Mainframe COBOL-to-SAP S/4HANA Migration Architect

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Mainframe COBOL-to-SAP S/4HANA Migration Architect with deep hands-on expertise in IBM z/OS, Enterprise COBOL, JCL, and legacy data migration. The ideal candidate must have successfully completed at least one end-to-end migration from an IBM mainframe environment to SAP S/4HANA or SAP ECC.

This role requires strong technical leadership across legacy application discovery, COBOL code analysis, business rule extraction, SAP fit-gap assessment, data extraction and transformation, migration architecture, and reconciliation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead discovery and assessment of IBM z/OS mainframe environments, including COBOL programs, copybooks, JCL, CICS, VSAM, Db2, and IMS.
• Analyze legacy COBOL code to identify business rules, calculations, validations, dependencies, and data transformations.
• Conduct fit-gap assessments between legacy applications and SAP S/4HANA standard processes.
• Design data extraction and migration strategies from VSAM, sequential files, Db2, and IMS into SAP S/4HANA.
• Decode EBCDIC data, COMP-3 packed decimals, binary fields, REDEFINES, OCCURS DEPENDING ON, and complex record layouts.
• Map legacy data to SAP S/4HANA Migration Cockpit objects and templates.
• Define data cleansing, transformation, validation, and reconciliation procedures.
• Lead mock migrations, data quality reviews, cutover planning, and production migration readiness.
• Develop technical specifications, application dependency maps, and source-code traceability documentation.
• Collaborate with SAP functional architects, data engineers, mainframe operations, security teams, and enterprise stakeholders.
• Present migration strategies, technical risks, and architecture recommendations to clients and leadership.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• 15+ years of hands-on IBM z/OS mainframe development, maintenance, and architecture experience.
• Strong expertise in Enterprise COBOL, JCL, JES2, and TSO/ISPF.
• Hands-on experience with CICS, Db2 for z/OS, SQL, DCLGEN, VSAM, IDCAMS, and batch scheduling tools such as Control-M, IWS/TWS, or CA-7.
• Proven experience with EBCDIC encoding, packed decimal, binary data, copybooks, and complex mainframe file structures.
• Mandatory: At least one completed end-to-end mainframe-to-SAP S/4HANA or SAP ECC migration as an architect or technical lead.
• Practical experience in legacy discovery, COBOL analysis, fit-gap assessment, data extraction, transformation, SAP data mapping, and reconciliation.
• Working knowledge of SAP S/4HANA Migration Cockpit, migration objects, staging, and data validation.
• Familiarity with SAP Finance, Order-to-Cash, Procure-to-Pay, or relevant industry processes.
• Strong analytical, documentation, communication, and client-facing presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with IMS DB/DC, PL/I, assembler, REXX, or Natural/Adabas.
• Familiarity with IBM ADDI, Z Understand, Rocket Enterprise Analyzer, Zowe, z/OS Connect, and IBM MQ.
• Experience with Cobrix, JRecord, Python, or SQL for mainframe data decoding and reconciliation.
• Background in banking, financial services, insurance, or utilities.
• Knowledge of SAP Activate and SAP S/4HANA migration methodologies.
• Experience with AI-assisted mainframe modernization or mainframe-to-Oracle Cloud ERP migrations.

Important Screening Criteria

• IBM z/OS experience is mandatory; IBM i/AS400 experience alone will not qualify.
• Strong hands-on COBOL and JCL skills are required.
• Candidates with only mainframe support, maintenance, or interface development experience alongside an SAP implementation will not qualify.
• Candidates must demonstrate direct involvement in a completed end-to-end mainframe-to-SAP migration.