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
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