.
• DB2 Installation and upgrades.
• Version upgrades.
• Patching.
• ZParm parameters.
• All the mentioned duties included the daily operational functions to keep the systems running, as well as project involvement.
• The projects would eventually slot into the daily operations and it was essential to get the design standards and procedures in place upfront. In doing this, operationally the projects would need very little down time to correct. Especially the high focused ones.
• A good understanding and work relationship with the various stakeholders within the environment i.e. OS, Storage, Networks etc also assisted in delivering first class support to stakeholders and business.
• Software Products and Versions Used
• DB2 Version 10
• DB2 Version 11 (zOS, 2.4)
• DB2 Version 12

Not mentioned in detail is the zOS operating system knowledge. This knowledge is essential to maintain PDS, copy/create/edit files on zOS.

• System basic configuration
• Version and RU (maintenance) level
• zParms up to date
• Logging setup
• Bufferpools (size, hit ratio, alerts)
• Locking, lock contention and deadlocks
• Components: DRDA, IRLM
• Memory pools and caches
• Application databases, table spaces, sizes, invalid objects, fragmentation, extents and space usage
• Bufferpools tables, page size, partitioning, indexing, constraints
• Referential integrity and clustering
• Maintenance runstats, reorg, backup, automation
• Application plan/package binds, package usage, stored procedures, WLM integration
• Security SysAdm, DbAdm, public grants
• Problem diagnosis, performance issues, analytical support
• Make and implement DB2 changes
• Provide 24x7 standby support
• Identify incidents and problems without backup support
• Provide architecture solutions aligned with new technologies
• Support implementation of new DB2 versions and features
• Support implementation of new Mainframe/zOS software and identify impacts
• Stakeholder Management and Leadership
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to articulate complex concepts to various audiences
• Represent Mainframe area in project meetings
• Communicate technical aspects to senior managers
• Collaborate with project and programme managers
• Decision-Making and Problem Solving
• Excellent analytical skills
• High attention to detail
• Initiative and determination
• Process-improvement mindset
• Patience and resilience
• Risk and Control Objective

Ensure full compliance with regulatory requirements, Enterprise Wide Risk Management Framework, and internal Policies and Standards.

• Person Specification
• Delivers on promises
• Learns from mistakes and avoids repetition
• Flexible and adaptable
• Defines own performance objectives
• Works without support
• Produces documentation and manuals
• Creates and pursues development plans
• Acts as a mentor
• Works under pressure while maintaining high quality
• Can influence senior stakeholders
• Demonstrates broad understanding of business issues
• Essential Skills / Basic Qualifications
• Able to communicate at all levels
• Excellent understanding of Mainframe operating systems and hardware
• Good understanding of IMS, DB2, MQ, CICS, VMAX disks, IBM VTS and tape
• Able to work under pressure
• Strong stakeholder management
• Several years' practical DB2 engineering experience
• Provide 24x7 standby support
• Expert understanding of z/OS, hardware and memory usage
• 15 years mainframe experience
• Desirable Skills / Preferred Qualifications
• Broad understanding of business issues
• Detailed understanding of technical architectures and work demand portfolio
• Awareness of how own work impacts the organisation

About the Company

We're not your average tech company we're a rocket-fueled, innovation-driven powerhouse that's changing the game. Our mission? To bring together the most incredible tech talent with companies that are shaping the future. We're talking AI, IoT, blockchain, and all the mind-blowing buzzwords you can think of!