Mainframe jobs in the Market : Roles in the mainframe world
Mainframe systems are designed to be used by large numbers of people. Most of those who interact with mainframes are end users— people who use the applications that are hosted on the system. However, because of the large number of end users, applications running on the system, and the sophistication and complexity of the system software that supports the users and applications, a variety of roles are needed to operate and support the system.
In the IT field, these roles are referred to by a number of different titles, such as:
- System programmers
- System administrators
- Application designers and programmers
- System operators
- Production control analysts
In a distributed systems environment, many of the same roles are needed as in the mainframe environment. However, the job responsibilities are often not as well-defined. Since the 1960s, mainframe roles have evolved and expanded to provide an environment in which the system software and applications can function smoothly and effectively and serve many thousands of users efficiently. While it may seem that the size of the mainframe support staff is large and unwieldy, the numbers become comparatively small when one considers the number of users supported, the number of transactions run, and the high business value of the work that is performed on the mainframe.
Mainframe activities, such as the following, often require cooperation among the various roles:
- Installing and configuring system software
- Designing and coding new applications to run on the mainframe
- Introduction and management of new workloads on the system, such as batch jobs and online transaction processing
- Operation and maintenance of the mainframe software and hardware
- Who is the system programmer?
In a mainframe IT organization, the system programmer (or systems programmer) plays a central role. The system programmer installs, customizes, and maintains the operating system, and also installs or upgrades products that run on the system. - Who is the system administrator?
The distinction between system programmer and system administrator varies widely among mainframe sites. In smaller IT organizations, where one person might be called upon to perform several roles, the terms may be used interchangeably. - Who are the application designers and programmers?
The application designer and application programmer (or “application developer”) design, build, test, and deliver mainframe applications for the company’s end users and customers. Based on requirements gathered from business analysts and end users, the designer creates a design specification from which the programmer constructs an application. The process includes several iterations of code changes and compilation, application builds, and unit testing. - Who is the system operator?
The system operator monitors and controls the operation of the mainframe hardware and software. The operator starts and stops system tasks, monitors the system consoles for unusual conditions, and works with the system programming and production control staff to ensure the health and normal operation of the systems. - Who is the production control analyst?
The production control analyst is responsible for making sure that batch workloads run to completion— without error or delay. - What roles do vendors play?
A number of vendor roles are commonplace in the mainframe shop.
Source – IBM
