Associate Developer (COBOL, CICS, JCL, VSAM, DB2 and other mainframe technologies)

The Passports IT Section within the Business Solutions Branch of DFAT’s Information Management and Technology Division requires a highly motivated and experienced IBM mainframe developer to join our team. You will work as part of a larger team on the Department’s Passports Issuance and Control System (PICS), working closely with other developers, project managers, and business analysts, ICT support staff and business users to provide mainframe programming and support day to day business operations.

Please note: DFAT has already selected a suitable number of panel suppliers to participate in this business opportunity. Vendor requests for inclusion will not be responded too.  

Key duties and responsibilities

Job Specific role description

• Execute a range of tasks across the full life cycle in line with agreed software development methodology:
  • Write well designed, testable, efficient code to meet delivery timescales/milestones
  • Produce specifications and determine operational feasibility
  • Integrate software components into a fully functional software system
  • Document and maintain software functionality
  • Prepare time and resource estimates for development activities
  • Perform unit and component testing
  • Support functional and non-functional unit testing
  • Ownership of issues; drive and address open questions and follow-ups until all clarified and resolved
  • Support code deployment to enable efficient and accurate implementations
• Collaborate with project managers, business analysts, and other developers to deliver high-quality software solutions.
• Adhere to the department’s change/release and cyber security standards and processes.
• Share expertise and provide technical advice and guidance to others.
• Implement standard processes, tools, metrics, measurement, and reporting.
• Identify opportunities for improvement in software development processes.
• Undertaking incident response and remediation functions providing technical support and troubleshooting; debug and resolve technical issues as required.
• Conduct/participate in forward planning to ensure mainframe systems meet future demand.
• Liaise with third party suppliers including service providers.
• Provide planning and technical advice for management.
• Provide after-hours support on a rotating shift roster.
• Pro-actively demonstrate required behaviours in line with expectations of the role.

The Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) has been used to inform the requirements. In summary, DFAT seeks a suitable candidate with the following relevant skillsets:

Skills/Levels:

• Development and implementation – Systems development – Programming / Software Development (PROG) – Level 3
• Development and implementation – Systems development – Testing (TEST) – Level 2
• Development and implementation – Systems development – Software Designer (SWDN) – Level 3
• Development and implementation – Systems integration and build (SINT) – Level 2

Technical skills

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field; or at least 3 years of experience in mainframe application development using COBOL and other programming languages.

About the team

The Passport Systems Section is responsibility for the BAU development & sustainment of DFAT’s passport system. The section includes project management, business analysis, development and service delivery staff to support business users from DFAT and partner agencies to provide passport & consular services domestically and overseas. We work closely with the broader IT division for cyber security, database administration, server infrastructure, networking and end user computing services. Systems consisting of a mix of COTS, inhouse and vendor developed systems using a variety of technologies including .Net, VB, SmartIQ forms and Java/Wildfly framework; and includes the use of IBM Mainframe, Enterprise Service Bus, Message Queue and Content Management System technologies.

Essential criteria

1.• Strong knowledge of COBOL, CICS, JCL, VSAM, DB2 and other mainframe technologies including debugging and telemetry/monitoring tools.

2.• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to develop strong client relationships and translate business requirements, including well-developed writing skills and experience maintaining technical documentation.

3.• Strong knowledge of mainframe operating systems, such as z/OS and z/VSE.

4.• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.

Desirable criteria

1.• Experience with PL/I, MQ Series or Rocket Data z/Services.

This is an on-site Canberra based role which requires 5 days in office. Remote/Interstate based candidates will not be considered.