Senior Cobol Developer
Position Type: Onsite
Contract Length: 6 months + extensions
Position Overview:
We are looking for a Senior Cobol Developer to evaluate existing systems and user needs in order to analyze, design, recommend, and implement information system changes. This position will be a full-time contract role and is onsite in Trenton, NJ.
Duties:
Participate in development efforts supporting the project involving multiple legacy mainframe applications
Analyze existing legacy systems and provide code walkthroughs, logic analysis, and technical documentation to ITS development teams
Design, develop, modify, test, and maintain COBOL and NATURAL programs, along with associated JCL jobs, based on functional specifications and enhancement requests
Perform ongoing maintenance and enhancements to batch and online mainframe applications
Troubleshoot and resolve production issues, job failures, and system abends, including root cause analysis and corrective actions
Analyze ADABAS database structures, files, and access methods to support application development and system integration
Develop and maintain data feeds, file layouts, and interface processes between legacy systems and modernized ITS components
Participate in system design reviews, technical planning sessions, and code reviews
Produce and maintain technical documentation, including program specifications, data definitions, job flows, and system architecture documentation
Support system testing, integration testing, and user acceptance testing UAT
Implement best practices for mainframe development, including coding standards, version control, and change management
Assist with performance tuning and optimization of batch jobs, database access, and program execution
Provide production support for mission‑critical applications and collaborate closely with analysts, architects, and development teams
Required Skills:
Advanced experience with COBOL programming in enterprise mainframe environments
Strong expertise in JCL development and job scheduling
Extensive experience with NATURAL programming
Working knowledge of ADABAS database architecture and file structures
Experience analyzing and maintaining large legacy mainframe codebases
Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills for batch and online applications
Experience with system integration, data interfaces, and file transfer processes
Proficiency with mainframe utilities, debugging tools, and job monitoring tools
Strong documentation and communication skills
Ability to work independently while coordinating with multiple technical teams
Preferred Skills:
Experience supporting taxation or government revenue systems
Familiarity with CICS and online transaction processing environments
Experience with data migration or modernization projects involving legacy mainframe applications
Knowledge of mainframe security, scheduling systems, and source code management tools
Experience working within large‑scale enterprise or government IT environments