Senior RACF Security Migration Specialist

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior RACF Security Migration Specialist (TSS/ACF2 to RACF) based in the United States.** The Senior RACF Security Migration Specialist will lead complex mainframe security transformation initiatives across IBM z/OS environments. This role focuses on migrating enterprise security configurations from TSS or ACF2 to RACF while maintaining strong security, compliance, and operational continuity. You will assess existing environments, develop migration strategies, and manage detailed plans across planning, conversion, implementation, and cutover phases. The position combines deep technical expertise with hands-on configuration, troubleshooting, automation, and post-migration optimization. You will collaborate closely with system programmers, application owners, network engineers, and other technical stakeholders to ensure successful integrations. As a subject matter expert, you will also provide guidance, training, documentation, and knowledge transfer while exploring opportunities for AI-enabled security automation. This is a remote, ongoing contract opportunity suited to an experienced mainframe security professional who thrives in complex, project-based environments. ### Accountabilities: - Analyze existing TSS or ACF2 mainframe security environments and develop comprehensive migration strategies aligned with technical and business requirements. - Conduct security assessments, vulnerability analyses, and compliance reviews to identify gaps, risks, and migration challenges. - Develop and maintain detailed migration plans covering planning, conversion, implementation, validation, and cutover activities. - Lead and execute complex migrations from TSS or ACF2 to RACF while minimizing production disruption and downtime. - Configure, implement, validate, and integrate RACF within IBM z/OS environments based on application, security, and compliance requirements. - Migrate RACF profiles, rules, permissions, resource classes, and access controls to replace legacy security configurations. - Use IBM zSecure and other RACF utilities to analyze security environments, automate RACF command generation, and streamline migration activities. - Collaborate with system programmers, network engineers, application owners, database teams, and other technical stakeholders to ensure successful RACF integration. - Troubleshoot migration issues and provide post-migration support, tuning, validation, and optimization. - Serve as a subject matter expert on RACF administration, z/OS security architecture, migration, security management, and compliance. - Develop and deliver training sessions and workshops covering RACF administration, mainframe security practices, and operational procedures. - Evaluate opportunities to apply AI technologies to RACF security monitoring, analysis, automation, and operational efficiency. - Document migration procedures, security configurations, technical decisions, operational processes, and lessons learned. - Support knowledge transfer and help strengthen the capabilities of client and internal technical teams. ## Requirements - 8+ years of experience in IBM z/OS mainframe security, including significant hands-on RACF experience. - Demonstrated experience leading or supporting complex migrations from CA Top Secret (TSS) and/or CA ACF2 to IBM RACF. - Expert-level knowledge of IBM RACF, z/OS security, security administration, and mainframe security concepts. - Strong hands-on knowledge of RACF profiles, resource classes, access controls, permissions, and security configuration. - Experience using IBM zSecure and other RACF security utilities to analyze, automate, and validate migration activities. - Proven experience conducting security assessments and analyzing TSS/ACF2 environments before migration. - Demonstrated ability to develop and execute end-to-end security migration strategies, conversion plans, implementation procedures, and cutover plans. - Experience configuring RACF and integrating security controls with mainframe applications, databases, system software, and infrastructure. - Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to manage complex technical issues independently. - Foundational knowledge of PL/I, Assembler, REXX, and Java. - Interest in artificial intelligence and its potential applications in mainframe security monitoring and automation. - Experience working directly with clients and cross-functional technical teams in consulting or project-based environments. - Ability to work independently while managing multiple migration activities, priorities, and deadlines. - Excellent written and verbal English communication skills. - Strong documentation, presentation, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact professionally with diverse technical and business stakeholders. - Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or a related field is preferred; equivalent technical experience in IBM mainframe security may be considered in lieu of a degree. ## Benefits - Expected base salary of $115.00–$135.00 per hour. - Ongoing contract opportunity. - Fully remote work arrangement within the United States. - Competitive benefits package in addition to base compensation. - Compensation is determined based on factors such as relevant skills, training, experience, education, market conditions, and applicable licenses or certifications. - Opportunity to work on complex enterprise mainframe security transformation and migration initiatives. - Exposure to advanced RACF security, zSecure automation, compliance, and emerging AI-enabled security capabilities. - Opportunity to provide technical leadership, training, and knowledge transfer across multidisciplinary teams.