PL/I Experts in Germany
in minutes with vetted specialists and AI matchingHire experts who maintain mainframe applications, modernize PL/I and Enterprise PL/I code, and connect legacy systems with COBOL, CICS, Db2, and z/OS. Get fast, precise matching with vetted, available freelancers.
Meet FRATCH Experts in Germany, who have recently used PL/I
Collin Kempkes
Last position:
Lead Fullstack Developer at Freelance
- Development of cloud native applications to provide a multi-vendor marketplace for different digital assets (e.g. NFTs)
- Design and operation of a microservice architecture using Nest.js, MySQL, Redis, Hasura, Algolia, Docker and Serverless
- Design and operation of a streaming data architecture using Kafka (with JSON Schemas)
- Creation of CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions for automated deployment of applications
- Testing and evaluating new technologies for more stable, faster, safer and more sustainable application development
- Building the full infrastructure with Terraform in AWS
- Integration of Stripe to handle international payments
- Use of Algolia for real-time search of digital assets on the platform
- Presenting results to stakeholders and running internal meetups
- Federation of services with GraphQL and Hasura
- Discussions about architecture decisions in the IT landscape and their impact
- Use of message queues for app-internal communication and component encapsulation
- Advising internal staff on the implementation of business and technical requirements
- Test Driven Development: unit, integration and E2E testing using JUnit
- Use of Next.js/React with SASS/SCSS for frontend applications
- Use of Vue.js with SASS/SCSS for frontend applications
- Integration of security-related mechanisms (JWT tokens with Auth0, OAuth, OIDC, IP guards, BOLA, secret vaults)
- Creation of microfrontends using Retool for fast prototyping and testing of functionality
- Use of nx monorepo with nrwl
Birgit Stünkel
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
Ibrahim Bayramov
Last position:
Senior Mainframe Developer at Tata Consultancy Services Deutschland GmbH
- Development and maintenance of business-critical COBOL applications in the IBM z/OS mainframe environment
- Carrying out database changes and updates on DB2 for z/OS
- Handling incident, problem, and change management in a production-critical environment using ServiceNow
- Carrying out and supporting load tests, performance tests, and pre-production tests to stabilize business-critical mainframe systems
- Using mainframe tools such as ISPF, TSO, SDSF, XINFO, as well as job control via UC4 / Automic
- Development and integration of Java-based services and API-related components
- Working in agile project teams (Scrum/Kanban), including using Jira and Confluence for backlog, change, and documentation management
Alex Volnov
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 Ottowski
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)
Bernhard Schmitz
Last position:
Agile Business Analyst and Requirements Engineer at Deutsche Post DHL
- Agile project "PEPSi annual vacation planning MVP Lite" (digitalization project).
- Definition of state transitions for the JUP Lite functionality.
- Creation of user stories for login/logout and registration.
- Quality assurance of the business-side concept.
- Preliminary analysis for the transformation from the old PersPlan to DigiPEP.
- Tools used: Signavio, MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Jira, Confluence, Mural, Miro, Conceptboard, MS Teams, Mattermost.
Rainer Diekmann
Last position:
Enterprise Architecture Management / Backend Software Developer at Polizei Hamburg
- Several projects in a police context
- Model and document police procedures/projects with Archimate (as-is/to-be) in the context of P20 (BKA)
- Create software architectures with microservices
- POC development with Springboot/Docker/Kubernetes
- Project size: 10 people
- Enterprise architecture management with Togaf and Archimate
- Backend software development Springboot
- DevOps with Kubernetes
- Implemented using: Java 17/21, Springboot 3, P20 architecture, Togaf, Archimate
Alex Odesser
Last position:
Contractor at Telefonica Germany GmbH & Co. OHG
- Data-analysis, Preparation, gathering and coordination of business requirements for retrieval of monthly- and long term (CLV – relevant) cost- and revenue-components per contract for a customer–base–grouping project (HUB–Project) for B2C-Postpaid-Controlling
- Concept and Implementation of cost- and revenue-KPIs calculation and corresponding CLV–reports (Oracle, Perl, SVN, MS SQL Server, MS Power BI, Serviceware Performance Analytics)
- Operational support of the HUB-Project – various ad-hoc reports, deployments, job-scheduling etc. (Oracle, SVN, BICSuite–Scheduler, DWSODA etc.)
- Analysis, implementation, retrieval and reporting of various physical and financial KPIs for B2P-Prepaid Business on an existing data-mart (Oracle, Perl)
Carsten Büche
Last position:
Test engineer at DAT (Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH)
- Conducted manual testing for claims creation, forwarding, repair cost calculation, parts selection and logging on the Gold.dat.de platform
- Automated key processes using ASKUI, including login, claim creation, calculations and parts selection
- Simulated user interactions (e.g., drag-and-drop) with ASKUI
- Integrated automated tests into CI/CD pipelines for early error detection
- Executed over 50 test scenarios and identified critical defects
- Reduced test time by 50% through automation
- Improved platform quality and user experience
Holger Braun
Last position:
Business Analyst at BLS
- The AVANZA project provides the deployment and procurement of a modern, reliable system for efficient access and sales and supports smooth operations at the Lötschberg & Simplon car shuttle.
- Operations are sustainably secured and the further development of the car shuttle business model is supported.
- Developed a study with an evaluation of possible solution options.
- Supported the decision on options, evaluated the RFI, prepared procurement, concept created based on the chosen option.
Dieter Kuske
Last position:
SAP Senior Consultant at Shop and Catering
Implementation of MM and SD with integration of Diebold-Nixdorf cash registers
Capturing the required processes (inventory management, procurement, sales, and cash register processes)
Customizing MM and SD
Project planning and control
Master data upload and inventory recording using LSMW based on Excel spreadsheets
Cash register data transfer via EDI and IDoc processing (MBGMCR and ACC_DOCUMENT)
Creating extensive documentation for internal staff
No middleware; instructing and training customer staff in customizing; SAP standard as prerequisite
SAP ECC 6.0 modules MM, SD, FI
Hans-Dieter Große-Kreul
Last position:
Training as an AI Expert
I continuously expand my expertise in AI and automation, working with ChatGPT, OpenAI, Manus, Gemini, MS CoPilot, API, LangChain, Hugging Face, Manus, TensorFlow and Auto-GPT as well as Python-based ML frameworks and MLOps tools to intelligently transform classic software development, analysis, and testing processes.
Hartmut Ullrich
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
Thorsten Otremba
Last position:
Workstream Lead (WS) at Bank-Verlag GmbH
- Introduction of giro card with Visa Debit card payment function (Combocard) for Commerzbank
- Support for the Card Processing Team (card processing; Clearing & Settlement incl. Dispute Management teams) in project work
- Creation of requirements for the Clearing & Settlement team, Authorization team (AZ) and Card Production team (KP) as part of a requirements catalog
- Requirements engineering (requirements management) with business contact person
- Participation in workstream meetings between VISA Inc., SRC Security Research & Consulting GmbH, Commerzbank AG and consulting firms (PwC and Senacor Technologies AG)
- Sprint planning with Jira tickets of type Task and use of Confluence
- Creation and presentation of weekly status reports for the Clearing & Settlement, Dispute Management and Reporting & GUI workstreams
- Coordination with network and file transfer teams for connection tests of new interfaces, e.g. setup of host keys, use of VPN or sipnet connections
- Coordination of the delivery of test files, e.g. exchange rates (FX rates; TC 56 of VISA rates), VISA Debit and Credit transactions (format Base II) and EANSS/ISS Base II clearing files to the Debit Clearing System (DCS)
- Conducting coordination meetings on the use of Visanet Settlement Service (VSS) and PSD2 reports and payment traffic statistics (ZVS)
- Organizing workshops with FiServ (First Data) on Dispute Management and complaint handling
- Setup and maintenance of Open Point List (OPL) in Confluence
- Technologies/methods: Jira, Confluence, giro card, VISA Debit card, payments, Kanban board, BIN, routing, CIQ, VPAY, ScalaTest, Dispute Management
Martin Schaefer
Last position:
MS Fabric Certification
MS Fabric certification with creation of pipelines and notebooks in Fabric using data from Azure, Azure Repos, Azure Boards, and GitHub. Data ingestion via OneLake Explorer, direct IP connection, and API (REST) are the main topics
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Statistics of experts using PL/I
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
35 years
Position duration
2.5 years
Positions per freelancer
20
Top business areas
Information Technology, Quality Assurance, Product Development
Top industries
Information Technology, Banking and Finance, Insurance
Certification focus areas
Information Technology, Project Management, Quality Assurance
Bachelor's degree or higher
73%
Master's degree or higher
50%
Doctorate
9%
Certifications per freelancer
2
Most common languages
German, English, French
Speak two or more languages
97%
Based on our profile pool as of 30 Aug 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 PL/I
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 30 Aug 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
About the technology
PL/I in practice
PL/I is used for long-lived business systems that need precise data handling, batch processing, and tight integration with mainframe environments. It is still common in banking, insurance, public sector, and other data-heavy operations that run on z/OS.
Typical work
- Maintain and extend PL/I application modules
- Review and refactor legacy business logic
- Support batch jobs, file processing, and data validation
- Connect PL/I code with Db2, CICS, and JCL flows
- Document critical routines for future handover
Ecosystem
Strong PL/I specialists usually know the wider IBM stack around the code, not just the language itself. That often includes Enterprise PL/I, z/OS utilities, ISPF, SDSF, TSO, and tools for source control, testing, and job monitoring.
When freelancers help
Companies bring in freelance PL/I experts when internal knowledge is thin, deadlines are tight, or a system needs safe change before retirement or modernization. In Germany, this is often useful when teams need on-site access for sensitive systems, but remote work also fits analysis, documentation, and controlled code changes.
What strong specialists do
- Read dense legacy code quickly
- Trace business rules across copybooks and jobs
- Work carefully in regulated environments
- Explain risks before changing production logic
- Keep tests and rollback plans in view
Good fit signals
PL/I is the right focus when a system still runs reliably but is hard to change because the original experts are gone. A strong specialist can stabilize daily operations, reduce risk in maintenance work, and prepare a safe path toward modernization without breaking core processing.
Frequently asked questions
Key details about PL/I, drawn from the questions we get asked most.
PL/I is used for mainframe business systems that need structured data handling, file processing, and batch processing. You see it in core back-office applications, especially where code must stay stable and integrate with Db2, CICS, and JCL workflows.
The language is PL/I, while IBM PL/I and Enterprise PL/I usually refer to the IBM compiler and its environment. In practice, searchers often use those names when they need help with code that runs on z/OS or in an IBM mainframe stack.
PL/I and COBOL both show up in legacy business systems, but PL/I is often chosen for richer data types and broader language features. COBOL is more common in classic record-oriented business logic, while PL/I can be a better fit for more varied program structure and numeric handling.
A strong PL/I specialist usually knows Db2, CICS, JCL, z/OS utilities, and source control or testing tools used on mainframe systems. They should also understand batch scheduling, copybooks, and how business rules flow across jobs and modules.
Most PL/I work needs someone who can read legacy code confidently and make safe changes without breaking production processing. Simple analysis or documentation tasks may need less depth, but production maintenance, defect fixes, and modernization support call for deep mainframe experience.
Many PL/I tasks can be handled remotely, especially code review, analysis, documentation, and controlled updates. On-site time in Germany can still matter when access rules are strict, stakeholders want close coordination, or the system sits in a sensitive environment.
Look for someone who can explain legacy logic clearly, identify production risk early, and describe how they test changes. A strong PL/I professional can show real work on maintenance, batch jobs, and mainframe integration, not just general programming knowledge.
Yes, PL/I is often central to modernization because the old logic still drives business operations. Good specialists can keep the system stable while helping teams extract rules, clean dependencies, and plan gradual replacement or integration.
The average hourly rate of freelancers in Germany who have used PL/I in their recent projects is 99 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 791 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers in Germany who have used PL/I in their recent projects, 73% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 50% hold at least a Master's degree, and 9% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers in Germany who have used PL/I in their recent projects have 35 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 2.5 years.
The most common languages among freelancers in Germany who have used PL/I in their recent projects are German (100%), English (97%), and French (24%).
The most common industries among freelancers in Germany who have used PL/I in their recent projects are Information Technology (86%), Banking and Finance (81%), and Insurance (68%).
The most common business areas among freelancers in Germany who have used PL/I in their recent projects are Information Technology (97%), Quality Assurance (89%), and Product Development (70%).
Main locations of FRATCH Experts, who have recently used PL/I
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.
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Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
