IBM IMS Experts in Germany
for reliable mainframe systems, matched in minutes with AIHire experts who manage IMS databases, design DL/I access paths and connect transaction workloads with COBOL, JCL and z/OS. FRATCH quickly matches you with vetted, available freelancers whose experience fits your project.
Meet FRATCH Experts in Germany, who have recently used IBM IMS
Hans-Dieter G.
Last position:
Training as an AI Expert
I continuously expand my expertise in AI and automation. I work with ChatGPT, OpenAI, Manus, Gemini, MS CoPilot, APIs, LangChain, Hugging Face, Manus, TensorFlow, and Auto-GPT, as well as Python-based ML frameworks and MLOps tools, to intelligently transform traditional software development, analysis, and testing processes.
Christian R.
Last position:
Project Manager, Outlook and Teams Rollout at BWI
- Gathering information
- Creating rollout wave concepts
- Coordinating employees
- Monitoring and managing activities
- Project management including analysis and reporting to the board
- Creating instructions and specifications
- Training floorwalkers
- Supporting the rollout on site
- VIP support
- Introducing SharePoint
Burhan D.
Last position:
Enterprise Architect & Solution Architect at DB Netz AG
With project PRIZMA, DB will modernize its infrastructure on the one hand, and develop a fail-safe IT landscape on the other hand, which can be restored quickly and securely in case of a disaster.
- Capture current architectures of existing systems as well as methodical consulting and development of target architectures
- Deepen and maintain the building plan / target IT landscape
- Implement technical architecture concepts & architecture descriptions
- Implement migration concepts for updating and further developing the platform and information systems
- Assess submitted improvement suggestions as part of the project
- Capability management: identify capability gaps, develop target visions, and support transformation planning within the enterprise architecture.
- Create a compatibility matrix of the components in use and compare dependencies of specific versions
- Create an IT concept for extending the platform with the following topics: hardware and software requirements, security, licensing, high availability, load balancing, backup & recovery, update strategy, monitoring integration, etc.
- Coordinate with business architects as well as technical architects from the cross-functional architecture area of the PRISMA program for the topics (backup, Active Directory, monitoring, Citrix, and business applications ...)
- Status meetings and alignment of project planning with the Release Train Engineer / Project Manager
- Advise the Release Train Engineer / Project Manager in identifying project risks
- Advise the System Architect Engineers in steering the implementation of the concept
- Implement the IT concept
- Document the infrastructure
Label: MS Project, LINUX, Windows, ORACLE, Java, REST, SharePoint, Microsoft Exchange, UML, Enterprise Architect, BPMN, AZURE, AWS, V-MODEL, Micro Service, VisualStudio, SAP S/4HANA, SCRUM(SAFE), ESB (TIBCO), Python, Innovator, LeanIX (TOGAF), Ansible, Ansible Tower, Ansible Automation, ROBOT, SpringBoot
Birgit S.
Last position:
Business Analysis, Requirements Engineer at BMW
Refinement of epics and user stories to achieve a higher degree of automation in CRM usage. Testing of new Discountsystem
Alex V.
Last position:
CTO, Co-Founder, Cryptography(incl. Post-Quantum Cryptography) and AI Security Expertise at AISLEIPNIR
- Integration of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) algorithms into high level protocols.
- Security of implementations of Post-Quantum Cryptography algorithms.
- Transition to Post-Quantum public key infrastructures.
- Security evaluations of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) primitives.
- Drone Cybersecurity
- Satellite Cybersecurity
- AI Security
Matthias O.
Last position:
IT Project Manager at IT service provider
Implementation of anti-money laundering requirements in accordance with AMLA/KYC for an international large bank in Munich
Services provided:
- Clarification of the assignment, definition of the work package structure for the AMLA/KYC implementation project
- AI-supported project planning using my own AI workflow for project management
- Creation of the project management plan
- Resource and capacity planning
- Development of collaboration structures between IT service provider and bank client
- Alignment of responsibilities (RACI matrix)
- Management of 5 project members (core team)
- Project control, project monitoring, project reporting
- Communication management
- Escalation management
- Stakeholder management (11 stakeholders)
- Permanent member of the steering committee
- Project representation internally and externally
- Project reporting, management of decision-making bodies
- Project volume: 506 person-days (development effort)
- Risk management
- Quality management
- Organization and running of workshops
Methods: PMI PMBOK, EVM, GWG, DORA, BAIT, KANBAN, AML, AMLR, AMLA, GWG, KYC
IT environment: JIRA, Confluence, Sharepoint, Kantata Kimble, AI LLM Copilot, ChatGPT, anti-money laundering systems (in-house developments and SMARAGD)
Hartmut U.
Last position:
Freelancer at Freelancer
Projects at Raiffeisen Software Group (RSG), Linz from 2022-01-01 to 2025-03-31: application development on mainframe with PL/1, DB2, JCL, Tabex; development environment with idz, Jira, Dimensions, Confluence; execution of projects in banking reporting (own funds, capital requirements, large exposures, leverage ratio)
Project at Airbus, Hamburg from 2020-01-01 to 2022-12-31: mainframe system enhancements (TAKSY) in agile environment (Scrum, SAFe); business analysis; technical design; implementation (PL/1, DB2, IMS, JCL); test management; deployment
Sebastian H.
Last position:
Overall Project Manager; Turnaround Manager & Coach at Statutory Health Insurance Fund
- Taking over the troubled project from the internal project management and successful turnaround of project phase 1 (cutover of approx. 1000 servers (VMs)/standard desktops, specialized desktops)
- Responsible project management for the successful phase 1 transition (planning in the shortest possible time followed by implementation (very successful with low ticket volume))
- Stakeholder management – taking over direct (daily before cutover) communication with the client from the Chief Operation Manager in the format of regular meetings in taskforce mode. Rapid rebuilding of the previously lost trust base and restoration of the client relationship for optimal satisfaction
- Taskforce mode to eliminate all existing issues/showstoppers before cutover
- Scope clarification, setup, and scheduling of phase 2 activities (e.g. silo/admin servers)
- Kick-off of phase 2 / handing the project back to the success line for the internal project management/line to handle the remaining defined topics
- Establishing, preparing, and conducting steering committees with V-1 management to align the guardrails
- Moderation of various regular meetings and operational workshops
- Participation in the lessons learned with the client to address dissatisfaction related to the internal project management (before my start! They are extremely satisfied with my work)
- Tools: Atlassian Suite (Confluence/JIRA), MIRO, Sharepoint; MS Office (PowerPoint, Excel, MS Project)
Jürgen S.
Last position:
IT Consultant / Analyst / Developer / Tester / Support at Automotive Manufacturer
- Analysis, software development/customization, and testing of various transaction and batch objects
- Conducting functional integration and regression tests on TEST and QA platforms under z/OS for later production implementation
- Hardware / Software / Tools: IBM MVS, z/OS, JES2/3, TSO-ISPF, JCL, DB2, SQL, SQL/PL, QMF, QMF for Workstations, SPUFI, FileAid, IMS-DB/DC, MFS, XPEDITER, COBOL, REXX, Windows 10, MS Office 365, MS Teams, batch job management via OPC, BETA92, RVS, BVB, ABL, DIALOGplus, PROBA, PRODPR (VW internal systems), JIRA, CONFLUENCE
Tibor S.
Last position:
PentaSoft Unternehmensberatung AG
- Development of new batch programs
- Program changes
- Creation of jobs and job chains
- Participation in the “Allianz goes Linux” project
- Technologies, tools and products: PL/1, CICS, TSO, JCL, DB2
Peter R.
Last position:
System support / further development at Allianz
- Software management
- Release management, automated release deployment
- Handover of PL1 modules to Linux for MF-Pl1 compiler
- Maintenance of XINFO, Lexicon, DB design, migration
Jürgen F.
Last position:
Payment Transaction Application Developer at Deutsche Bundesbank
- Supported the ongoing payment transaction operations using the central bank's house bank procedure
- Programmed, implemented, and tested new releases
- Provided infrastructure for the test environment
Axel T.
Last position:
Migration of Host Programs to Decentralized Processing (Cobol to Java) at Freelancer
- Analysis of calculations in the legacy system (Cobol), reconciliation with specification and checking differences in the new system
- Managing change requests with Jira
- Basis for compare reconciliation: XML formats for further processing in Dopix (business: VS certificate, customer info, contribution statements)
- Automated XML comparisons via TWS jobs in various test systems
- Reviewing and documenting related utility programs and interface calls
- Reviewing legacy programs in terms of content, technology, and business logic
- Creating and extending JCLs for regression tests host <> decentralized
- Analyzing error cases and comparing with specifications for correctness
- Creating Jira tickets as requests or bug fixes for the Java programs
Technical environment:
- COBOL
- TSO/ISPF
- DB2/SQL (Spufi, QE2)
- IMS-DB/DC application development
- JCL, TWS (Tivoli), EJM Beta48 (AIX)
- Changeman (Extended Release Option)
- Citrix environment
- MS Office
- Ticket management with Jira
- Agile development
Marcel D.
Last position:
Software Developer / IT Tester at Continentale Krankenversicherung a.G.
Analysis, online COBOL software development and testing of dialog and batch programs in the Kranken Leistung (KL) project
Error analysis, bug fixing and ticket resolution (change requests and defects)
Documentation in collaboration with the contact office and the mathematics department
IT skills: Siemens Fujitsu BS2000, CCOM Emulation, Micro Focus Visual COBOL I and II, Eclipse IDE, UDS database system, Atlassian Confluence and Jira, ZULIP, UNIFY
Gerhard H.
Last position:
Application Developer at Lila Logistik
- Supported the application
- Developed applications in COBOL
- Extended customer and in-house requirements
- Assisted in ensuring smooth operation
- Methods/tools: COBOL, HP3000, MPE/XL operating system, IMAGE database, Whisper (development interface)
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Statistics of experts using IBM IMS
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
38 years
Position duration
2.6 years
Positions per freelancer
20
Top business areas
Information Technology, Quality Assurance, Project Management
Top industries
Banking and Finance, Insurance, Information Technology
Certification focus areas
Information Technology, Project Management, Quality Assurance
Bachelor's degree or higher
60%
Master's degree or higher
35%
Doctorate
5%
Certifications per freelancer
2
Most common languages
German, English, French
Speak two or more languages
93%
Based on our profile pool as of 19 Sep 2026.
Daily rate distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of freelancers in this technology in Germany are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows how many freelancers charge within that range.
Average rates of experts in Germany using IBM IMS
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 19 Sep 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
IBM IMS experts industry focus
See which industries our matched freelancers work in most often — every figure is calculated live from the freelancers on FRATCH.
- Banking and Finance (86%)
- Insurance (83%)
- Information Technology (83%)
- Manufacturing (52%)
- Automotive (48%)
- Aerospace and Defense (34%)
- Government and Administration (34%)
- Transportation (31%)
Please note that freelancers can work across multiple industries, so percentages overlap.
About the technology
IMS at a glance
IBM IMS, or Information Management System, is a mainframe platform for hierarchical databases and high-volume transaction processing. It runs core workloads on IBM z/OS and remains important where predictable throughput, strong recovery and long operational continuity matter. IMS Database Manager handles data, while IMS Transaction Manager processes business transactions.
Core building blocks
IMS specialists work with hierarchical database structures, DL/I calls, program specification blocks and database program communication blocks. They also understand message processing regions, online regions, batch processing and the control data that keeps an IMS environment consistent.
- DL/I calls and PSB or PCB design
- IMS Database Manager and IMS Transaction Manager
- COBOL, PL/I, JCL and z/OS integration
- Checkpoint, restart and recovery procedures
Where IMS runs
Companies use IMS for systems that must process dependable, ordered transactions at scale. Typical workloads include account servicing, insurance records, logistics events, reservations, billing and manufacturing operations. Many environments combine IMS with relational databases, messaging and surrounding mainframe services.
- Modernize access to established IMS data
- Support high-volume online transaction processing
- Maintain batch jobs and scheduled data flows
- Integrate IMS with APIs, messaging or distributed services
When outside expertise helps
Freelance expertise is useful during database reorganizations, application changes, platform migrations and production incidents. Companies also bring in specialists when internal knowledge is concentrated in a few people or when a legacy workload must connect safely to newer channels. In Germany, remote collaboration can work well when documentation, release controls and operational handovers are clear.
Skills around IMS
Strong IMS professionals usually bring more than product knowledge. They can read COBOL and JCL, investigate z/OS jobs, understand VSAM and CICS relationships, and work with RACF, monitoring and scheduling teams. Useful adjacent knowledge includes Java or API integration when IMS data is exposed to web and cloud applications.
What quality looks like
A capable specialist explains the data hierarchy, access paths and transaction flow before changing code or configuration. They protect recovery objectives, test restart behavior and document operational dependencies. Look for evidence of careful production change work, clear troubleshooting notes and a practical plan for knowledge transfer.
Frequently asked questions
The facts hiring teams ask for most often when it comes to IBM IMS.
IBM IMS is used for hierarchical data management and transaction processing on IBM z/OS mainframes. It supports business-critical workloads such as insurance, banking, logistics, reservations and manufacturing systems where reliable processing and recovery are essential.
IBM IMS uses a hierarchical data model and is closely integrated with mainframe transaction processing. Db2 is relational and often offers more flexible ad hoc querying, while IMS can be a strong fit when an established workload depends on predictable access paths, DL/I and high operational continuity.
IBM IMS work commonly requires COBOL, PL/I, JCL and z/OS knowledge. Depending on the assignment, specialists may also need CICS, VSAM, RACF, scheduling, monitoring, messaging, API integration or Java skills.
IBM IMS projects need a level of experience that matches their operational risk and scope. A data inquiry may need focused application knowledge, while a reorganization, recovery change or production migration calls for a specialist who has handled comparable mainframe delivery and incident conditions.
IBM IMS work can often be performed remotely through controlled access, shared documentation and structured release processes. On-site collaboration may still help during cutovers, audits or sensitive production work, and German or English communication should be agreed before the assignment begins.
IBM IMS quality is best assessed through specific examples of database design, DL/I troubleshooting, restart handling and production change control. Ask how the specialist validates access paths, protects recovery procedures and documents dependencies rather than relying only on general mainframe experience.
IBM IMS modernization may involve restructuring application interfaces, exposing data through services, improving test automation or connecting established workloads to distributed systems. The safest approach preserves transaction and recovery behavior while introducing changes in controlled stages.
Information Management System is the full name commonly associated with IBM IMS. Search discussions may also refer to IMS DB, IMS TM, IMS Database Manager or IMS Transaction Manager, depending on whether the work concerns data, transactions or both.
The average hourly rate of freelancers in Germany who have used IBM IMS in their recent projects is 95 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 761 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers in Germany who have used IBM IMS in their recent projects, 60% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 35% hold at least a Master's degree, and 5% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers in Germany who have used IBM IMS in their recent projects have 38 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 2.6 years.
The most common languages among freelancers in Germany who have used IBM IMS in their recent projects are German (100%), English (93%), and French (21%).
The most common industries among freelancers in Germany who have used IBM IMS in their recent projects are Banking and Finance (86%), Insurance (83%), and Information Technology (83%).
The most common business areas among freelancers in Germany who have used IBM IMS in their recent projects are Information Technology (100%), Quality Assurance (90%), and Project Management (72%).
Main locations of FRATCH Experts, who have recently used IBM IMS
Our freelancers and interim experts are at home across the DACH region — available on-site in the major business hubs or fully remote. Choose a location to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Berlin Hamburg Munich Cologne Frankfurt Stuttgart Dusseldorf Leipzig Dortmund Essen Bremen Dresden Hanover Nuremberg Request a free demo
Get in touch with the FRATCH team and we will get back to you within 4 hours.
Would you rather directly get in touch?
We always have the time for a call or email!
Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
