Mainframe Performance & Capacity Engineer at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• Build high-performing, scalable, enterprise-grade Platform services & build capability in others to do the same. This includes but is not limited to applying critical thinking, design thinking and problem solving skills in an agile team environment to solve complex technical problems with high quality solutions & leading all phases of the development lifecycle to deliver against business requirements at an optimal cost to serve.

Job Description

Platform Design, Deployment & Optimization

• Lead the performance engineering, capacity planning, and optimization of Mainframe platforms to ensure stability, efficiency, and scalability in line with business demand and technology strategy.
• Translate business, service, and technical requirements into capacity and performance design components that enable reliable and cost-effective mainframe services.
• Identify performance-critical areas, workload trends, and tuning opportunities early in the lifecycle and proactively drive continuous improvement.
• Stay current with IBM Z Systems technologies, capacity management tools (e.g. RMF, SMF, SCRT), and industry best practices, and incorporate insights into platform optimization strategies.
• Design and maintain scalable, resilient, and cost-efficient mainframe performance frameworks, aligned to enterprise goals of self-service, stability, and automation.
• Apply deep technical expertise in z/OS, WLM, CICS, DB2, IMS, MQ, and storage subsystems to resolve complex performance challenges and enable optimal resource utilization.
• Select and integrate appropriate monitoring and analytic tools (e.g. Omegamon, MXG, SAS, RMF, SMF, IBM Z Performance and Capacity Analytics) to manage and forecast mainframe workload demands.
• Develop and maintain performance baselines, tuning standards, and architectural blueprints for consistent platform management across environments.
• Lead the performance validation and capacity testing lifecycle, ensuring system changes and upgrades meet service levels and cost objectives.
• Utilize workload analysis and performance data to drive fact-based decisions on resource allocation, MSU optimization, and software licensing.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize CPU utilization, storage, and MIPS consumption, reducing operational costs while maintaining service reliability.
• Establish and enforce performance KPIs, SLAs, and OLAs, ensuring proactive monitoring, early warning systems, and capacity headroom for growth.
• Collaborate closely with infrastructure, application, and vendor teams to resolve systemic performance issues and ensure sustainable platform health.
• Maintain accountability for end-to-end mainframe platform performance, efficiency, and cost-to-serve, ensuring continuous alignment with business priorities.

Accountability: Financial & Cost Optimization, Risk & Governance

• Own the mainframe cost model, ensuring optimal use of capacity resources and accurate forecasting of MSU growth and software costs.
• Analyse performance and cost data (including SCRT and MLC reports) to identify optimization opportunities and influence workload management decisions.
• Develop and present business cases and technical recommendations to support cost-saving initiatives and capacity investments.
• Support incident and disaster recovery management, applying root cause analysis and performance tuning expertise to minimize impact.
• Ensure compliance with Group architecture, risk, governance, and regulatory frameworks, maintaining accurate documentation and technical standards.
• Implement strong governance and monitoring controls for mainframe capacity planning, risk mitigation, and performance assurance.

Accountability: People

• Provide technical leadership across performance and capacity teams, ensuring clear alignment to mainframe platform strategy and objectives.
• Build and mentor a high-performing team skilled in performance analysis, capacity planning, and mainframe tuning.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, technical excellence, and collaboration, ensuring cross-functional alignment and shared accountability.
• Coach and develop team members in performance engineering methods, diagnostic tools, and capacity modelling techniques.
• Lead and influence cross-platform collaboration to drive end-to-end performance visibility across the enterprise landscape.
• Promote adoption of agile practices within the mainframe engineering discipline to enhance responsiveness and delivery efficiency.
• Support knowledge transfer and succession planning through documentation, training, and coaching of junior engineers and vendor partners.

Key Outcomes

• Optimized mainframe performance and workload management across production and non-production environments.
• Predictive and accurate capacity planning aligned with business growth and technology evolution.
• Reduced MLC and infrastructure costs through proactive optimization and automation.
• Improved end-user experience and service stability through continuous performance visibility and action.
• Strengthened governance, compliance, and operational risk management within the mainframe ecosystem.

Technical Expertise

• Minimum of 8 years’ hands-on experience in mainframe performance analysis, tuning, and capacity management.
• In-depth technical knowledge of IBM z/OS systems and core subsystems, including:
• z/OS, JES2, RACF
• CICS, DB2, IMS, MQ
• Proven experience with performance and monitoring tools, such as:
• IBM RMF / SMF
• IBM OMEGAMON
• Broadcom CA SYSVIEW
• Strobe, TMON, or equivalent diagnostic tools
• Strong proficiency in workload forecasting, capacity modelling, and performance baselining using tools such as IBM zCP3000 or equivalent.
• Solid understanding of WLM (Workload Manager) policy design, configuration, and optimization.
• Demonstrated experience in analysing and interpreting SCRT (Sub-Capacity Reporting Tool) data and applying insights to IBM software licensing models and cost optimization.
• Ability to identify and resolve complex performance issues across CPU, storage, and network layers within large-scale mainframe environments.
• Familiarity with automation frameworks and scripting (e.g., REXX, JCL, or Python) to streamline performance reporting and analysis.

Soft Skills

• Strong analytical, diagnostic, and problem-solving abilities with a methodical and data-driven approach.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to translate technical findings into clear business insights.
• Effective stakeholder management and the ability to influence technical and non-technical audiences.
• High degree of accuracy, organization, and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure.
• Proactive and self-motivated, demonstrating ownership and accountability in delivering results.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent work experience).
• ITIL Foundation Certification or equivalent understanding of IT service management practices.
• Exposure to hybrid IT environments and experience integrating mainframe performance data with distributed or cloud-based monitoring solutions.
• Familiarity with capacity planning in Tailored Fit Pricing (TFP) or similar consumption-based licensing models.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree: Information Technology

End Date: November 5, 2025