PL/I Experts in Germany
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Meet FRATCH Experts in Germany, who have recently used PL/I
Collin K.
Last position:
Software Architect / Fullstack Developer at Equity Bytes
Built an international e-commerce platform for a multi-vendor marketplace for digital assets from scratch. Designed and operated cloud native architectures at enterprise scale.
- Designed and operated a highly scalable microservice and serverless architecture
- Built the complete cloud infrastructure with Terraform + AWS CDK in AWS
- Provisioned ECS/EKS clusters (Fargate), Application Load Balancers (reverse proxy), and Lambda functions
- Observability & tracing with CloudWatch, DataDog, Prometheus, and Grafana
- End-to-end setup with DataDog (formerly AWS CloudWatch), Prometheus, and custom Grafana dashboards
- Integration of advanced metrics (including ORM mapper) and distributed tracing with Jaeger
- Robust backup and disaster recovery strategies
- RDS Postgres backups and hourly snapshots
- Read-only, asynchronously synchronized replicas with automated master failover in emergencies
- Minute-level rollback capability through versioned Docker images on ECS and Git-based CI/CD pipelines
- Created CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions for automated multi-stage deployments (Dev, Testing, Prod)
- Integrated Stripe for international payment processing
- Built a marketplace payment system with multiple parties and payout routines
- Used Algolia for high-performance real-time search of digital assets on the platform
- Federation of services with GraphQL and Hasura
- Later migration to GraphQL Mesh
- Test Driven Development (TDD) - unit, integration, and E2E testing with Jest, Vitest, and Playwright
- Used Next.js / React for modern frontend applications in the nx monorepo
- Enterprise security architecture & access control
- Integration of JWT tokens with Auth0, OAuth, OIDC, IP guards, BOLA protection, and secret vaults
- Authorization concepts with RBAC, ABAC, and native Postgres Row-Level Security (RLS)
- Built internal microfrontends with Retool for fast prototyping and operational business processes
Technologies: ABAC, AWS CDK, AWS CloudWatch, AWS ECS, AWS EKS, AWS Fargate, AWS RDS, AWS S3, Algolia, Auth0, DataDog, Docker, GitHub Actions, Grafana, GraphQL, GraphQL Mesh, Hasura, JWT, Jaeger, Java, JavaScript, Jest, Kotlin, Kubernetes, Monorepo, Next.js, OIDC, Playwright, Postgres, Postgres RLS, Prometheus, RBAC, Redis, Retool, Serverless, Stripe, Terraform, TypeScript, Vitest
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.
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)
Bernhard S.
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 D.
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 O.
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 B.
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 B.
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 K.
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
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
Thorsten O.
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 S.
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
Thomas S.
Last position:
IT Consultant at Public Sector / SÜ2
- Operation of VMware, Veeam and further development of the system
- Implementation of BSI requirements in the design/construction
- Control and analysis of the VMware environment using PowerShell scripts
- Working according to ITIL processes
- Version control of scripts with TortoiseSVN
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Statistics of experts using PL/I
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
36 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
70%
Master's degree or higher
50%
Doctorate
10%
Certifications per freelancer
2
Most common languages
German, English, French
Speak two or more languages
97%
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 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 19 Sep 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
PL/I experts industry focus
See which industries our matched freelancers work in most often — every figure is calculated live from the freelancers on FRATCH.
- Information Technology (89%)
- Banking and Finance (83%)
- Insurance (69%)
- Automotive (46%)
- Manufacturing (46%)
- Government and Administration (46%)
- Transportation (37%)
- Professional Services (34%)
Please note that freelancers can work across multiple industries, so percentages overlap.
About the technology
Mission-Critical Mainframe Processing
Programming Language One, officially known as PL/I, remains a cornerstone of large-scale enterprise computing. Designed by IBM to unify scientific computation and commercial business processing, it delivers block-structured control, precise decimal arithmetic, and direct hardware memory manipulation for z/OS and OS/390 environments.
The Modern PL/I Ecosystem
Contemporary architectures run on IBM Enterprise PL/I for z/OS, integrating closely with specialized mainframe infrastructure and data stores:
- High-volume transaction processing via IBM CICS and IMS/TM
- Relational data persistence using DB2 SQL and embedded precompilers
- Flat and indexed batch file handling across VSAM datasets and QSAM
- Automated batch scheduling with JCL, modern REST API enablement, and z/OS Connect
Core Industries and German Enterprise Workloads
In Germany, PL/I forms the computational backbone of major banking houses, public sector agencies, and statutory health insurers. These organizations rely on its numerical accuracy and throughput for payment clearings, credit calculations, and core policy administration where downtime or calculation rounding errors carry severe operational risk.
When Organizations Hire External Expertise
Companies engage freelance specialists to solve critical capacity and modernization challenges:
- Legacy modernization and API integration without disrupting live core systems
- Knowledge transfer to bridge retirement waves among in-house system maintainers
- Performance tuning of massive nightly batch jobs exceeding processing windows
- Database refactoring and CICS transaction latency reduction
Cross-Disciplinary Technical Proficiencies
Proficient specialists rarely work with the language in isolation. They master TSO/ISPF development environments, write performant Job Control Language scripts, and use debugging utilities like IBM Debug Tool. They possess extensive familiarity with COBOL coexistence, z/OS operating system internals, and modern DevOps tools adapted for mainframe delivery pipelines.
Hallmarks of Top Freelance Professionals
Distinguished professionals combine deep legacy systems comprehension with modern hybrid cloud engineering. They trace intricate pointer logic across deeply nested structures, maintain rigorous documentation standards, and safely refactor complex monolithic modules into reusable, service-oriented components.
Frequently asked questions
Key details about PL/I, drawn from the questions we get asked most.
Organizations use PL/I to run mission-critical transaction processing and high-volume batch applications. It is particularly prominent in core banking, insurance underwriting, and supply chain logistics that execute on IBM Z mainframes.
While both languages power large enterprise mainframes, PL/I features block-structured syntax, dynamic storage allocation, and complex mathematical capabilities originally inspired by Algol and Fortran. This makes it more mathematically versatile than standard COBOL, especially for complex actuaries and financial computations.
A capable Programming Language One specialist typically possesses deep working knowledge of CICS, DB2 for z/OS, VSAM storage, and JCL. They also leverage testing tools like IBM Fault Analyzer, File Manager, and modern Git-based mainframe CI/CD pipelines.
Many financial institutions and public entities across Germany operate stable, multi-decade systems written in PL/I. As internal staff retire, companies engage freelance experts to handle continuous compliance updates, platform modernizations, and day-to-day maintenance.
Yes, modern Enterprise PL/I implementations connect directly with hybrid cloud environments using tools like z/OS Connect Enterprise Edition. This allows core legacy programs to expose and consume JSON REST APIs without requiring full system rewrites.
Most projects involving PL/I require senior professionals who understand enterprise architecture and legacy data structures. Because these systems run mission-critical operations, specialists must identify side effects in production code quickly and operate with absolute architectural safety.
Most enterprise development and maintenance in Germany is carried out remotely through secure VPN tunnels and mainframe access gateways. However, initial onboarding, architecture reviews, and regulatory audits often involve occasional on-site presence at corporate headquarters.
Assessing quality in a PL/I codebase involves reviewing dynamic storage usage, recursive subroutine structures, and pointer manipulation safety. Top professionals evaluate how cleanly embedded SQL queries are indexed and ensure error-handling routines comply with current operating system standards.
The average hourly rate of freelancers in Germany who have used PL/I in their recent projects is 101 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 807 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers in Germany who have used PL/I in their recent projects, 70% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 50% hold at least a Master's degree, and 10% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers in Germany who have used PL/I in their recent projects have 36 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 (23%).
The most common industries among freelancers in Germany who have used PL/I in their recent projects are Information Technology (89%), Banking and Finance (83%), and Insurance (69%).
The most common business areas among freelancers in Germany who have used PL/I in their recent projects are Information Technology (100%), Quality Assurance (86%), and Product Development (71%).
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
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Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
