Engineer, IT Infrastructure and System Administration - IBMi Engineer

Job Title: IBMi Engineer

What IBMi Engineer contributes to Cardinal Health

The IBMi Engineer serves as the technical expert for the IBMi environment, ensuring its security, stability, performance, and availability. The role drives platform modernization through integration with cloud, API, and open-source technologies while supporting business continuity, operational excellence, and strategic technology initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

System Administration & Architecture

• Administer, maintain, and support multiple IBM i partitions (LPARs) across IBM Power Systems environments.
• Manage backup and recovery processes using BRMS, Virtual Tape Libraries (VTL), remote site replication, and disaster recovery solutions.
• Perform IBM i operating system upgrades, PTF maintenance, firmware updates, and platform lifecycle management.
• Design, implement, and maintain high-availability solutions to meet business recovery objectives and service availability requirements.
• Develop and maintain system architecture standards, operational procedures, and technical documentation.

Performance Management & Optimization

• Monitor and optimize system performance, including CPU, memory, storage, I/O utilization, and workload management.
• Analyze performance metrics and proactively identify opportunities to improve system efficiency and reliability.
• Optimize database performance, query processing, indexing strategies, job queues, and subsystem configurations.

Security & Compliance

• Implement and maintain IBM i security controls, including user access management, authority structures, and system auditing.
• Manage and monitor security exit programs for network, sign-on, and spool file access.
• Administer TLS certificates and secure communication protocols across IBM i services.
• Ensure compliance with organizational, regulatory, and audit requirements.

Integration & Automation

• Develop and maintain automation solutions using CL, SQL, RPG, or other supported technologies.
• Support integration of IBM i platforms with enterprise systems, APIs, messaging services, cloud platforms, and data analytics solutions.
• Identify opportunities to modernize legacy processes and improve operational efficiency through automation.

Incident & Change Management

• Serve as the highest level of technical escalation for complex IBM i incidents and infrastructure issues.
• Lead root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for system outages, performance concerns, and security events.
• Participate in on-call support rotations to ensure continuous platform availability.
• Support change management processes, including planning, testing, implementation, and validation of infrastructure changes.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent work experience
• Minimum of 4 years of hands-on IBMi (OS/400, i5/OS) administration experience.
• Strong experience supporting IBMi version 7.3 or higher.
• Extensive knowledge of high-availability and disaster recovery solutions.
• Proven experience with BRMS, backup strategies, and disaster recovery planning.
• Strong understanding of IBMi networking technologies, including TCP/IP and secure connectivity solutions.
• Experience supporting IBM MQ environments.

Technical Skills

• Strong proficiency in CL programming and Db2 for i (DB2/SQL).
• Ability to analyze, troubleshoot, and debug RPG/ILE programs.
• Experience with IBM Navigator for i and Access Client Solutions (ACS).
• Knowledge of IBM storage technologies and enterprise storage concepts supporting IBM i environments.
• Experience with system performance monitoring and tuning tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with PowerVM, VIOS, NPIV, and virtualized IBM Power environments.
• Familiarity with open-source technologies on IBMi, including Python, Node.js, Git, and package management tools.
• Experience leading IBM Power Systems migration and modernization initiatives.
• IBM Certified System Administrator – IBMi or equivalent certification.
• Experience in integrating IBMi with cloud-based and modern data platforms.

Key Competencies

• Technical Leadership
• Problem Solving and Root Cause Analysis
• Incident and Change Management
• Performance Optimization
• Security and Risk Management
• Documentation and Process Governance
• Stakeholder Communication and Collaboration
• Mentoring and Knowledge Sharing

Cardinal Health supports an inclusive workplace that values diversity of thought, experience and background. We celebrate the power of our differences to create better solutions for our customers by ensuring employees can be their authentic selves each day. Cardinal Health is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, veteran status, marital status, creed, status with regard to public assistance, genetic status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.

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