ZEN236 - COBOL Developer

Job Summary

Our client is seeking an experienced COBOL Developer with 10+ years of application development and support experience to maintain, enhance and support business-critical legacy applications operating on Power9 UNIX and AIX 7.1 environments. The role requires strong hands-on expertise in COBOL, VSAM, Micro Focus Server Express (COBOL V5.1) and SQL, with responsibility spanning application development, enhancements, production support, troubleshooting, testing and deployment. The successful candidate will work closely with business and technical stakeholders to deliver stable, efficient and scalable solutions while supporting ongoing legacy application maintenance and modernisation initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain and enhance business-critical legacy applications using COBOL and Micro Focus Server Express (COBOL V5.1).

• Design, implement and support VSAM file processing solutions, ensuring reliable and efficient application processing.

• Develop and optimise SQL queries and database interactions to support application functionality and performance.

• Maintain and support applications operating within Power9 UNIX and AIX 7.1 environments, ensuring stability, availability and operational reliability.

• Analyse business and functional requirements, perform impact assessments and translate requirements into effective technical solutions.

• Diagnose and resolve complex application and production incidents through structured debugging, troubleshooting and root cause analysis.

• Provide ongoing production support and ensure incidents and application issues are resolved within agreed service levels and SLAs.

• Participate in testing, deployment and release management activities to ensure controlled and reliable implementation of application changes.

• Maintain high standards of application performance, code quality and technical integrity in accordance with established development standards.

• Contribute to legacy application maintenance and modernisation initiatives while safeguarding the continuity of business-critical services.

• Produce and maintain clear, accurate technical documentation covering application changes, solutions and support requirements.

• Collaborate effectively with business users, development teams, support teams and other stakeholders to achieve project and operational objectives.

Competencies

• Exceptional analytical, diagnostic and problem-solving capabilities.

• Strong debugging, troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills.

• Sound understanding of complex legacy application environments.

• Strong focus on application stability, performance and technical quality.

• High attention to detail and a disciplined approach to application development and support.

• Effective communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within cross-functional teams.

• Strong production support mindset with the ability to operate effectively within SLA-driven environments.

Technical Skills

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in COBOL application development and production support within complex, business-critical legacy environments is mandatory.

• Strong hands-on expertise in COBOL, VSAM and Micro Focus Server Express (COBOL V5.1) is mandatory, including the development, maintenance, enhancement and support of legacy applications and file processing solutions.

• Strong proficiency in SQL is mandatory, with experience developing and optimising queries and supporting database interactions.

• Proven experience supporting applications within Power9 UNIX and AIX 7.1 environments is mandatory, with a strong understanding of application stability, performance and operational support.

• Strong experience in impact analysis, debugging, troubleshooting and root cause analysis is required, including resolving production incidents within defined SLAs.

• Experience across testing, deployment and release management is required, with the ability to support application changes throughout the development and production lifecycle.

• Proven exposure to legacy application maintenance and modernisation initiatives is required, with the ability to introduce improvements while maintaining the stability of business-critical systems.

• Domain knowledge of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), particularly Triceps, is preferred and will be advantageous.

General Information

• Contract: 12 Months

• Location: Cape Town

• Work Mode: Hybrid – 4 days per week in the office