Senior Mainframe Test Analyst

Role overview

Testing responsibilities

• Analyze business requirements, functional specifications, and technical designs to create test strategies and plans.
• Design and execute test scenarios, cases, and scripts for mainframe applications.
• Perform functional, system integration, end-to-end, regression, UAT, and batch testing.
• Validate batch jobs, schedules, and interfaces using JCL; perform database validation and reconciliation with DB2, VSAM, and SQL.
• Troubleshoot COBOL, CICS, batch-job, and file-processing issues; execute data migration and conversion testing.
• Manage defects using JIRA, HP ALM, or Quality Center and collaborate with project stakeholders to resolve issues.
• Support releases, production validation, and post-implementation verification; review deliverables and mentor junior testers.
• Report status, risks, and quality metrics to project leadership.

Experience requirements

• At least 7 years of software testing experience and 5 years of dedicated mainframe testing experience.
• Strong experience with banking, wealth management, insurance, pension, retail, or financial-services applications.
• Experience with Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid delivery methodologies.
• Hands-on experience in defect triage, root cause analysis, and test estimation.
• Experience with mainframe modernization or cloud migration programs and automation integration in mainframe testing.
• Ability to work independently and lead testing workstreams.

Mainframe technologies and tools

• Required technologies include COBOL, JCL, CICS, DB2, VSAM, File-AID, Endevor/Changeman, and Control-M or equivalent scheduling tools.
• IMS is preferred.
• Testing skills include functional, SIT, regression, end-to-end, UAT, batch, data validation and reconciliation, data migration, and interface testing.
• Tools include JIRA, TSO/ISPF, File-AID, and SQL tools.

Work model

• Hybrid position requiring 3 days per week in a client or Cognizant office in Toronto, Ontario.
• Working arrangements may change according to project and business requirements.

Compensation

• Base salary is CAD $70,000–$90,000 per year, with eligibility for a discretionary annual performance-based bonus and benefits.