Job Title : IBM z/OS systems programming / Mainframe infrastructure Patching Lead Employment Type : Contract Job Description : The Mainframe Infrastructure Patching Lead is a senior individual contributor accountable for the end-to-end patch and maintenance lifecycle of the organization's IBM z/OS workplace. This role sets patching strategy and technical standards, performs hands-on maintenance work, and directs the day-to-day execution carried out by an offshore mainframe support team. The Lead is the primary technical authority on SMP/E maintenance, vendor service management, and change coordination, and is accountable for ensuring the offshore team executes patching safely, on schedule, and in compliance with security and audit requirements. Key Responsibilities - Own the IBM z/OS patch management strategy, including SMP/E maintenance (PTFs, APARs, RSU/CSI management) and subsystem patching (CICS, DB2, IMS, MQ, RACF, and related products). - Define the rolling patch and maintenance calendar in alignment with IBM service delivery cycles, security advisories, and enterprise change freeze windows. - Assess incoming IBM and ISV maintenance for applicability, risk, and priority; triage HIPER, security,and integrity PTFs for expedited handling. - Set technical direction for,



and provide hands-on oversight of, an offshore mainframe operations team executing patch installs, regression testing, and validation across the z/OS estate. - Establish and enforce patching standards, runbooks, and quality checkpoints so offshore-executed work meets the same bar as work performed directly. - Review and approve patch testing results, rollback plans, and go/no-go decisions before production implementation, including for changes executed by the offshore team. - Coordinate with systems programmers, security, and application teams to plan patch windows and manage changes through the CAB process. - Track patch compliance across the mainframe estate; report on outstanding vulnerabilities, aging maintenance, and remediation timelines to management. - Serve as the primary escalation point for patch-related incidents, including issues surfaced by the offshore team during off‑hours windows; lead root cause analysis and remediation. - Partner with InfoSec and audit on vulnerability scans, regulatory findings, and compliance requirements (e.G., PCI‑DSS, SOX, internal controls). - Maintain and continuously improve patching documentation, standard operating procedures, and knowledge

📌 Ibm Z/Os Systems Programming / Mainframe Infrastructure Patching Lead (Toronto)
🏢 Centraprise
📍 Toronto