Job Title: Senior COBOL Developer – Mainframe Decommission
Location: Freeport, ME (On-site)
Employment Type: Contract (W2 through ZipStaff)
About the Opportunity
ZipStaff is seeking a Senior COBOL Developer to support a mainframe decommission initiative within the Marketing technology landscape of a leading retail organization.
The focus of this role is to move, improve, or remove existing mainframe workloads as the organization modernizes off the mainframe. Ideal candidates bring strong COBOL/mainframe depth plus practical cloud skills to help migrate and improve applications rather than simply maintain legacy code.
What You’ll Do:
- Analyze existing COBOL / mainframe applications supporting Marketing processes.
- Support decommission planning by identifying workloads to migrate, improve, or retire.
- Design and implement changes required to move functionality off the mainframe.
- Improve or remediate COBOL applications where they must remain temporarily in production.
- Partner with application, architecture, and business stakeholders to ensure Marketing capabilities are preserved during transition.
- Contribute to modernization work that leverages cloud platforms where appropriate.
- Document current-state logic, interfaces, and target-state recommendations.
Required Qualifications:
- 7–8+ years of hands-on COBOL / mainframe development experience.
- Proven experience supporting mainframe application maintenance, enhancement, or decommission/migration work.
- Ability to analyze complex legacy programs and determine whether to move, improve, or remove functionality.
- Strong troubleshooting, analysis, and documentation skills.
- Ability to work on-site in Freeport, ME.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Hands-on cloud experience (AWS, Azure, or GCP) used in support of mainframe modernization or application migration.
- Experience with Marketing, customer, or retail systems on the mainframe.
- Familiarity with related mainframe technologies (JCL, CICS, DB2, VSAM, or similar).
- Prior experience on a mainframe exit / modernization program.
About ZipStaff
ZipStaff partners with leading organizations to connect skilled technology professionals with high-impact contract opportunities. We focus on quality matches and long-term success.
To apply, please submit your resume highlighting your COBOL/mainframe experience and any cloud or modernization work.