Mainframe Application Architecture - Client Discovery & Modernization Advisory

About the role

Kyndryl is hiring for a Mainframe Application Architecture position focused on client discovery and modernization advisory. The consultant leads discovery sessions, assessments and technical due diligence, acts as a trusted advisor to senior clients, and guides delivery teams through modernization, migration and transformation.

Key responsibilities

• Lead client discovery sessions, modernization assessments and technical due diligence, and facilitate workshops, design sessions and architecture reviews with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Assess application portfolios and legacy estates to identify capabilities, dependencies, modernization opportunities, risks and migration complexity.
• Analyze architectures and technologies including COBOL, PL/I, JCL, CICS, IMS, DB2, VSAM, MQ, batch processing and integration patterns.
• Define target-state architectures, modernization strategies and roadmaps across Modernize On, Integrate With and Move Off patterns, and create assessment reports, dependency maps, migration plans and testing strategies.
• Provide technical leadership through architecture governance, design reviews, implementation oversight and solution assurance.
• Guide delivery teams on modernization tooling, testing, DevSecOps enablement, migration planning and cutover readiness.
• Leverage AI-assisted analysis and modernization accelerators, and support proposals, SOWs, RFP responses and solution estimation.

Required profile

• 10+ years of experience in application architecture, software engineering, enterprise modernization or technical consulting.
• Proven architecture leadership in large-scale mainframe modernization, migration or transformation programs.
• Proven client-facing advisory or pre-sales architecture experience.
• Experience assessing complex application portfolios and defining modernization strategies.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with a customer-success mindset.

Required skills

• Hands-on experience with IBM Z, Fujitsu, Unisys or comparable legacy platforms, including COBOL, PL/I, JCL, CICS, IMS, DB2, VSAM, MQ and batch processing.
• Preferred: CA/Broadcom tools (Endevor, Cool:Gen, IDMS, Datacom, CA 7, CA Ideal, CA Easytrieve), IMS, IDMS, Adabas, Natural, VSAM, 4GL platforms (Natural, Ideal, EGL, PowerBuilder) and IBM i (RPG, COBOL, CL).