IDMS Database Administrator

Job Title: DMS Database Administrator (DBA)

Location: Remote

Employment Type: Contract

Experience Required: 5+ Years

About the Role

We are hiring an experienced IDMS Database Administrator (DBA) to support critical enterprise applications running on the CA IDMS platform. The successful candidate will be responsible for the administration, optimisation, security, and ongoing support of large-scale IDMS database environments.

This role requires deep technical expertise in CA IDMS, IDMS-DC, ADS, COBOL, database performance tuning, schema design, journaling, backup and recovery processes, together with strong troubleshooting and stakeholder management skills.

The position offers the opportunity to work on business-critical systems within a complex enterprise environment while contributing to system stability, performance improvement, and database modernisation initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Database Administration

• Manage and maintain CA IDMS database environments across development, test, and production platforms.
• Perform database installation, configuration, upgrades, maintenance, and patching activities.
• Monitor database availability, performance, and capacity to ensure service continuity.

IDMS-DC Administration

• Configure and support IDMS-DC environments.
• Manage system generation activities, terminal definitions, and communication configurations.
• Diagnose and resolve transaction processing and connectivity issues.

Application & Development Support

• Work closely with application development teams using ADS and COBOL.
• Support application design, testing, deployment, and production support activities.
• Provide technical guidance on database access, performance, and best practices.

Schema Design & Database Modelling

• Design, develop, and maintain IDMS schemas and subschemas.
• Ensure database structures align with business requirements and data integrity standards.
• Review and optimise data relationships and database design.

Performance Monitoring & Optimisation

• Monitor and analyse database performance using IDMS and third-party monitoring tools.
• Identify bottlenecks and implement performance improvements.
• Optimise database buffers, storage allocation, indexing, and database areas.

Backup, Recovery & Disaster Recovery

• Manage database backup and recovery processes.
• Maintain and monitor IDMS journal files.
• Execute recovery procedures when required and regularly test disaster recovery plans.
• Document recovery procedures and operational standards.

Database Restructure Activities

• Perform database resize, unload/reload, reorganisation, and restructuring activities.
• Support capacity planning and future scalability requirements.

Incident, Problem & Change Management

• Investigate and resolve production incidents and database-related issues.
• Perform root cause analysis and implement preventative measures.
• Create and manage incidents, service requests, problem records, and change requests through ServiceNow.

Security & Compliance

• Implement database security controls and access management procedures.
• Ensure compliance with internal governance, audit, and regulatory requirements.
• Support security reviews and risk assessments.

Required Skills & Experience

Essential

• Minimum 5 years' experience as an IDMS Database Administrator in a large enterprise environment.
• Strong hands-on experience with:
• CA IDMS
• IDMS-DC
• ADS (Application Development System)
• COBOL
• JCL
• TSO/ISPF
• Experience designing and maintaining complex schemas and subschemas.
• Proven experience in database performance tuning and optimisation.
• Strong knowledge of IDMS journaling, backup, recovery, and disaster recovery processes.
• Experience with database resize, reorganisation, unload/reload, and restructuring activities.
• Experience supporting mission-critical 24x7 production systems.
• Excellent troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills.
• Experience working with ServiceNow and ITIL-based support processes.

Desirable

• Experience within financial services, government, insurance, healthcare, or other regulated industries.
• Knowledge of database modernisation and migration programmes.
• Exposure to DevOps and Agile delivery methodologies.
• Understanding of mainframe security principles and audit requirements.

Key Technologies

• CA IDMS
• IDMS-DC
• ADS
• COBOL
• JCL
• TSO/ISPF
• ServiceNow
• PMDC or equivalent monitoring tools
• Backup and Recovery Utilities
• Database Restructure and Reorganisation Utilities

Personal Attributes

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Proactive approach to continuous improvement and operational excellence.