Mainframe Technical Lead – COBOL, CICS, JCL, Credit Card Domain

Job Description Mainframe Technical Lead – COBOL, CICS, JCL, Credit Card or Debit Card Location: Toronto (Hybrid – Currently 2 days in office and can change to 4 days to office) Duration: 8 months We are seeking an experienced Mainframe Technical Lead with extensive expertise in developing, supporting, and modernizing mission-critical Card Services applications within the banking domain. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in Credit Card and Debit Card systems, Card Account Management, Customer Information, Authorization, Fraud Management, Rewards, and Dispute Processing on IBM Mainframe platforms. The role requires proven leadership in delivering large-scale application modernization, database migration, and transformation initiatives while ensuring high availability, security, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence. Required Experience • 15+ years of hands-on IBM Mainframe development experience in the Banking or Financial Services domain. • Strong experience supporting Credit Card or Debit Card applications on IBM Mainframe. • Proven experience leading technical teams and successfully delivering enterprise-scale Mainframe projects. • Extensive experience in application assessment, modernization, migration, and legacy transformation initiatives. • Hands-on experience executing complex database migration and data conversion projects with minimal business disruption. • Experience supporting mission-critical card applications with stringent availability, performance, and security requirements. • Experience in System Integration Testing (SIT), User Acceptance Testing (UAT), production implementation, and post-production support. • Strong understanding of SDLC, IT controls, audit processes, PCI DSS, and regulatory compliance within financial institutions. • Experience working in Agile, Scrum, SAFe, or Hybrid delivery models. • Excellent stakeholder management and customer-facing communication skills. Mainframe Technologies • IBM z/OS • COBOL • JCL • CICS • DB2 • VSAM • IMS DB/DC • TSO/ISPF Preferred Experience (Good to have) • Experience working with Card Management Systems (CMS) and card processing platforms. • Experience in Debit Cards, Rewards, Fraud Management, Card Servicing, and Customer Account Management. • Experience leading enterprise Mainframe modernization and digital transformation programs. • Exposure to Mainframe API enablement, distributed system integration, and hybrid cloud architectures. • Experience with DevOps/DevSecOps practices and modern Mainframe development tools. • Experience with Copilot, VS Code, Zowe CLI. • Experience in IBM IDz.