Ref: 21/5/METL
Think Technology- Think Allstate
We build solutions that touch 16 million customers on a daily basis.
You will work alongside people as passionate as you, focused on delivering the best possible user experiences.
You will work in a highly collaborative environment primed to adapt to an ever-changing landscape and which places technology solutions at its core.
You will thrive, you will think differently, you will challenge convention and have the freedom to act with integrity, intention and speed; you will be at the forefront of developing capabilities in support of Allstate’s global business model; you will deliver results and you will leave things better than you found them.
Location
Belfast
Job Description
Mainframe Engineering – Transaction Services Team.
The Transaction Systems Team is responsible for managing, maintaining and supporting the mainframe CICS environment, the mainframe and Linux/Unix MQ environments and zOS Connect. These environments support numerous business critical applications for the enterprise. The scope of the team’s accountability includes software, configurations and supporting infrastructure for these environments. The team is comprised of 9 individuals across the USA and Northern Ireland.
The Technical Lead is responsible for the overall architecture of the Transaction Systems environment and ensuring that the teams products (CICS, MQ, etc.) are optimally configured and maintained to meeting business needs.
Individuals in this position are the subject matter expert for the team and assume leadership in troubleshooting and diagnosing complex cross technology problems, drive and deliver efficiencies and improved performance by identifying performance and tuning opportunities and optimizing new release functionality, and proactively build and improve relationships with the team’s technology, applications, and business partners.
Responsibilities include (but aren't limited to):
- Research and implement recognized best practices for managing the Transaction Systems environment
- Define new CICS and/or IBM MQ components in support of application or infrastructure projects
- Ensure timely updates and maintenance of CICS components and IBM MQ queue managers
- Lead troubleshooting and resolution of CICS and/or IBM MQ incidents, issues and problems.
- Take ownership for and resolve highly complex or critical incidents within the mainframe transaction systems environment
- Develop best practice techniques for team’s products that result in low incidents and high availability.
- Provide project consultation to business application teams; assist in the design and development of CICS and/or IBM MQ solutions
- Participate in reviewing and updating in-house developed CICS programs and utilities
- Understand CICS Performance and Tuning to identify opportunities for performance and capacity improvements and when required engage with business application teams to assist with implemented recommended changes
- Design, plan, implement and secure new functionality and improvements deliver with product upgrades to drive efficiencies, improved services and cost reduction
- Collaborate with z/OS Support, Network, Security and Application Support teams in the development of solutions and practices
- Be available for project and maintenance activities outside normal working hours, as needed
The ideal person will be able to demonstrate the following competencies:
- Self-motivated and self-directed
- Strong leadership skills; ability to effectively coach, mentor and provide direction for other technical resources
- Ability to operate effectively as part of a geographically dispersed team
- Lead by example and be an advocate for change
- Expert level technical knowledge of CICS and MQ
- Ability to collaborate with leadership and senior level technicians to assist in setting technical direction
- Stakeholder Management with business application clients and vendors
- Strong interpersonal, collaboration and team skills
- Effective oral and written communication
Essential Criteria
- Must be an EU citizen or possess a current UK Tier 1 Visa or Tier 2 visa and eligible to take up full time, permanent employment. EU candidates must also demonstrate they are eligible to take up UK employment post-Brexit.
- 7+ years of knowledge and experience supporting Transaction Systems applications (CICS, MQ), preferably in a system programmer role.
- Experience with the architecture and configuration of Transaction Systems applications
- Experience of building and working in partnership with a client base and vendors
- Experience within a zOS multi-LPAR, multi-site sysplex environment
- Experience installing and supporting ISV software products; experience working with SMP/E
- Extensive experience working with TSO, ISPF/PDF and SDSF
Desirable Criteria
- Experience with leading Performance, Tuning and Capacity planning for the zOS infrastructure
- Experience of developing and implementing the team’s products (CICS, MQ, etc.) automation solutions and troubleshooting
- Bachelor’s degree preferred
- Strong ability to troubleshoot and resolve Transaction Systems application problems
Travel requirements
- Flexibility required to meet business needs
- Some international travel will be required
- Flexibility required to meet business needs
On-call Requirements
- Team’s Initial escalation point for incidents and problems that can’t be addressed by team’s On-call support.
Closing Date: Tuesday 28th May 2019
Statement on Fair Employment and Equal Opportunities:
Allstate NI wishes to ensure equal opportunity is given to all job applicants. This company will not discriminate on the grounds of race, gender (including gender reassignment status), sexual orientation, religious belief, political opinion, marital status, age or disability.
Applicants should note Allstate NI complete AccessNI background checks on all candidates offered a position.
