IBM IMS Experts in Germany
for mission-critical systems, matched in minutes with vetted professionalsHire experts who maintain IMS databases and transaction systems, modernize COBOL workloads, and connect z/OS environments with APIs, MQ, and distributed services. FRATCH matches you quickly and precisely with vetted, available freelancers.
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 Analyst / Requirements Engineer / Tester at BMW
Topics:
- Further development of the CRM system NKAM and technical separation of “direct” and “indirect” sales
- Redesign of the discount management area and outsourcing to another system.
- Designing numerous improvements on the wholesale side to reduce manual effort down to the level of user stories.
Christian K.
Last position:
Service Catalog Manager at Deloitte Team
- Worked in the IT infrastructure of the Deloitte team.
- Planned assignment as Service Catalog Manager at an insurance company in Hannover.
Jürgen S.
Last position:
IT – Consultant / Analyst / Developer / Tester / Support at Automotive manufacturer
- Analysis, software development/adaptation and testing of various transaction and batch objects
- Execution of specialist integration and regression tests on TEST and QA platforms under z/OS for subsequent implementation in production
- Hardware / software / tools: IBM-MVS, z/OS, JES2/3, TSO-ISPF, JCL, DB2, SQL, SQL/PL, QMF, QMF for Work-Stations, 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
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 under AMLA/KYC for an international major bank in Munich
Services provided:
- Clarification of the assignment and definition of the work package structure for the AMLA/KYC implementation project
- AI-supported project planning using a custom AI workflow for project management
- Preparation of the project management plan
- Resource and capacity planning
- Development of collaboration structures between the IT service provider and the bank client
- Agreement on responsibilities (RACI matrix)
- Management of 5 project members (core team)
- Project control, project monitoring, project reporting
- Communications management
- Escalation management
- Stakeholder management (11 stakeholders)
- Permanent member of the Steering Committee
- Project representation internally and externally
- Project reporting and management of decision-making bodies
- Project volume: 506 person-days (development effort)
- Risk management
- Quality management
- Organization and delivery 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 (custom-developed 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
Jörg S.
Last position:
Software Developer at Commerzbank
- Created interface programs between mainframe and distributed online screens
- Modified and created batch programs for daily data processing
- Provided advice on program setup, database structures, and programming tools
- Performed error analysis for the overall project
- System: OS/390, ISPF, TSO, IMS DB, IMS Connect, COBOL, DB2, SQL, SPUFI, IBM debug tool, Confluence, Jira, Eclipse, Rational Developer for Z Systems (RDZ)
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)
Frank H.
Last position:
Project Manager Database Upgrade at Bank
- Planning, coordination and tracking of the work for database administration (DBA)
- Coordination with the application developers and test managers (QA) involved in the project
- Migration of the existing databases in several stages
- Coordination with and provision of information to stakeholders
- Technologies: MariaDB
- Tools: MS Office, Confluence, Jira
- Methods: Project management according to the customer-specific procedure
- Project language: English / German
Romuald G.
Last position:
Software Developer at Aluminium Norf GmbH
- Set up a server to distribute production events from MES to the existing PPS
- Added further servers to the existing process
- Reported changes to the packing inventory to TWMS
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
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
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 29 Oct 2026.
Daily rate distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of experts in this technology in Germany are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows the share of experts charging 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 29 Oct 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
IBM IMS at a glance
IBM IMS, or Information Management System, is a mainframe platform for hierarchical databases and high-volume transaction processing on IBM z/OS. It combines IMS Database Manager with IMS Transaction Manager, supporting dependable access to critical records and business functions. Companies use it where consistency, availability, and predictable processing matter.
Core workloads
IMS supports banking, insurance, logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, and public-sector systems that process essential transactions. Typical work includes maintaining customer and policy data, handling account operations, supporting booking flows, and exposing established functions to newer applications.
- Design and maintain hierarchical IMS databases
- Develop and support message-driven transactions
- Integrate IMS applications with APIs and enterprise services
- Improve batch and online processing flows
Ecosystem and tooling
Strong specialists understand DL/I calls, PCB and PSB definitions, DBDs, database reorganizations, and IMS control regions. They commonly work with COBOL, PL/I, JCL, z/OS utilities, RACF, CICS, IBM MQ, IMS Connect, OTMA, and automated deployment processes. Knowledge of SQL interfaces and Java integration can support gradual modernization.
When specialists help
Companies bring in freelance expertise when a long-standing IMS environment has limited internal coverage, a release carries operational risk, or a modernization program must protect existing behavior. In Germany, IMS workloads often sit inside regulated or industrial operations, so documentation, change control, and reliable handover are important.
- Prepare database reorganizations and recovery procedures
- Analyze transaction response and batch processing issues
- Upgrade z/OS or IMS components safely
- Connect legacy transactions to web and cloud services
IMS compared with alternatives
IMS differs from relational systems such as Db2 because its hierarchical model and DL/I access patterns are built around established mainframe transaction flows. It may be assessed alongside CICS for transaction management, but the two can also run together in one enterprise landscape. Moving to another platform is rarely a simple replacement; data structures, program logic, operational controls, and service dependencies all need review.
What strong experts deliver
Reliable professionals can trace a request from transaction code through program logic, message queues, database calls, and z/OS operations. They test recovery paths, understand locking and scheduling, and communicate clearly with application, infrastructure, security, and business teams. For remote collaboration, precise runbooks and secure access procedures matter; on-site work may be useful during cutovers or incident response.
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. It supports systems where large volumes of business-critical requests must be handled consistently, including banking, insurance, logistics, manufacturing, and public services.
Information Management System includes a hierarchical database manager and a transaction manager, while Db2 is a relational database system and CICS primarily provides transaction processing. IMS and CICS can coexist, and IMS can also work with Db2 in a wider mainframe architecture.
A strong IBM IMS specialist often works with COBOL or PL/I, JCL, z/OS operations, DL/I, RACF, IBM MQ, IMS Connect, and OTMA. Experience with CICS, Db2, API integration, testing, and release automation is also valuable for modernization work.
The right IMS freelancer should have delivered work that matches your environment, such as database reorganization, transaction support, recovery planning, upgrades, or API integration. Ask for concrete examples involving your operating model, programming languages, interfaces, and production controls rather than relying only on a technology list.
IBM IMS work can often be performed remotely when secure access, clear runbooks, and dependable communication are available. German companies may still prefer on-site collaboration for production cutovers, incident response, or workshops involving restricted mainframe environments; language expectations should be agreed before the engagement.
Freelance Information Management System expertise helps when internal knowledge is concentrated among a few people, a release needs additional capacity, or a modernization initiative must preserve existing transaction behavior. Specialists can also support audits, recovery tests, migrations, and structured knowledge transfer.
Look for clear explanations of PSBs, PCBs, DBDs, DL/I processing, recovery, and operational dependencies. A capable IMS specialist can describe how they test failure scenarios, protect data integrity, document changes, and diagnose issues across application code, databases, messages, and z/OS.
IBM IMS modernization usually means exposing or reusing established transactions, improving interfaces, or connecting mainframe data with distributed services rather than rewriting everything at once. Specialists should understand IMS Connect, OTMA, MQ, API patterns, security, and the risks of changing long-established data and processing rules.
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 757 € 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
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