Mainframe Experts in Frankfurt
for secure core systems, matched in minutes with vetted and available freelancersHire experts who modernize COBOL workloads, manage z/OS operations and connect mainframe data with APIs and cloud services. FRATCH matches you quickly and precisely with vetted, available freelancers for your project.
Meet FRATCH Experts in Frankfurt, who have recently used Mainframe
Günther E.
Last position:
Senior Consultant at ISMS Rollout – Information Security Certification (ISO 27001)
- Built and successfully certified the Information Security Management System (ISMS) according to ISO 27001 in seven country organizations (Ghana, India, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania).
- Full implementation of the ISMS from kick-off phase to certification, including defining the governance structure and process landscape.
- Developed and delivered target-group-specific trainings, workshops, and coaching sessions for local responsible persons on the basics of information security and ISMS operations.
- Designed and continuously improved training concepts and content to increase understanding and acceptance.
- Identified and implemented improvements in processes and tools, including risk management for international projects.
- Optimized central ISMS core processes from the idea through pilot operation and fine-tuning to global rollout.
- Optimized knowledge management, as well as work aids and methods for the global ISMS team.
- Built and moderated cross-functional coordination with key interfaces to the ISMS.
- Microsoft Teams, Excel, SharePoint Lists, Power Apps.
Jan P.
Last position:
Operational Readiness / Migration Lead at Worldline
Migration of SEPA direct debits, credit transfers & card clearing to Worldline's internal platform as part of the outsourcing contract
Definition of the MIGR strategy
Mobilization of the community (300+ experts at client & Worldline)
Creation of the MIGR runbook (100+ workshops)
Close collaboration with upstream project streams: BUILD & TEST, as well as with the operating units
Set up of the governance framework, capacity management & reporting
100% of SEPA DD, CT & CC transaction traffic migrated (7 months)
~80 migrations carried out with a success rate of 70% ("first-time right")
Set up technical & manual production monitoring
Established a "fast-track" incident management process in the MIGR & hypercare phases
Set up 20+ exception handling processes
Conducted trainings
Implemented SLAs & billing
Khalid S.
Last position:
IT Infrastructure Coordinator at SAFEE Technology
- GfK Data center IT Infrastructure project onsite coordinator (Equinix DC FR2/FR7) training FEs in Equinix DC Carla, FNT, Jira Confluence, ServiceNow (Change/Problem/Incident MGMT), DCIM, ITSM, ITIL
- Reporting significant incidents as the on-site technical coordinator and initial point of contact for vendor escort and smart hands
- Utilizing CMDB-GUI, NIQ-Browser, CMDB-Filtering-GUI, OSS-Radar, BigBrother, CheckMK, and TTWOS for 2nd and 3rd level troubleshooting support
- Maintaining MDF, IDF, computer rooms, and closets; coordinating with service desk, reception, and security for visitor access
- Managing asset lifecycle including operation, retirement, stocking, and destruction with proper SanDisk procedures
- Leading footprint data centre optimization and reduction in FR2/FR7; handling network, server, storage, desktop, hosting, IT security, video conferencing, and telephone operations
- Coordinating server relocations, fibre optics/copper cable preparations, CMDB updates, and stakeholder cooperation
- Implementing IT infrastructure design, maintenance, configuration, and construction following Dell/HP/Apple ESD safety precautions
- Single POC for change management network, Star Track, backup & storage, cloud, Linux, Windows, EUS teams & Software Centre installs
- Successfully completed DC Footprint Reduction Project 2021/2022 and GfK New Hardware DC Refresh Initiative
- Planning, configuring, and installing Dematic server rooms and switch configurations in Heusenstamm, Wurzburg, Kahl am Main, and Graz Austria
- Providing on-site media equipment setup for HP, hospitals, manufacturers, and laboratories
- Ensuring professional rack and cable management following best practices
- Maintaining up-to-date plant maps accessible to all teams showing technology space and spare locations
- Offering technical assistance for live events, town halls, forums, streaming, and hybrid events on and off campus
- Providing second level support for Poly video conferencing systems across multiple time zones
- Conducting frequent computer room walkthroughs, recording power, cooling, alarm, security threats, and mapping wireless environment and access points
Suneel D.
Last position:
SAP Consultant & Developer at KS KeySolutions GmbH
- ABAP developments for rku.it GmbH, Agena GmbH, Koenig & Bauer AG, Salzgitter AG, duagon AG
- Redesigned material configuration data mass maintenance Fiori app for Siemens AG Engineering to resolve system resource issues
- Conducted S4Hana ABAP code remediation, ATC checks, and implemented ABAP parallel processing for Voestalpine AG
Leonid R.
Last position:
IT Business Analyst / Requirements Engineer at S-Payment GmbH / Sparkasse (DSV-Gruppe)
- Business analysis of payments for the introduction of Wero EPI in Germany.
- Analysis and optimization of merchant processes in the context of acquiring and issuing.
- Analysis of interfaces for instant payments.
- Analysis of SCT-Inst processes, settlement mechanisms and reporting processes.
- Identification and clarification of gaps in merchant processes.
- Analysis and documentation of clearing and settlement processes.
- OSPlus process analysis and documentation.
- Coordination and alignment with scheme management as well as various payment service providers and financial institutions on merchant processes.
- Preparation and follow-up as well as active participation in EPI meetings on technical coordination and regulatory topics in payments, including content familiarization and prioritization.
- Preparation and documentation of project and steering committees in the EPI environment.
- Creation of status reports for the subproject.
- Maintenance and structuring of Confluence pages for project documentation.
- Coordination and alignment with the issuing teams on individual customer processes as well as aligning with bank processes and acquirer processes in the Wero environment.
- Communication with payment service providers regarding merchant and bank processes in the Wero environment.
- Organizational support for project management in special tasks in the EPI and Wero environment.
- Digital filing and documentation in Confluence and Microsoft Teams.
- Planning, implementation and tracking of work packages and steps.
- Quality assurance and project control.
- Consulting on IT strategy, IT architecture and interface management in the EPI and Wero environment.
- Technical environment: Jira, Confluence, XML, JSON, MS Office (Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint), SharePoint, Draw.io, Innovator, 3rd-level support, ITIL, creation and updating of software documentation, interface management, OSPlus, Scrum, KYC, payment, European Payments Initiative (EPI), Wero, Microsoft Loop, Instant Payments, SCT-Inst.
Jörn B.
Last position:
Project Management and PMO at TANKKARTEN | PAYMENT
- Close collaboration with development teams to ensure alignment with project goals
- Assessment of in-scope assets, requirements definition and support of the public tender process up to vendor selection
- Creation and maintenance of UML sequence diagrams to document system interactions
- Intensive use of Agile/Scrum methodology and the Spotify model
- Development and implementation of cutover and rehearsal plans together with the application managers
Rouven-Benjamin T.
Last position:
Operations Leader at VKB
- Operational management as well as functional and disciplinary leadership of around 34 employees (internal/external, national/international) with a budget responsibility of €2.5M
- Project management for the digital transmission of health insurance contributions
- Management of digitization projects (mainframe, CRM, databases, sales systems) with end-to-end responsibility
- Ensuring operational compliance, especially data protection and regulatory requirements
- Coordination of central interfaces between IT, procurement, finance, authorities, and customers
- Setting up and optimizing efficient organizational and governance structures
- Leading an agile team across nine operational areas
Andreas S.
Last position:
Project Management, Development and Test- (Defect-) Management at safarica.com
- Creation and implementation of a multilingual, relational MariaDB database to reflect the requirements of a booking system designed for safaris in Africa
- Testing the front- and backend functionality, registration of clients and suppliers, the editorial system and the payment workflow
- Defect management and documentation via BugHerd
- Implementation of an automatic internal deployment of deliveries provided by an external company via bash scripts
- Coordination of external companies in the function of a project manager (Stakeholder Management)
Markus G.
Last position:
Master Candidate at Universidad de Málaga
- Final preparation for the defense to graduate with a Master's in Computer Science for the PhD
Panagiotis T.
Last position:
IT Manager at XCMG – XFL
- Gather basic requirements
- Plan the project
- Create RfP and tender
- Interview five vendors
- Review proposals and contracts
- Create a vendor shortlist based on hard facts (criteria catalog, price, licenses) and soft facts (quality of documents, software user experience, reputation and references)
- Support the initiation and RfP & vendor selection phases
- Plan the implementation & go-live and hypercare phases for 2025
Stefan F.
Last position:
Project Management – Telecommunications at 1&1 Versatel
- Set of concurrent projects (BSS/OSS related)
Torsten B.
Last position:
Program Manager Refactoring at Astadia (an Amdocs company)
- Lead all program and project management activities for assigned customers around Mainframe modernization offerings
- Project management of Astadia services for a Mainframe-to-Cloud project with German Railway (DB Cargo) and for legal services in Italy
- Manage the execution of proofs of concept and assessments in Legal, Banking, Telecommunications and Automotive for customers globally
- Represent Astadia in delivery, planning, and review contexts
- Guide self-organizing agile development teams to improve structure and dependency management
- Evaluate risks and impediments to success and assist with roadmap and increment planning
- Establish and supervise metrics for key program work and present them to leadership, portfolio management and partners
- Tools: Teams, M365, Office365, MS Office, MS Project, Jira, SharePoint, Confluence, Azure DevOps
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Statistics of experts using Mainframe
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
22 years (Germany: 30 years)
Position duration
1.6 years (Germany: 2.3 years)
Positions per freelancer
15 (Germany: 18)
Top business areas
Information Technology, Operations, Project Management
Top industries
Banking and Finance, Information Technology, Professional Services
Certification focus areas
Information Technology, Project Management, Product Development
Bachelor's degree or higher
70% (Germany: 72%)
Master's degree or higher
30% (Germany: 45%)
Doctorate
10% (Germany: 12%)
Certifications per freelancer
3
Most common languages
German, English, Spanish
Speak two or more languages
100% (Germany: 96%)
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 Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt using Mainframe
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.
Mainframe 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 (83%)
- Information Technology (83%)
- Professional Services (58%)
- Manufacturing (50%)
- Automotive (33%)
- Government and Administration (33%)
- Energy (25%)
- Insurance (25%)
Please note that freelancers can work across multiple industries, so percentages overlap.
About the technology
Core systems
Mainframe refers to high-capacity enterprise computers and the software environments that run on them. Companies use IBM Z systems and z/OS to process dependable, high-volume workloads such as payments, account records, reservations and policy administration. These systems remain central where continuous availability, strict control and consistent transaction processing matter.
Languages and platforms
The ecosystem commonly includes COBOL, PL/I, JCL, CICS, IMS, DB2 and VSAM. Strong professionals understand batch processing, online transactions, data structures, job scheduling and system interfaces rather than treating each component in isolation. They may also work with Linux on IBM Z, RACF security, MQ messaging and API gateways.
Typical deliverables
- Extend COBOL applications without disrupting established business rules
- Design JCL workflows, batch schedules and operational handovers
- Tune CICS transactions and DB2 data access
- Expose trusted mainframe functions through APIs and messaging
- Support migrations, upgrades and hybrid cloud integration
Deliverables often include tested program changes, deployment procedures, interface specifications, monitoring rules and clear technical documentation. Professionals must preserve data integrity while improving access to core services.
When expertise matters
Companies bring in freelance specialists during modernization programs, platform changes, audit preparation and periods of operational risk. A specialist can help when internal knowledge is concentrated in a few people, when legacy code needs careful analysis, or when a new digital service must use mainframe data. In Frankfurt, collaboration may combine remote delivery with on-site workshops for teams in banking, insurance, logistics and public services.
Working with the ecosystem
Mainframe work depends on disciplined change control and close coordination with security, operations, testing and application teams. Professionals may use version control, automated testing, CI/CD tooling, service virtualization and observability alongside traditional z/OS tools. Experience with Java, REST, Kafka, cloud services or container platforms is useful when established workloads must connect to newer systems.
Signs of strong expertise
- Explains business rules hidden in long-running COBOL applications
- Traces failures across JCL, CICS, DB2 and connected services
- Plans rollback, recovery and verification before production change
- Communicates clearly with technical and business stakeholders
- Documents dependencies, controls and operational knowledge
The best professionals can balance modernization with stability. They ask precise questions about throughput, recovery objectives, data ownership and release risk, then leave behind maintainable changes that the operating team can support.
Frequently asked questions
Key details about Mainframe, drawn from the questions we get asked most.
A mainframe processes critical business workloads that require reliable transactions, controlled access and consistent performance. Common uses include banking records, insurance policies, payment processing, logistics data and large-scale customer administration.
A mainframe is optimized for centralized, highly controlled transaction processing, while cloud systems offer elastic infrastructure and distributed service patterns. Many companies use both: core records remain on IBM Z while APIs, analytics and customer applications run in cloud environments.
A strong Mainframe specialist may also understand COBOL, JCL, z/OS, CICS, DB2, IMS, MQ and RACF. API design, Java, Linux, CI/CD, cloud integration, automated testing and incident management are valuable for modernization work.
The right level depends on the risk and scope of the work. A Mainframe professional handling a small, well-defined change needs a different background from someone leading a core migration, recovery redesign or integration across several business systems.
Many Mainframe tasks can be handled remotely through controlled access, documentation and regular video collaboration. On-site sessions in Frankfurt can still help with discovery, production procedures, stakeholder workshops or environments that restrict remote access.
Ask for evidence of relevant work with the exact environment, such as COBOL, z/OS, CICS or DB2. A capable Mainframe freelancer should explain testing, rollback, security controls, operational support and how business rules will be protected.
COBOL is a programming language, while Mainframe expertise covers the wider operating environment, transaction systems, databases, batch jobs and operational controls. A COBOL specialist may be highly effective for application changes, but broader work can require z/OS, JCL, CICS, DB2 and integration knowledge.
A Mainframe professional can map dependencies, separate stable business rules from outdated interfaces and expose selected functions through APIs or messaging. They can also support test automation, data integration, phased migration and hybrid operation without moving every workload at once.
The average hourly rate of freelancers in Frankfurt, Germany who have used Mainframe in their recent projects is 113 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 906 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers in Frankfurt, Germany who have used Mainframe in their recent projects, 70% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 30% hold at least a Master's degree, and 10% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers in Frankfurt, Germany who have used Mainframe in their recent projects have 22 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 1.6 years.
The most common languages among freelancers in Frankfurt, Germany who have used Mainframe in their recent projects are German (100%), English (100%), and Spanish (25%).
The most common industries among freelancers in Frankfurt, Germany who have used Mainframe in their recent projects are Banking and Finance (83%), Information Technology (83%), and Professional Services (58%).
The most common business areas among freelancers in Frankfurt, Germany who have used Mainframe in their recent projects are Information Technology (100%), Operations (100%), and Project Management (100%).
Main locations of FRATCH Experts, who have recently used Mainframe
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 
Hamburg 
Munich 
Dusseldorf Countries:
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