Mainframe System Controller / Mainframe Batch Operator

Location: Basel, Switzerland
Company: Swiss Himmel GmbH
Employment Type: Full-time
Work Model: 100% On-site
Language: English required; German is an advantage

About Swiss Himmel GmbH

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

About the Role

Swiss Himmel GmbH is looking for an experienced Mainframe System Controller / Mainframe Batch Operator for a full-time position in Basel, Switzerland.

The role will be part of a customer-focused command centre team supporting critical mainframe systems for a large banking and financial services environment. The successful candidate will be responsible for day-to-day mainframe operations, batch monitoring, incident handling, system checks, and L1 online support.

This is a 100% on-site role with 24x7 rotational shifts and requires someone who is comfortable working in a production environment where system availability and timely incident response are important.

Key Responsibilities
Mainframe Operations
Perform daily operational support for critical z/OS environments.
Monitor batch jobs and system activities.
Perform system health checks and follow established operational procedures.
Work as a Mainframe Batch Operator, System Operator, and Online L1 Operations Support.
Monitor 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 resolution of incidents related to batch, CICS, DB2, and other mainframe components.
Analyse recurring issues and support root cause analysis.
Escalate issues to relevant L2/L3 teams when required.
Support production requests received from application, L2, Online, and other batch teams.
Collaboration & Service Management
Work closely with application development, infrastructure, security, and other support teams.
Manage incidents and requests using ServiceNow.
Follow ITIL and Agile/Scrum processes where 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 reduce 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.
Good understanding of banking IT environments.
Ability to follow established SOPs while handling production issues independently.
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.
Work with experienced technology and operations teams.
Opportunity to contribute to automation and service improvement initiatives.
Collaborative and professional work environment.
Long-term career opportunities within Swiss Himmel GmbH.
Competitive Swiss compensation and benefits.