About Northern Trust:
Northern Trust, a Fortune 500 company, is a globally recognized, award-winning financial institution that has been in continuous operation since 1889.
Northern Trust is proud to provide innovative financial services and guidance to the world’s most successful individuals, families, and institutions by remaining true to our enduring principles of service, expertise, and integrity. With more than 130 years of financial experience and over 22,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.
We are seeking Principal Mainframe Configuration Management and z/OS Systems Architect to lead architecture, design, standards, governance across IBM Z configuration management and z/OS systems programming. You will act as the design authority across IODF/HCD, sysplex, STP, PR/SM, z/OS base, SMP/E, WLM, JES2, USS, and system-level security, ensuring stability, compliance, resilience, and operational readiness. The role includes governing the Managed Service Provider, reviewing designs and changes, setting engineering standards, validating deliverables, and driving quality across production, DR, and test environments. This is a mission-critical role supporting a regulated banking platform with a focus on availability, change control, audit readiness, and service resilience.
Key Skills and ExpertiseKey skills include IODF, HCD, Parallel Sysplex, STP, PR/SM, z/OS, SMP/E, WLM, JES2, ACF2, RACF, USS, RMF, SMF, automation, change governance, MSP technical deliverables oversight, disaster recovery, performance tuning, and compliance.
Key Responsibilities- Lead mainframe configuration and z/OS architecture across production, DR, and test estates.
- Define standards for IODF/HCD, sysplex, STP, PR/SM, parmlib, proclib, and maintenance governance.
- Serve as design authority for high-risk changes, upgrades, hardware and sofrware refreshes, and recovery testing.
- Lead performance, resilience, configuration drift, and compliance reviews across the platform.
- Provide technical leadership across sysprog, infrastructure, operations, and audit stakeholders.
- Own z/OS base architecture, release strategy, SMP/E governance, maintenance planning, and currency management.
- Define parmlib, proclib, and system configuration standards across shared and LPAR-specific environments.
- Architect WLM, JES2, and USS services to support performance, workload priorities, and operational stability.
- Define SMF recording, monitoring feeds, and system data standards for capacity, compliance, and reporting.
- Lead upgrade strategy and architecture for core z/OS services, including communications, coupling, and runtime foundations.
- Own IBM Z configuration architecture across IODF/HCD, sysplex, STP, and PR/SM.
- Act as design authority for configuration changes, pre-IPL validation, and hardware refresh readiness.
- Define and govern sysplex, CF, CFRM, ARM, SFM, and CDS architecture.
- Set standards for STP, LPAR design, processor allocation, capping, and specialty engines.
- Lead automation and configuration management, including version control, drift detection, and change traceability.
- Build, validate, and troubleshoot IODF, STP, CFRM, and sysplex configurations and failures.
- Support AI-enabled validation and operational insight for configuration and platform health.
- Define and enforce engineering standards, validation gates, and control requirements across configuration and z/OS.
- Review and approve MSP designs, change plans, runbooks, RCAs, and technical deliverables.
- Review and approve MSP designs, runbooks, and change records before production execution.
- Assess MSP deliverables for quality, compliance, and evidence against bank standards.
- Own key z/OS administration areas including USS, SMF, TCP/IP, and related system configuration changes.
- Diagnose z/OS incidents using IPCS and lead technical root-cause analysis for platform issues.
- Provide technical authority for z/OS upgrades and maintenance, including pre-change validation and post-change sign-off.
- Govern MSP-led execution to ensure changes meet architecture, operational, and audit requirements.
15+ years of experience in IBM Z environments, including expertise in configuration management, sysplex architecture, and z/OS systems programming. Strong experience in regulated production environments, MSP governance, hardware refreshes, change control, incident analysis, performance management, and audit support is required.
Technical Skills - Must HaveDomain
Required knowledge
Configuration
IODF, HCD, IOCDS, CHPID, control unit and device definitions
Sysplex
Parallel Sysplex, CF, CFRM, XCF, ARM, SFM, CDS management
Timing and LPARs
STP, CTN, PR/SM, LPAR design, capping, specialty engines
z/OS Base
Parmlib, proclib, IPL, release strategy, symbolics
Maintenance
SMP/E, PTF lifecycle, HOLDDATA, service planning
Performance
WLM, RMF, SMF, capacity and performance analysis
Core Services
JES2, USS, RACF, TCP/IP, automation
Governance
MSP oversight, CAB, runbook review, standards, compliance
Technical Skills - PreferredDomain
Preferred knowledge
Disaster Recovery
GDPS awareness and DR validation across sysplex environments
Middleware Awareness
Working knowledge of CICS TS, IBM MQ, and Db2 for z/OS
Modernisation
Ansible for Z, Git-based controls, zCX, AI-assisted operations
Tooling
IBM Z System Automation, Watsonx Assistant for Z
Certifications
IBM z/OS, Parallel Sysplex, RACF, or related certifications
Working with Us:
As a Northern Trust partner, greater achievements await. You will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture in an organization where financial strength and stability is an asset that emboldens us to explore new ideas.
Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to assisting the communities we serve! Join a workplace with a greater purpose.
We’d love to learn more about how your interests and experience could be a fit with one of the world’s most admired and sustainable companies! Build your career with us and apply today. #MadeForGreater
Reasonable accommodation
Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [email protected].
We hope you’re excited about the role and the opportunity to work with us. We value an inclusive workplace and understand flexibility means different things to different people.
Apply today and talk to us about your flexible working requirements and together we can achieve greater.
About Our Bangalore Office
The Northern Trust Bangalore office, established in 2005, is home to over 5,600 employees. In this stunning office, space, we offer fantastic amenities which include our Arrival Hub – Jungle, the GameZone, and the Employee Experience Zone that appeal to both clients and employees. Learn more.
Skills Required
- 15+ years experience in IBM Z environments with configuration management, sysplex architecture, and z/OS systems programming
- Expertise with IODF, HCD, IOCDS, CHPID, control unit and device definitions
- Experience designing and governing Parallel Sysplex (CF, CFRM, XCF, ARM, SFM, CDS)
- Experience with STP, CTN, PR/SM, LPAR design, processor allocation, capping, and specialty engines
- z/OS base administration knowledge: parmlib, proclib, IPL, release strategy, symbolics
- Maintenance and lifecycle management using SMP/E, PTF, HOLDDATA and related processes
- Performance and capacity experience with WLM, RMF, SMF and JES2
- Experience with core services (USS, RACF or ACF2, TCP/IP) and system-level security
- Proven MSP governance experience: runbook review, CAB oversight, change control, audit readiness
- Ability to diagnose z/OS incidents using IPCS and lead technical root-cause analysis
- GDPS awareness and DR validation across sysplex environments
- Working knowledge of CICS TS, IBM MQ, and Db2 for z/OS
- Modernization tooling: Ansible for Z, Git-based controls, zCX, AI-assisted operations
- Familiarity with IBM Z System Automation and Watsonx Assistant for Z
- Relevant IBM certifications (z/OS, Parallel Sysplex, RACF) or equivalent
Northern Trust Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Northern Trust and has not been reviewed or approved by Northern Trust.
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Retirement Support — Retirement offerings are positioned as a standout, with a 401(k) plus an additional employer-funded pension described as a differentiator. This combination is repeatedly framed as a meaningful offset within total rewards, especially for long-term financial security.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off benefits are depicted as generous, spanning paid time off, holidays, and dedicated paid volunteer time. The breadth of leave options is highlighted as a consistent strength that supports work-life balance.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is characterized as comprehensive, typically including medical, dental, vision, and mental-health support through an assistance program. The offering is portrayed as robust and family-supportive, with multiple plan options in some descriptions.
Northern Trust Insights
What We Do
As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing and investment solutions, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families and institutions by remaining true to our enduring principles of service, expertise and integrity. A globally recognized Fortune 500 Company in continuous operation since 1889, we’ve built a legacy of empowering clients to reach their goals with confidence. Since our roots as a trust bank, we’ve grown to a global presence with more than 24,000 employees in more than 20 countries and across six core business units: Wealth Management Asset Management Asset Servicing Technology Corporate Functions Enterprise Operations Join a Team That’s Achieving Greater At Northern Trust, we refer to our employees as partners – with good reason. We understand that relationships are the key to our success. Here you’ll join a diverse and inclusive team of innovators with the drive to challenge the way things have always been done. Instead of choosing between a dynamic career and work-life balance, enjoy working with a team that supports your goals in the office and at home. We’ll help you get where you want to go without sacrificing what matters most to you. Delivering value and adhering to our enduring principles What are enduring principles? Since our founding, they have guided our strategy and success. Thanks to the dedication of our partners, Northern Trust continues to thrive by adhering to three enduring principles: service, expertise and integrity . What does this mean? Service Northern Trust has a relentless drive to provide exceptional service to our clients, our partners and our communities. We set new standards and go above and beyond in our commitment to delivering greater results. Expertise Expertise is at the core of who we are. We focus sharply on what we do well. From expanding our capabilities, to hiring talented professionals to developing innovative solutions, our expertise is why we continue to be a trusted advisor for generations of families and institutions. Integrity Operating with uncompromising ethics is central to Northern Trust’s heritage. As a result, our clients, partners and communities know they can rely on us. For more than 130 years, our integrity has been our guide – and that will never change.
Why Work With Us
At Northern Trust, we go further because we go together. We embrace flexibility, encourage balance, and prioritize inclusion at all levels, working together to keep you connected. We are committed to our employees—all 24,000 of them. Whether this is a first step or a bold new leap in your career, we’re here to help you move forward.
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