Mainframe Programmer Analyst
Location: Leuven, Belgium (Hybrid)
Start Date: ASAP / Flexible
Contract Type: Freelance / Contract
Duration: Long-Term Assignment
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (3 days onsite, 2 days remote)
Overview
We are seeking an experienced Mainframe Programmer Analyst to join a complex and business-critical IT environment. This role places a strong emphasis on functional and technical analysis within a mainframe ecosystem, with development activities supporting the analysis work.
The successful candidate will act as a key link between business stakeholders and technical teams, translating business requirements into high-quality technical solutions while ensuring the stability and maintainability of core applications.
Key Responsibilities
* Conduct detailed functional and technical analyses of business requirements.
* Translate business needs into clear:
o Functional specifications
o Technical designs
* Perform impact assessments and risk analyses on existing mainframe applications.
* Analyze incidents and contribute to root cause analysis and long-term solutions.
* Develop and modify applications based on completed analyses.
* Collaborate closely with business users, analysts, and technical teams.
* Create and maintain comprehensive technical and functional documentation.
* Identify opportunities to simplify, optimize, and improve existing application logic.
* Support application maintenance and continuous improvement initiatives.
Technical Environment
* IBM Mainframe / z/OS
* COBOL
* DB2
* JCL
* Batch Processing
* Online Processing
* CICS (advantageous)
Required Skills & Experience
* Proven experience as a Technical and Functional Analyst within an IBM Mainframe environment.
* Strong knowledge of:
o COBOL
o DB2
o JCL
o z/OS environments
* Experience with batch and online processing systems.
* Experience conducting impact and risk analyses on existing applications.
* Strong analytical, conceptual, and problem-solving skills.
* Ability to clearly document complex technical and business processes.
* Quality-driven, detail-oriented, and capable of working independently.
* Excellent communication skills with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
* Willingness to continue developing expertise in COBOL.
Preferred Qualifications
* Knowledge of CICS.
* Experience with Mega (or similar enterprise architecture/documentation tools).
* Previous experience within the banking or financial services sector.
Language Requirements
* Fluent Dutch (mandatory).
What We Offer
* Long-term freelance opportunity.
* Challenging role within a highly critical enterprise environment.
* Significant focus on analysis, architecture, and business engagement.
* Hybrid working model with flexibility.
* Opportunity to contribute to the modernization and optimization of core business systems.