R&D Staff Software Engineer

Quick Facts

• Role: Staff Software Engineer (R&D)

• Focus: Zowe CLI, Zowe Explorer, and other Zowe client applications for z/OS interaction

• Work style: Technical leadership, hands-on development, open-source collaboration

Description

You will build and enhance Zowe CLI and Zowe Explorer—tools that provide a modern interface for interacting with the z/OS mainframe—while providing technical leadership and mentoring other engineers. The role emphasizes performance optimization, scalable architecture, and high-quality implementation using automated testing and CI/CD. You will also collaborate with product management and UX, and contribute to the Zowe open-source community.

Responsibilities

• Drive technical direction and architectural evolution for Zowe CLI (Node.js/TypeScript), Zowe Explorer (VS Code extension), and other Zowe clients (C/C++).

• Mentor engineers through code reviews, design discussions, and implementation guidance.

• Identify and implement performance optimizations, scalability improvements, and refactoring.

• Translate product and UX requirements into technical specifications and implementation plans.

• Design, develop, test, and maintain features for Zowe CLI and Zowe Explorer using TypeScript/Node.js, AG Grid, and React for VS Code webviews.

• Implement CLI commands, REST API interactions, and integration with z/OS services (JES, MVS datasets, z/OSMF).

• Ensure security, reliability, and quality via unit, integration, and end-to-end testing and CI/CD pipelines.

• Troubleshoot complex defects, performance bottlenecks, and production issues.

• Contribute to Zowe as a contributor/committer/maintainer and participate in community standards and features.

• Contribute to Zowe documentation and tutorials.

Requirements

• 8+ years of mainframe software development or related experience

• Experience with JavaScript/TypeScript, Java, C/C++, and Node.js-based applications

• Linux/Unix development experience

• Experience building and maintaining VS Code extensions using the VS Code Extension API, plus strong web technology knowledge

• Strong CLI development skills (command parsing, UX, shell scripting integration)

• Proficiency with Git and modern software development lifecycle practices, including Agile/Scrum

• Strong problem-solving skills and root-cause analysis

• Strong communication and collaboration skills for distributed teams and open-source projects

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a technical field or equivalent practical experience

Benefits

• Discretionary annual bonus

• New hire equity grant and ongoing annual equity awards (subject to plan documents)

• Comprehensive benefits: medical/dental/vision, 401(K) with company match, ESPP, EAP, paid holidays, paid sick leave, and vacation

• Paid Family Leave and other leaves of absence per applicable laws

• Salary range: USD 109,700 to USD 175,500 annually