Sr. IBM i / AS400 Specialist – Core Modernization

·   Analyze DB2 for i schemas, files, and data relationships.

·   Trace end-to-end flows across Policy, Transactions, and Line of Business processing.

·   Map program dependencies, batch jobs, and job flows.

·   Reverse engineer COBOL programs to extract and validate business logic.

·   Produce structured documentation based on actual system behaviour.

·   Create and manage test environments on IBM i for QA and UAT.

·   Design and generate realistic test data aligned with business scenarios.

·   Support QA and UAT teams by ensuring environment stability and data readiness.

·   Ensure test scenarios reflect real production logic and edge cases.

·   Take over day-to-day system analysis tasks from the onshore SME.

·   Validate findings with the onshore SME and iterate quickly.

·   Prepare outputs that enable downstream integration and modernization teams.

·   Redesign core processing to support modernization efforts.

Operating Model

·   Daily coordination with onshore SME (minimum 4-hour overlap).

·   Clearly defined work packets transitioned from onshore to offshore.

·   Continuous feedback loop to validate understanding and outputs.

What This Role Is

·   A hands-on IBM i specialist role.

·   Focused on execution and system understanding.

·   A force multiplier for the onshore SME.

·   Expected to take ownership quickly.

·   What This Role Is Not.

·   Not a DevOps, cloud, or Kubernetes role.

·   Not a generic backend developer role.

·   Not a passive shadow role.

·   Not a QA engineer role (test support is part of system enablement, not ownership of QA).

30-60-90 Day Expectations

First 30 Days

·   Understand system structure, COBOL programs, and DB2 schema.

·   Begin documenting key flows (Policy or Transaction level).

·   Set up initial test environment with guidance.

·   Start generating basic test data.

60 Days

·   Independently analyzes and document multiple program flows.

·   Take over a defined portion of analysis workload.

·   Create stable QA/UAT environments.

·   Produce structured and reusable test datasets.

90 Days

·   Own end-to-end analysis for assigned modules.

·   Fully manage test environment readiness for QA/UAT cycles.

·   Reduce dependency on onshore SME significantly.

·   Deliver outputs usable by integration and modernization teams.

·   Deep expertise in COBOL and Python on IBM i.

·   Strong DB2 for i knowledge including file structures, joins, and performance tuning.

·   Strong SQL skills in IBM i environments.

·   Experience working with batch jobs, job queues, and scheduling.

·   Experience creating and managing test environments on AS400.

·   Experience generating and validating test data for QA and UAT.

·   Ability to navigate and understand large legacy codebases.

·   Communication Requirement (Non-Negotiable).

·   Strong spoken and written English.

·   Ability to clearly explain system behaviour based on code analysis.

·   Proactive communication with onshore SME during overlap hours.