{"id":2129948,"url":"https://alion.io/job/cognizant-mainframe-test-lead","title":"Mainframe Test Lead","company":{"id":85,"name":"Cognizant","domain":"cognizant.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/cognizant","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"services","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Cognizant Careers","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":78,"open_postings":92,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.891,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":22,"computed_at":"2026-10-13T05:45:00Z"}},"role":"Enterprise Apps","role_family":"Enterprise Apps","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Toronto, Canada"],"countries":["CA"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":90000,"max":110000,"currency":"CAD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":77238},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":10,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Agile","optional":false},{"name":"CICS","optional":false},{"name":"COBOL","optional":false},{"name":"Confluence","optional":false},{"name":"Db2","optional":false},{"name":"Endevor","optional":false},{"name":"File-AID","optional":false},{"name":"IMS","optional":false},{"name":"JCL","optional":false},{"name":"Rest-Assured","optional":false},{"name":"SQL","optional":false},{"name":"TSO/ISPF","optional":false},{"name":"VSAM","optional":false},{"name":"Waterfall","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-07T23:22:19Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-09","last_verified_at":"2026-10-13T08:03:51Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":5,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":5},"description":"We are seeking a highly experienced Mainframe Test Lead with extensive expertise in Mainframe applications, testing methodologies, test strategy development, and test delivery leadership. The ideal candidate will lead end-to-end testing initiatives for business-critical Mainframe systems, ensuring quality, reliability, and regulatory compliance across complex application landscapes. This role requires strong leadership, stakeholder management, test planning, risk management, and coordination capabilities while driving high-quality software delivery across multiple test phases. The role aligns with responsibilities commonly owned by Test Leads in enterprise Mainframe programs, including strategy, governance, defect management, and risk-based testing.\nIn this role, you will\nMainframe Validation & Data Testing\nValidate COBOL programs, JCL jobs, CICS transactions, DB2 databases, VSAM files, IMS applications, and related Mainframe components.\nPerform data validation, data reconciliation, file verification, and source-to-target migration testing activities.\nLead batch cycle validation, financial reconciliation, and downstream/upstream integration testing.\nEnsure accuracy of data transformations, conversions, and business processing outcomes.\nTest Strategy & Planning\nDefine and execute comprehensive Test Strategies, Test Approaches, and Test Plans for Mainframe initiatives, ensuring alignment with business objectives and quality goals.\nLead requirements analysis, impact assessments, risk identification, estimation activities, and overall test planning.\nEstablish test scope, entry and exit criteria, traceability, quality metrics, and governance processes.\nDrive risk-based testing practices to ensure optimal coverage of high-priority business functions and technical components.\nTest Design & Execution\nLead the design, review, and execution of test scenarios, test cases, and test scripts for Mainframe applications.\nManage and oversee Functional Testing, System Integration Testing (SIT), End-to-End (E2E) Testing, Regression Testing, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), Batch Testing, and Interface Testing.\nValidate Mainframe batch processes, job scheduling dependencies, interfaces, and file transmissions.\nCoordinate test execution across multiple workstreams and ensure timely completion of planned testing activities.\nDefect & Quality Management\nEstablish defect management processes and lead defect triage, prioritization, root cause analysis, and resolution tracking.\nMonitor defect trends, quality metrics, and test coverage to drive continuous quality improvements.\nProvide regular status reporting, risk assessments, mitigation plans, and executive-level quality dashboards.\nEnsure compliance with release readiness criteria and quality gates.\nLeadership & Stakeholder Management\nLead and mentor testing teams, providing guidance on Mainframe testing best practices, standards, and methodologies.\nCollaborate closely with Business Analysts, Developers, Architects, Production Support Teams, SMEs, and Business Stakeholders.\nFacilitate test planning workshops, defect review meetings, status meetings, and stakeholder communications.\nDrive cross-functional coordination to resolve dependencies, issues, and project risks.\nRelease & Production Support\nSupport release planning, production validation, deployment verification, and post-implementation testing activities.\nEnsure successful completion of go-live activities, smoke testing, and production reconciliation.\nParticipate in audit, compliance, and regulatory testing activities when required.\nWork model\nWe believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring 3 days a week in a client or Cognizant office in Toronto, ON. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs.\nNote: The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you’re engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations.\nWhat you need to have to be considered\nRequired Technical Skills\nMainframe Technologies\nCOBOL\nJCL\nCICS\nDB2\nVSAM\nIMS\nTSO/ISPF\nFile-AID\nEndevor / Changeman\nControl-M or equivalent scheduling tools\nSDSF\nTesting Expertise\nTest Strategy and Test Approach Development\nFunctional Testing\nSystem Integration Testing (SIT)\nEnd-to-End Testing (E2E)\nRegression Testing\nUser Acceptance Testing (UAT)\nBatch Testing\nData Validation and Reconciliation\nData Migration and Conversion Testing\nInterface Testing\nRisk-Based Testing\nRelease Validation\nDefect Management and Root Cause Analysis\nTest Management & Collaboration Tools\nJIRA\nHP ALM / Quality Center\nTest Management Tools\nSQL Query Tools\nConfluence or equivalent collaboration platforms\nRequired Experience\n10+ years of overall software testing experience.\n7+ years of dedicated Mainframe testing experience.\n3+ years of experience leading testing teams and managing end-to-end testing activities.\nProven experience developing Test Strategies, Test Approaches, and Test Plans for complex programs.\nExperience in Mainframe Modernization and Cloud Transformation programs.\nExperience integrating automation into Mainframe testing environments.\nExperience with regulatory, audit, compliance, and financial reconciliation testing.\nStrong experience in Banking, Wealth Management, Insurance, Retirement, Pension, or Financial Services domains.\nExperience with Agile, Waterfall, and Hybrid delivery methodologies.\nStrong experience in estimation, planning, governance, defect management, and stakeholder reporting.\nDemonstrated experience managing testing across multiple applications, interfaces, and integrated ecosystems.\nKey Competencies\nStrong Test Leadership and Team Management.\nExpertise in Test Strategy and Test Approach formulation.\nExcellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.\nStrong coordination and cross-functional collaboration abilities.\nExcellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities.\nAbility to manage competing priorities and multiple testing workstreams.\nStrong risk identification, mitigation, and escalation management skills.\nHigh attention to detail and commitment to quality.\nAbility to mentor and develop junior testing professionals.\nStrong decision-making and delivery management capabilities.\nTypical Responsibilities in Wealth Management / Insurance Programs\nValidate wealth, retirement, pension, investment, policy, and claims transactions processed through Mainframe systems.\nPerform batch cycle validation, financial reconciliation, and reporting verification.\nValidate integrations between Mainframe applications and distributed/cloud platforms.\nSupport data migration, modernization, and transformation initiatives.\nEnsure regulatory, compliance, and audit requirements are adequately tested and documented.\nCoordinate end-to-end business validation across multiple application ecosystems.\nSupport production certification, business sign-off, and release readiness activities.\nWe're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you only meet the minimum requirements listed. Think about your transferable experiences and unique skills that make you stand out as someone who can bring new and exciting things to this role.\nTotal compensation\nWe regularly assess market data to ensure we offer a competitive compensation package for our associates. The base salary for this position ranges between CAD 90,000 - 110,000 per year. Where the successful candidate may fall within the range depends on relevant education, work and/or management experience and other business-related and job-necessary qualifications. This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual performance-based bonus, as well as benefits that support your physical, mental and financial wellbeing.","description_format":"text","description_chars":8073,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":10,"management_years_min":3,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Hybrid work"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"Canada","iso":"CA","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Science & Engineering","IT Outsourcing & Dedicated Teams","Engineering Services","Cloud Consulting & Migration"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-09T00:54:33Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":61,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.613,"p_room":1,"age_days":5,"expected_fill_days":22,"reasons":["conf:1","stale_co","velocity","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-13T05:45:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":77238,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/cognizant-mainframe-test-lead","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/cognizant-mainframe-test-lead.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-13T09:02:22Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":13518,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-14T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":85},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=85"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fcognizant-mainframe-test-lead"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fcognizant-mainframe-test-lead"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fcognizant-mainframe-test-lead"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/cognizant-mainframe-test-lead\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fcognizant-mainframe-test-lead"}]}