Job Description

Empowering Africa's tomorrow, together...one story at a time.
With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.
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.

Infrastructure Services is a team based in South Africa and Rest of African countries. We are accountable for delivering and supporting resilient, secure infrastructure technology and services to customers, clients and colleagues, both in South Africa and Rest of Africa.
The role is as an Engineer Database Specialist working in the Mainframe Infrastructure team to provide technical maintenance and support for DB2 Databases.
Key Responsibilities
Support for end user programmers and application teams.
Natural and Cobol / Rexx and Assembler
Writing of and analyzing SQL statements.
Extensive performance tuning and enhancements
Creating DB2 databases, table spaces, tables, indexes, fields, for Test / Dev / QA and Production environments.
Partitioning
Automation of processes
Responsible for data and object housekeeping and maintenance.
Reorg/Run stats/Backups
Automation of processes
Database availability: Uptime and stability.
High availability and SYSPLEX knowledge.
Database backups and environmental restores.
High availability
Recover procedures
Automation of processes.
Database structure support.
Altering table spaces, table, indexes, and fields.
Manage, monitor and configure database security.
DCL (Data Control Language)
RACF
TWS
Maintain processes and schedules.
DB2 Installation and upgrades.
Version upgrades.
Patching.
ZParm parameters.
All the mentioned duties included the daily operational functions to keep the systems running, as well as project involvement.
The projects would eventually slot into the 'daily operations' and it was essential to get the design standards and procedures in place upfront. In doing this, operationally the projects would need very little 'down time' to correct. Especially the high focused ones.
A good understanding and work relationship with the various stakeholders within the environment i.e. OS , Storage , Networks etc also assisted in delivering first class support to the stakeholders and business.
SOFTWARE PRODUCTS AND VERSIONS WORKING ON:
DB2 VERSION 10
DB2 VERSION 11 (zOS, 2.4)
DB2 VERSION 12
Not mentioned in detail is the zOS operating system knowledge. This knowledge is essential to maintain PDS, copy/create/edit files on zOS
Key Accountabilities
System Basic configuration Version and RU (maintenance) level zParms up to date (vs defaulted or 'hidden')
Logging setup Size and frequency of archive Checkpoint frequency
Bufferpools Size, hit ratio, alerts Locking Lock contention and deadlocks Components DRDA, IRLM Memory pools and caches
Application Databases Tablespaces Size, type Invalid objects, Fragmentation, Extents and Space Usage
Bufferpools Tables Appropriate Page size Table / Index Partitioning Indexing Primary key / unique constraints
Bufferpools Referential Integrity support and Clustering
Maintenance Runstats Reorg Backup Automation
Application Plan/Package Out of date binds Dynamic Package list usage Stored Procedures WLM integration
Security SysAdm, DbAdm (Privileged users) Public grants
Problem diagnosis performance issues and identify the culprit or cause through the use of analytical skills, supporting colleagues to learn new skills in problem diagnosis
Able to make and implement changes to the Mainframe DB2 Databases.
Able to provide 24x7 standby support for the DB2 Databases.
Able to identify Incidents and Problems within the DB2 Database environment with no backup support
Provides architecture solutions to the issues which are in line with new technologies and able to communicate benefits of it
Support implementation of new DB2 Database versions and exploit new features and enhancements
Support implementation of new Mainframe and zOS software and understand the impact on DB2 Databases
Stakeholder Management and Leadership
Good communication skills required, ability to communicate complex concepts to a broad audience
Ability to summarize and deliver key messages efficiently to senior stakeholders
Able to understand and articulate technical issues to a non-Mainframe/non-technical audience
Represents Mainframe area at project meetings and provide any inputs to help plan projects.
Ability to articulate the technical aspects of the Mainframe DB2 Databases senior managers and collaborate with program and project managers.
Decision-making and Problem Solving
Excellent Analytical skills required, high attention to detail
Initiative and determination are essential for this role
Proven desire to improve processes
Patience and resilience
Risk and Control Objective
Ensure that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with regulatory requirements, Enterprise Wide Risk Management Framework and internal Absa Policies and Policy Standards.
Person Specification
Delivers on promises, works to and exceed where possible agreed timeframes for activity completion
Ability to learn from mistakes made and ensure that the same mistakes do not happen again
Constantly demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in order to achieve shared objectives
Capable defining own performance objectives for service and process improvements
Works without support from colleagues
Produces written documentation and manuals for different tools and processes based on own experiences and lessons learnt
Creates and pursues individual development plans and the expansion of knowledge and skills
Acts as a mentor for less experienced colleagues
Ability to work under pressure and maintain high quality levels of technical support
Can influence senior stakeholders
Demonstrates broad-based view of business issues and activities
Experience & Qualifications Required:
15 years working experience in a mainframe environment
Expert understanding of z/OS operating systems, mainframe hardware and memory usages and how it is used
Able to communicate at all levels
Excellent understanding of Mainframe operating systems as well as supporting hardware components, Disks, Tape, CPU, memory
Good understanding of the following subsystems: - IMS, DB2, MQ, CICS, VMAX disks, IBM VTS and tape
Able to work under pressure
Strong stakeholder management skills
Several years practical experience working as an Engineer DB2 Specialist
Provide 24x7 standby support
Desirable skills/Preferred Qualifications:
A broad understanding of the business issues facing Absa well as having a depth of understanding of a few business issues and emerging trends in the IT industry
Should maintain a detailed understanding and knowledge of how Absa's systems, technical architectures, and the nature of the work demand portfolio, so that they are fully aware of the impact of their own work on Absa.
Education
Bachelor's Degree: Information Technology
Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.
Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised

Skills Required