Senior systems analyst responsible for analyzing end-to-end trading workflows, translating business needs into requirements, performing data mapping and UAT, and bridging mainframe and distributed systems. Deeply analyzes COBOL/JCL/DB2/VSAM/CICS applications, integrations (REST/SOAP/JSON/XML), and system interactions to ensure data integrity and drive solutions with product and engineering teams.
Seeking an experienced Mainframe Systems Analyst with strong financial services expertise, particularly in trading products such as equities, options, and mutual funds. The ideal candidate brings deep strength in system analysis, with hands-on experience across both mainframe and modern distributed environments, and the ability to analyze complex end-to-end workflows and translate business needs into clear requirements.
The Expertise and Skills You Bring
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, Computer Science, Management Information Systems, or related technology preferred (or equivalent experience).
- 5 - 9+ years in systems analysis for complex enterprise applications
- Strong financial services domain knowledge, with brokerage/trading experience preferred
- Expertise in requirements analysis, data mapping, user stories, gap analysis, and UAT across the full delivery lifecycle
- Experience with APIs and integrations (REST, SOAP, JSON/XML, JWT, API testing tools) across distributed systems
- Proficiency in SQL, relational databases, scripting and monitoring tools (Splunk, Datadog)
- Experience collaborating with product, engineering, and UX teams (e.g., Figma)
- Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to drive clarity and influence decisions
- Self-starter with high attention to detail, ability to manage ambiguity, and quickly learn complex systems
- Mainframe skills
- Ability to navigate complex mainframe applications and trace end-to-end processing, including upstream and downstream integrations
- Strong proficiency in COBOL analysis and debugging
- Experience with JCL (Job Control Language) and enterprise batch job processing
- Solid understanding of VSAM file structures and data handling
- Strong knowledge of DB2 databases and Native Stored Procedures (NSPs)
- Experience analyzing data transformations and ensuring data integrity across DB2 and VSAM
- Ability to evaluate program dependencies, data flow, and system interactions
- Proven capability to interpret legacy system documentation and analyze source code
- Experience with CICS (Customer Information Control System) transaction analysis, including understanding transaction processing and backend logic
- Ability to analyze 3270 screen flows, including user interaction, navigation paths, and screen-to-transaction mapping
Compensation, Benefits and Duration
Minimum Compensation: USD 32,000
Maximum Compensation: USD 114,000
Compensation is based on actual experience and qualifications of the candidate. The above is a reasonable and a good faith estimate for the role.
Medical, vision, and dental benefits, 401k retirement plan, variable pay/incentives, paid time off, and paid holidays are available for full time employees.
This position is not available for independent contractors
No applications will be considered if received more than 120 days after the date of this post
Photon Chicago, Illinois, USA Office
11 East Adams Street Suite 1100, Chicago, IL, United States, 60603
Similar Jobs
Agency • Information Technology
Lead systems analysis for complex integration initiatives in the brokerage/finance domain. Gather and document requirements, create user stories and process flows, evaluate system designs, provide middleware/API/backend technical analysis, mentor junior analysts, and drive resolutions across concurrent initiatives within an Agile environment.
Top Skills:
2Way SslBrunoDatadogInsomniaJSONJwtPythonRestSoapSplunkSQLYaml
Blockchain • eCommerce • Fintech • Payments • Software • Financial Services • Cryptocurrency
Lead end-to-end delivery of high-priority revenue programs, coordinating Product, Sales, Marketing, Finance, Legal, Risk, and Operations. Drive launch readiness for products and partnerships, establish governance and operating cadences, create repeatable launch frameworks and executive communications, and continuously improve cross-functional execution.
Blockchain • eCommerce • Fintech • Payments • Software • Financial Services • Cryptocurrency
Design, build, and operate services powering card issuance, transaction authorization, wallet provisioning, 3-D Secure, and disputes. Own features end-to-end within a microservice, event-driven architecture, write well-tested code, participate in reviews, and perform operational ownership including on-call and incident response. Leverage AI developer tools to improve velocity and quality.
Top Skills:
AuroraAWSBuildkiteClaudeDatadogDynamoDBEvent-Driven ArchitectureGooseGradleGrpcHibernateHTTPJavaJSONKafkaKotlinMcpMicroservicesMySQLProtocol BuffersRedis
What you need to know about the Chicago Tech Scene
With vibrant neighborhoods, great food and more affordable housing than either coast, Chicago might be the most liveable major tech hub. It is the birthplace of modern commodities and futures trading, a national hub for logistics and commerce, and home to the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association. This diverse blend of industry influences has helped Chicago emerge as a major player in verticals like fintech, biotechnology, legal tech, e-commerce and logistics technology. It’s also a major hiring center for tech companies on both coasts.
Key Facts About Chicago Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 245,800; 5.2% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: McDonald’s, John Deere, Boeing, Morningstar
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, software, logistics technology
- Funding Landscape: $2.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Arch Venture Partners, MATH Venture Partners, Jump Capital, Hyde Park Venture Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
