Mainframe System Controller / Mainframe System Controlleress

Location: Basel, Switzerland

Company: Swiss Himmel GmbH

Employment Type: Full-time

Work Model: 100% On-site

Language Requirements

English is required; German is considered an advantage.

About Swiss Himmel GmbH

Swiss Himmel GmbH is a Basel-based technology and consulting firm that partners with leading enterprises to deliver reliable technology solutions and support critical IT environments. We collaborate with clients across regulated industries, including banking and financial services, providing expertise in infrastructure, applications, data, and digital transformation.

About the Role

Swiss Himmel GmbH is seeking an experienced Mainframe System Controller / Mainframe Batch Operator for a full-time position in Basel, Switzerland. This role is integral to a customer-focused command centre team that supports critical mainframe systems within a large banking and financial services environment. The successful candidate will manage day-to-day mainframe operations, including batch monitoring, incident handling, system checks, and L1 online support.

This position requires a commitment to a 100% on-site work model with 24x7 rotational shifts, and the individual must be comfortable functioning in a production environment where system availability and timely incident response are paramount.

Key Responsibilities

• Mainframe Operations
  • Perform daily operational support for critical z/OS environments.
  • Monitor batch jobs and system activities.
  • Conduct system health checks and adhere to established operational procedures.
  • Serve as a Mainframe Batch Operator, System Operator, and provide Online L1 Operations Support.
  • Oversee and manage scheduled batch processing using OPC and Control-M.
• Incident & Production Support
  • Act as the first point of response for production issues.
  • Perform initial investigation, triage, and incident resolution related to batch, CICS, DB2, and other mainframe components.
  • Analyze recurrent issues and assist with root cause analysis.
  • Escalate issues to relevant L2/L3 teams when necessary.
  • Support production requests from application, L2, Online, and batch teams.
• Collaboration & Service Management
  • Work closely with application development, infrastructure, security, and other support teams.
  • Manage incidents and requests using ServiceNow.
  • Adhere to ITIL and Agile/Scrum processes when applicable.
  • Maintain clear communication during production incidents and planned activities.
• Documentation & Continuous Improvement
  • Maintain operational procedures, documentation, and support guides.
  • Share operational knowledge with the wider team.
  • Identify opportunities to improve batch operations and minimize manual work.
  • Support automation initiatives and service improvement activities.
  • Contribute to SLA and KPI tracking and reporting.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• 8–10+ years of experience in Mainframe Operations and IT, preferably within banking or financial services.
• Strong knowledge of IBM z/OS environments.
• Hands-on experience with:
  • JCL
  • TSO
  • ISPF
  • CICS
  • DB2
  • VSAM
  • IBM MQ Series
  • Basic SQL
• Good understanding of mainframe batch processing and job scheduling.
• Experience with OPC and/or Control-M.
• Experience working in production support and command centre environments.
• Familiarity with ServiceNow and IT service management processes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Good communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work flexible 24x7 rotational shifts.

Nice to Have

• Previous experience in batch optimization.
• Experience leading continuous service improvement initiatives.
• Experience defining, maintaining, and reporting SLAs and KPIs.
• Experience implementing automation to reduce manual operational activities.
• Agile/Scrum experience or certification.
• Team leadership experience.
• ITIL certification.
• German language skills.

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• ITIL certification is preferred.

Why Join Swiss Himmel GmbH?

• Work on critical mainframe environments supporting the banking and financial services sector.
• Gain exposure to large-scale enterprise production systems.
• Collaborate with experienced technology and operations teams.
• Opportunity to contribute to automation and service improvement initiatives.
• Enjoy a collaborative and professional work environment.
• Long-term career opportunities within Swiss Himmel GmbH.
• Competitive Swiss compensation and benefits.

Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.