At EY, you’ll have the chance to build a career as unique as you are, with the global scale, support, inclusive culture and technology to become the best version of you. And we’re counting on your unique voice and perspective to help EY become even better, too. Join us and build an exceptional experience for yourself, and a better working world for all.
AIA – Mainframe Modernization Specialist
The opportunity
We are seeking a skilled Senior Mainframe Modernization Specialist to join our AI-Driven Modernization practice, focused on transforming legacy mainframe systems into agile, efficient, and cloud-ready platforms. The ideal candidate will bring a strong blend of mainframe expertise, AI tools proficiency, and cloud technologies along with hands-on collaboration with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable modernization outcomes.
You will work closely with technology leads, architects, and business stakeholders to analyse legacy applications, leverage AI/ML to automate code analysis and refactoring, and execute migration of mainframe workloads to modern distributed and cloud-native platforms.
Your key responsibilities
Technical Excellence:
- Mainframe Systems Analysis and Understanding
- Assess and analyse existing mainframe applications (COBOL, JCL, VSAM, DB2, CICS, IMS) to identify modernization opportunities and dependencies.
- Document current-state architecture, data flows, batch schedules, and integration points across legacy ecosystem components.
- Perform impact analysis and complexity assessment for potential transitions to modern platforms.
- AI-Driven Mainframe Modernization
- Apply AI tools and custom AI agentic workflows for automated code analysis, refactoring, and technical debt reduction.
- Develop and fine-tune AI-powered assistants to accelerate system conversion and code translation (e.g., COBOL to Java/Python).
- Apply prompt engineering and context engineering techniques to maximise accuracy and efficiency of LLM-driven modernization workflows.
- Execute modernization tasks including rehosting, refactoring, or rebuilding mainframe workloads based on defined strategies.
- Participate in the design and implementation of target-state architectures aligned with cloud-native and microservices patterns.
- Ensure code quality, testability, and maintainability throughout the modernization lifecycle.
- API and Microservices Development
- Contribute to the design and development of API integrations and microservices to replace or wrap legacy mainframe functionality.
- Implement RESTful APIs, event-driven architectures, and integration patterns as part of the target-state solution.
- Cloud and Platform Integration
- Support migration of mainframe workloads to cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) using AI-driven solutions.
- Integrate modernized components with cloud-native services, containerised workloads (Docker, Kubernetes), and CI/CD pipelines.
- Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code, observability, and security best practices for modernized workloads.
- Documentation and Reporting
- Create and maintain technical documentation including system designs, migration runbooks, and AI pipeline configurations.
- Provide regular status updates on modernization progress, risks, and deliverables to project leads.
Skills and Attributes:
Educational Background
- B.Tech / B.E. / MCA / M.Tech or equivalent degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
Professional Experience
- 5 to 9 years of hands-on experience with legacy mainframe systems (COBOL, JCL, Assembler, CICS, DB2, IMS, VSAM).
- Experience with data migration, integration, ETL processes, and at least one major cloud platform (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud).
- Proficiency in programming/scripting languages such as Python and/or Java.
- Working knowledge of APIs, microservices architecture, and containerization tools (Docker, Kubernetes).
- Hands-on experience with AI tools, LLM API calls, prompt engineering, and context engineering for automating code analysis and modernization workflows.
- Experience with mainframe modernization tools or platforms (e.g., Micro Focus, AWS Mainframe Modernization, Azure Migrate) is a plus.
Soft Skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
- Effective communication and collaboration skills to work with cross-functional teams.
- Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear documentation and presentations.
Preferred Certifications
- Cloud certifications (AWS, Azure, GCP), AI/ML certifications, or mainframe-related certifications are a plus.
Why Join Us
- Be at the forefront of AI-driven mainframe modernization across enterprise clients.
- Work with global teams to drive real business impact through digital transformation.
- Collaborate with a team of modernization experts, AI specialists, and technology leaders in a highly innovative environment.
What we offer
EY Global Delivery Services (GDS) is a dynamic and truly global delivery network. We work across six locations – Argentina, China, India, the Philippines, Poland and the UK – and with teams from all EY service lines, serving our clients locally and globally with innovation and at scale.
- Continuous learning: You'll develop the mindset and skills to navigate whatever comes next.
- Success as defined by you: We'll provide the tools and flexibility, so you can make a meaningful impact, your way.
- Transformative leadership: We'll give you the insights, coaching and confidence to be the leader the world needs.
- Diverse and inclusive culture: You'll be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs.
EY | Building a better working world
EY exists to build a better working world, helping to create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.
Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.
Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.
