Patching Lead- Mainframe-IBM z​/OS

About Cognizant’s CIS Practice:
Cognizant’s CIS (Cognizant Infrastructure Services) Practice is a global leader in providing IT infrastructure services. We deliver innovative solutions to optimize and transform IT infrastructure, ensuring business agility and operational efficiency. Our services include cloud computing, data center management, network services, and cybersecurity. We focus on understanding client needs and delivering customized solutions to drive business success.
In this role, you will:
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 environment. 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 Info Sec 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 transfer materials used by the offshore team.

Bridge time‑zone and communication gaps with the offshore team through structured handoffs, clear written procedures, and regular sync checkpoints.

Wha you will need to succeed in this role

8+ years of experience in IBM z/OS systems programming or mainframe infrastructure operations, with demonstrated depth as a senior technical contributor.

Hands‑on expertise with SMP/E, z/OS maintenance processes, and IBM service delivery (PTFs, APARs, HOLDDATA, RSU/CSI management).

Strong working knowledge of z/OS and core subsystems (JES2/JES3, RACF, CICS, DB2, IMS, or similar).

Experience directing or closely coordinating with an offshore or distributed technical team, including reviewing their work and holding them to defined standards.

Experience with change management processes and tooling (e.g., Service Now) in a regulated enterprise environment.

Familiarity…