Mainframe Storage System Programmer (GDPS)

BCforward is currently seeking a highly motivated Mainframe Storage System Programmer (GDPS) for an opportunity, Remote!

Location: Remote

Anticipated Start Date: 04/21

Please note this is the target date and is subject to change. BCforward will send official notice ahead of a confirmed start date.

Expected Duration: 12+ months contract + Renewable

Job Type: [FULL TIME (>%3D40 HRS WEEKLY) [CONTRACT], [Remote]

Please note that actual compensation may vary within this range due to factors such as location, experience, and job responsibilities, and does not encompass additional non-standard compensation (e.g., benefits, paid time off, per diem, etc.).

As a Mainframe Storage System Programmer with GDPS (Geographically Dispersed Parallel Sysplex) Skillset, you will be responsible for managing, optimizing, and ensuring the availability of the mainframe storage infrastructure.
This includes overseeing disk and tape management, backup and recovery, and ensuring data consistency and high availability across geographically dispersed data centers.
You will play a key role in implementing and maintaining GDPS solutions for disaster recovery, high availability, and business continuity, working closely with system and storage administrators, application teams, and DBAs.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Storage System Management and Configuration:

Install, configure, and maintain mainframe storage devices, including DASD, tape, and virtual storage subsystems.

Oversee the configuration and management of storage management software like IBM DFSMS, Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM), and third-party storage solutions.

Manage storage systems such as IBM DS8000, EMC VMAX, or Hitachi VSP, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.

2. GDPS Setup and Configuration:

Implement and configure GDPS metro and global solutions for high availability and disaster recovery across geographically dispersed locations.

Ensure the integration of GDPS with mainframe storage systems, configuring data replication, mirroring, and volume management for continuous data availability.

Set up and configure GDPS components, including Global Mirror, Metro Mirror, and Copy Services Manager (CSM) for seamless disaster recovery and data synchronization.

3. Performance Monitoring and Optimization:

Monitor storage performance using tools like RMF, SMF, Omegamon, and Tivoli Storage Productivity Center (TPC), ensuring efficient I/O operations and high-performance storage access.

Analyze system performance and identify potential bottlenecks, tuning disk and data replication systems to meet performance and availability SLAs.

Optimize storage subsystems for disaster recovery solutions, including load balancing, volume allocation, and caching.

4. Backup and Recovery:

Develop, implement, and maintain robust backup and recovery strategies for mainframe data, ensuring minimal data loss and rapid recovery in case of failure.

Integrate GDPS with backup and restore processes to ensure seamless failover and data protection across all disaster recovery sites.

Manage point-in-time snapshots and replication for efficient data protection and recovery.

5. Disaster Recovery and High Availability:

Manage GDPS-based disaster recovery environments, testing and validating failover and recovery procedures regularly to ensure business continuity.

Implement and monitor high availability configurations using GDPS, ensuring real-time data replication and zero downtime during system or site failures.

Coordinate recovery efforts and ensure smooth failover from primary to secondary sites, using GDPS and mainframe storage subsystems.

6. Security and Compliance:

Ensure secure access to storage resources using RACF or equivalent access control systems.

Implement encryption, audit logging, and other security measures for data protection within GDPS and storage environments.

Ensure compliance with industry regulations (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR) related to data storage, retention, and disaster recovery.

7. GDPS Automation and Customization:

Develop automation scripts (e.g., REXX, JCL) to streamline disaster recovery operations, backup processes, and storage management tasks.

Customize GDPS functionality to align with organizational requirements, ensuring that failover, replication, and backup processes are automated.

8. Troubleshooting and Incident Management:

Diagnose and resolve storage-related issues, including data corruption, I/O failures, and GDPS-related replication or failover problems.

Provide on-call support for critical incidents and collaborate with other teams to resolve issues quickly and minimize downtime.

9. Documentation and Knowledge Sharing:

Document storage configurations, GDPS setups, recovery procedures, and system performance reports.

Share best practices and train operational teams on GDPS-related processes, disaster recovery strategies, and storage management.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

Storage Management:

Extensive experience in managing mainframe storage systems (DASD, tape) and storage management software (DFSMS, TSM, etc.).

Knowledge of storage technologies such as RAID, data mirroring, replication, and volume management.

GDPS Expertise:

In-depth experience with GDPS metro and global solutions for high availability and disaster recovery.

Familiarity with GDPS components, including Global Mirror, Metro Mirror, and Copy Services Manager (CSM).

Ability to configure and troubleshoot GDPS failover, replication, and data synchronization processes.

Backup and Disaster Recovery:

Experience in configuring and managing backup solutions, including integrating GDPS for data protection.

Ability to plan and execute disaster recovery exercises and manage data recovery in a high-availability environment.

Performance Tuning and Monitoring:

Proficiency in performance monitoring and tuning storage systems using tools like RMF, Omegamon, SMF, and Tivoli Storage Productivity Center.

Strong skills in optimizing disk usage, I/O performance, and replication for disaster recovery.

Security and Compliance:

Experience in implementing security measures for storage environments, including encryption, RACF integration, and compliance with regulatory standards.

Automation and Scripting:

Proficiency in scripting and automation of storage management tasks using languages like REXX, JCL, and Python.

Preferred Skills:

Certification in GDPS, IBM DS8000, or other relevant storage technologies.

Familiarity with cloud-based disaster recovery solutions and hybrid IT environments.

Experience with advanced storage solutions such as IBM FlashCopy or Metro Mirror integrated with GDPS.

Interested candidates please send resume in Word format Please reference job code 237440 when responding to this ad.