Software Engineer Lead - Mainframes, COBOL, CICS, JCL, and X‑Gen

Requisition Number: 2344702
Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health optimization on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
Primary Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, enhance, and maintain Mainframe applications using COBOL, CICS, JCL, and X-Gen within the COSMOS ecosystem
• Analyze business requirements and translate them into efficient technical solutions on the Mainframe platform
• Develop and support online (CICS) and batch processing applications ensuring high performance and reliability
• Perform impact analysis, code changes, unit testing, and production support for Mainframe applications
• Work extensively with COSMOS Server transactions and related Mainframe components to support enterprise business processes
• Debug and resolve complex production issues using REXX, Abend-AID, File-AID, and Mainframe utilities
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including business analysts, QA, and downstream systems
• Ensure compliance with coding standards, security guidelines, and audit requirements
• Participate in code reviews, performance tuning, and optimization of existing applications
• Support release activities including migrations, deployments, and post-implementation validation
• Create and maintain technical documentation, design specifications, and operational runbooks
• Provide on-call and L3 production support as required, ensuring minimal downtime and quick resolution
• Comply with the terms and conditions of the employment contract, company policies and procedures, and any and all directives (such as, but not limited to, transfer and/or re-assignment to different work locations, change in teams and/or work shifts, policies in regard to flexibility of work benefits and/or work environment, alternative work arrangements, and other decisions that may arise due to the changing business environment). The Company may adopt, vary or rescind these policies and directives in its absolute discretion and without any limitation (implied or otherwise) on its ability to do so

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of hands-on Mainframe development experience
• Solid expertise in COBOL, CICS, JCL, and X-Gen
• Solid experience with REXX scripting for automation and problem determination
• Experience working with COSMOS Mainframe applications, CICS, X-gen, or similar large-scale enterprise systems
• Experience in application maintenance, enhancements, and production support
• Good understanding of Mainframe batch and online processing architectures
• Solid knowledge of Mainframe datasets, VSAM files, DB2 (or Mainframe databases)
• Familiarity with Mainframe tools such as Endevor/Changeman, File-AID, Abend-AID, SDSF
• Understanding of Mainframe job scheduling and workload management
• Ability to analyze complex issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement long-term fixes
• Solid analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Proven excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a global, distributed team environment

Preferred Qualification:

• Experience working in Agile or hybrid delivery models

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone - of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income - deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes - an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.