Mainframe Test Lead

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.

In this role, you will

Mainframe Validation & Data Testing

1. Validate COBOL programs, JCL jobs, CICS transactions, DB2 databases, VSAM files, IMS applications, and related Mainframe components.
2. Perform data validation, data reconciliation, file verification, and source-to-target migration testing activities.
3. Lead batch cycle validation, financial reconciliation, and downstream/upstream integration testing.
4. Ensure accuracy of data transformations, conversions, and business processing outcomes.

Test Strategy & Planning

1. Define and execute comprehensive Test Strategies, Test Approaches, and Test Plans for Mainframe initiatives, ensuring alignment with business objectives and quality goals.
2. Lead requirements analysis, impact assessments, risk identification, estimation activities, and overall test planning.
3. Establish test scope, entry and exit criteria, traceability, quality metrics, and governance processes.
4. Drive risk-based testing practices to ensure optimal coverage of high-priority business functions and technical components.

Test Design & Execution

1. Lead the design, review, and execution of test scenarios, test cases, and test scripts for Mainframe applications.
2. Manage and oversee Functional Testing, System Integration Testing (SIT), End-to-End (E2E) Testing, Regression Testing, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), Batch Testing, and Interface Testing.
3. Validate Mainframe batch processes, job scheduling dependencies, interfaces, and file transmissions.
4. Coordinate test execution across multiple workstreams and ensure timely completion of planned testing activities.

Defect & Quality Management

1. Establish defect management processes and lead defect triage, prioritization, root cause analysis, and resolution tracking.
2. Monitor defect trends, quality metrics, and test coverage to drive continuous quality improvements.
3. Provide regular status reporting, risk assessments, mitigation plans, and executive-level quality dashboards.
4. Ensure compliance with release readiness criteria and quality gates.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

1. Lead and mentor testing teams, providing guidance on Mainframe testing best practices, standards, and methodologies.
2. Collaborate closely with Business Analysts, Developers, Architects, Production Support Teams, SMEs, and Business Stakeholders.
3. Facilitate test planning workshops, defect review meetings, status meetings, and stakeholder communications.
4. Drive cross-functional coordination to resolve dependencies, issues, and project risks.

Release & Production Support

1. Support release planning, production validation, deployment verification, and post-implementation testing activities.
2. Ensure successful completion of go-live activities, smoke testing, and production reconciliation.
3. Participate in audit, compliance, and regulatory testing activities when required.

Work model

We 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.

Note: 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.

What you need to have to be considered

Required Technical Skills

Mainframe Technologies

• COBOL
• JCL
• CICS
• DB2
• VSAM
• IMS
• TSO/ISPF
• File-AID
• Endevor / Changeman
• Control-M or equivalent scheduling tools
• SDSF

Testing Expertise

• Test Strategy and Test Approach Development
• Functional Testing
• System Integration Testing (SIT)
• End-to-End Testing (E2E)
• Regression Testing
• User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
• Batch Testing
• Data Validation and Reconciliation
• Data Migration and Conversion Testing
• Interface Testing
• Risk-Based Testing
• Release Validation
• Defect Management and Root Cause Analysis

Test Management & Collaboration Tools

• JIRA
• HP ALM / Quality Center
• Test Management Tools
• SQL Query Tools
• Confluence or equivalent collaboration platforms

Required Experience

• 10+ years of overall software testing experience.
• 7+ years of dedicated Mainframe testing experience.
• 3+ years of experience leading testing teams and managing end-to-end testing activities.
• Proven experience developing Test Strategies, Test Approaches, and Test Plans for complex programs.
• Experience in Mainframe Modernization and Cloud Transformation programs.
• Experience integrating automation into Mainframe testing environments.
• Experience with regulatory, audit, compliance, and financial reconciliation testing.
• Strong experience in Banking, Wealth Management, Insurance, Retirement, Pension, or Financial Services domains.
• Experience with Agile, Waterfall, and Hybrid delivery methodologies.
• Strong experience in estimation, planning, governance, defect management, and stakeholder reporting.
• Demonstrated experience managing testing across multiple applications, interfaces, and integrated ecosystems.

Key Competencies

• Strong Test Leadership and Team Management.
• Expertise in Test Strategy and Test Approach formulation.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong coordination and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple testing workstreams.
• Strong risk identification, mitigation, and escalation management skills.
• High attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Ability to mentor and develop junior testing professionals.
• Strong decision-making and delivery management capabilities.

Typical Responsibilities in Wealth Management / Insurance Programs

• Validate wealth, retirement, pension, investment, policy, and claims transactions processed through Mainframe systems.
• Perform batch cycle validation, financial reconciliation, and reporting verification.
• Validate integrations between Mainframe applications and distributed/cloud platforms.
• Support data migration, modernization, and transformation initiatives.
• Ensure regulatory, compliance, and audit requirements are adequately tested and documented.
• Coordinate end-to-end business validation across multiple application ecosystems.
• Support production certification, business sign-off, and release readiness activities.

Total compensation

We 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.