Mainframe Developer- SAS Programming

Senior Mainframe Technical Consultant Do you like a challenge, are you a complex thinker who likes to solve problems? If so, then you might be the new Altairian we are searching for. At Altair, your curiosity matters. We pride ourselves on a business culture that enables open, creative thinking, and we deeply value our employees and their contributions towards our clients' success, as well as our own. Job Summary: This role would ideally suit an experienced z/OS mainframe systems programmer with many years of experience consulting for multiple customers, with knowledge and experience of z/OS systems, software and applications including but not limited to capacity planning and performance measurement. There will be a specific focus on SAS language environments and applications although the role will comprise multiple activities requiring working with multiple products and technologies from multiple vendors. Altair’s SLC software is a SAS language compiler that can replace SAS software on z/OS and other platforms. The successful candidate will be expected to advocate for the SLC software both within Altair and to customers, prospects and at events and within user groups and forums. An important task will be promoting SLC software and supporting technical and commercial teams within Altair from initial pre-sales through to design and delivery of migration projects supporting the transition of customer applications from using customer’s current vendor to using SLC software. This role is a key role within Altair and the successful candidate will be expected to act as subject matter expert and to contribute to a wide range of SLC-related initiatives and projects. The successful candidate may perform work remotely but will have a defined Altair office that they may be required to attend on a weekly basis; they will also be expected to visit customer sites from time to time. The SLC software team is based in Romsey, Hampshire UK. Altair has offices and customers worldwide. The job holder may be required to attend online meetings outside normal daily working hours in order to support potential/existing customers in different countries and time zones. There may be occasional requirements to travel to attend customer sites or events. What You Will Do:

• Working with Altair’s sales, technical pre-sales, consulting, and technical support functions with respect to all aspects of SLC software for the z/OS mainframe platform.
• Advising prospective customers on what is involved in implementing and migrating their SAS language applications to SLC software.
• Supporting customers in installing Altair software, tools, and utilities to discover and analyze all aspects of prospective customers’ existing SAS language environments.
• Analyzing, monitoring, and profiling the use of SAS language within a prospective customer’s existing z/OS environment using z/OS utilities and/or Altair’s proprietary tools.
• Development, maintenance and operation of data analytics to build reports to help understand a customer environment and to help develop effective project plans for migrating a customer environment to use SLC software.
• Defining any new or modified IT architectures and solutions that may be necessary for customers to move their existing applications, uses and environment to make use of SLC software.
• There may be times when an engagement requires working with both mainframe and distributed platforms and interactions between the two.
• Provide education and demonstration to customers on SLC software and its installation and configuration for use on their z/OS mainframe system.
• Delivery of SLC implementation and migration projects following agreed plans within timescales and cost estimates; supporting Altair’s project management team in all related activities.
• Defining and delivery of application optimisation where necessary to ensure that customer applications based on the SAS language perform acceptably with SLC software
• Preparation and delivery of presentations to Customers on project plans, architecture designs.
• Preparation and delivery of presentations to technical and sales Teams within Altair as part of on-going knowledge sharing/transfer initiatives to expand mainframe and SAS language skills and knowledge within Altair.
• Provide feedback to the SLC product team on areas for improvement.
• Improve and develop additional tools and utilities to assist sales and implementation.

What You Will Need:

• The successful candidate must have extensive and demonstratable experience of working within z/OS mainframe environments, preferably with multiple customers/sites.
• The ideal candidate will have an extensive z/OS systems programming background including:
• In-depth knowledge of IBM mainframe software products and utilities
• Strong skills with z/OS operating system operation and administration, TSO/ISPF, JCL, JES2, USS, SDSF, SMF, RMF, DB2, SQL, REXX, z/OS assembler, HOSTSORT (DFSORT/SYNCSORT/CASORT)
• Experience of SAS system administration, SAS products and the development of business applications based on the SAS language on mainframe
• Knowledge of MICS, SAS/ITRM and MXG
• Knowledge of z/Linux and zCX Containers would be an advantage

The following skills will be important for the role:

• To be comfortable working in customer-facing situations, running workshops and status calls and to be aware of and assist with both sales and the delivery processes
• To be able to define and execute project plans providing visibility and accountability to customers and internal Altair teams
• Knowledge of computer networking and system administration generally both on mainframes and distributed systems
• Extensive use of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word
• Experience using SAS language on distributed platforms (Windows, Linux)
• Ability to work independently, possess excellent communication skills and enjoy team-working

Why Work With Us: Altair is a global technology company providing software and cloud solutions in the areas of product development, high performance computing (HPC) and data analytics. Altair enables organizations in nearly every industry to compete more effectively in a connected world, while creating a more sustainable future. With more than 3,000 engineers, scientists and creative thinkers in 25 countries, we help solve our customer’s toughest challenges and deliver unparalleled service, helping the innovators innovate, drive better decisions, and turn today’s problems into tomorrow’s opportunities.