COBOL Developer

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a COBOL Developer based in India.

Join an innovative project at the intersection of legacy software engineering and artificial intelligence, where your COBOL expertise will help improve how AI systems understand, generate, and modernize established codebases. In this remote, part-time contract role, you will leverage your hands-on development experience and deep knowledge of existing COBOL repositories to evaluate AI-generated code and provide actionable technical feedback. You will work with real-world mainframe applications, batch-processing workflows, and enterprise programming patterns. Your contributions will help improve code accuracy, maintainability, and modernization capabilities across complex legacy environments. This opportunity is ideal for an experienced developer who enjoys explaining technical concepts, solving practical programming challenges, and shaping the next generation of AI-assisted software development. With flexible working hours, you can contribute your expertise while maintaining other professional commitments.

Accountabilities

• COBOL Codebase Analysis: Walk through COBOL repositories you have developed or maintained, explaining program structures, business logic, architectural choices, and implementation details.

• Code Development and Debugging: Write, review, test, and debug COBOL programs, including copybooks, Job Control Language (JCL), and file-handling operations involving VSAM, sequential, and indexed files.

• AI-Generated Code Evaluation: Assess AI-generated COBOL code for correctness, readability, coding standards, performance, and maintainability, providing clear and constructive written feedback.

• Task and Test Case Development: Design realistic programming tasks, evaluation scenarios, and test cases based on practical mainframe applications and batch-processing requirements.

• Legacy Code Documentation: Document common COBOL programming patterns, legacy system behaviors, business rules, and implementation practices to improve AI understanding of established codebases.

• Modernization Guidance: Explain and document legacy modernization approaches, including refactoring monolithic applications, improving code structure, and migrating COBOL applications to languages such as Java or C#.

• Technical Knowledge Sharing: Communicate complex programming concepts clearly, helping technical and non-technical audiences understand code behavior, implementation decisions, and potential improvements.

• Quality and Reliability: Apply your practical development experience to identify code defects, assess edge cases, and establish useful criteria for evaluating AI-assisted programming solutions.

Requirements

• Professional Experience: At least 3 years of hands-on COBOL development experience, including building, maintaining, and troubleshooting production-quality or substantial personal codebases.

• Demonstrable Code Ownership: Ownership of at least one meaningful COBOL repository, hosted on GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or maintained privately, that you can explain in depth.

• COBOL Expertise: Strong understanding of COBOL program structure, divisions, procedural logic, and data structures, including PIC clauses, COMP/COMP-3, REDEFINES, and OCCURS.

• Mainframe Technologies: Practical experience with JCL and at least one of the following technologies: CICS, DB2, IMS, or VSAM. Familiarity with CICS is particularly relevant to the required skill set.

• Code Review and Testing: Ability to analyze code, identify defects, evaluate alternative implementations, and assess correctness, style, and maintainability.

• Technical Communication: Strong written English skills and the ability to explain complex code, business logic, and technical decisions in a clear, structured manner to non-experts.

• Analytical Thinking: Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to reason through legacy programming patterns and real-world business scenarios.

• Legacy Modernization (Preferred): Experience refactoring legacy applications, documenting existing systems, or migrating COBOL applications to modern programming languages.

• Platform Experience (Preferred): Familiarity with IBM z/OS, Micro Focus COBOL, or GnuCOBOL.

• Industry Background (Preferred): Experience in banking, insurance, government, or other industries that rely heavily on mainframe systems.

• Additional Programming Skills (Preferred): Familiarity with Java, Python, C#, or other modern programming languages.

• Independent Working Style: Ability to work autonomously, manage deliverables effectively, and provide reliable technical contributions in a remote, flexible contract environment.

Benefits

• Competitive Compensation: Advertised salary range of ₹10 lakh to ₹80 lakh per annum, depending on the engagement and applicable compensation terms. Confirm the exact payment structure with the hiring team, as the position is described as part-time and contract-based.

• Remote Work: Work remotely from anywhere in India.

• Flexible Schedule: Flexible working hours that allow you to balance this engagement with other professional commitments.

• Part-Time Contract: Contribute your expertise through a contract-based engagement rather than a traditional full-time position.

• AI and Software Engineering Exposure: Help shape the development and evaluation of AI systems designed to understand, generate, and modernize COBOL code.

• Technical Impact: Apply your practical knowledge of legacy systems to improve AI-generated programming solutions and support software modernization.

• Independent Contribution: Work directly with codebases and technical challenges that benefit from your specialized knowledge and experience.

How Jobgether works

We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team.

We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!

Why Apply Through Jobgether?

Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time.

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