TSO/ISPF Experts in Germany
matched in minutes with vetted, available freelancersHire experts who manage z/OS workflows, create ISPF panels and streamline JCL-based operations. Work with specialists familiar with COBOL environments, Db2, RACF and mainframe change processes, matched precisely to your needs from vetted, available freelancers.
Meet FRATCH Experts in Germany, who have recently used TSO/ISPF
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.
Robert K.
Last position:
Interim Manager | Group Leader in the IT Operations & Digitalization Division "Databases, Operations & Support" (DOS) at Landwirtschaftliche RentenBank
- Technical leadership and further development of a team of 28 IT staff (internal & external) in the areas HelpDesk/HelpLine, RHEL (Red Hat), MUREX (trading system & applications), SAP basis operations
- Managing external service providers (including FI-TS for SAP basis operations)
- Personnel, resource and budget planning for the IT department and projects
- Introducing and establishing regular communication formats (weekly status meetings, team and cross-department meetings)
- Ensuring application operations in a hybrid environment (Windows/Linux with database and web/application servers)
- Supporting transformation projects to modernize the application landscape (e.g. DevOps approaches)
- Setting up and implementing a digital IT procurement for hardware & software (e.g. with DELL)
- Developing and managing the "IT Operations DOS" department based on corporate strategy
- Preparing management reports & decision papers on IT projects, optimization potential and automation opportunities
- Representing the department in the advisory boards of the Rentenbank and ensuring regulatory compliance (BaFin §44, GDPR, BSI, MaRisk)
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)
Stefan M.
Last position:
Bundesrechtsanwaltskammer
- Design, planning and execution of complex acceptance tests for a document exchange platform for the German justice authorities.
- Validation of decrypted and certificate-based message exchange via web platform, mobile app, and Java API.
- Documentation of test cases, execution steps, and test results.
- Technologies: Windows 11/10, Ubuntu, iOS, Android, Bash for Windows, Java 17, IntelliJ, Git, Jira, Confluence, Citrix Server, xJustiz standard implementation, specific justice software.
Ulm P.
Last position:
DataStage ETL Expert at ING Bank
- Datastage 11.7, dbt, Oracle 19, Python 3.12 / PySpark 3.5, Azure GitHub, Azure DevOps, Automic
- Development of migration jobs to transfer data from the collection DWH to the new Risk Mart, as well as development of ETL pipelines to migrate historical data from the old Mart to the new Risk Mart.
- Storage of the silver layer on Hadoop and the gold layer in Oracle.
- Translation of DataStage jobs into dbt to publish reporting data in Google Cloud to a PostgreSQL database.
- Creation and optimization of complex SQL queries for data extraction from a data vault, taking into account historical data in the point-in-time tables.
- Creation of Oracle table definitions (DDL) and adjustment of existing stored procedures.
- Versioning changes in GitHub and deployment via the CI/CD portal.
- Refactoring long-running DataStage jobs into Python using PySpark to reduce server load.
- Migration of SAS scripts to PL/SQL, including new development of distribution functions that have no direct equivalent in Oracle.
- Development of Automic jobs to run DataStage pipelines and Python scripts (PySpark jobs) that control the population of the SME and institutional risk tables in the Risk Mart and perform business calculations.
- Participation in the agile process, including creating user stories, estimations, and planning in Azure DevOps.
- Handling Azure DevOps tickets and close collaboration with testers and business teams for error analysis and resolution.
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)
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
Christian W.
Last position:
Functional Senior Tester and Test Manager at Christian Wegener Beratung
Creation and review of test conditions
Execution of functional tests
Defect management
Supplier management
Team coordination
Estimation of test effort and reporting
Test planning
Ongoing and new development of integrated scheduling systems
Java web client / Linux server, Oracle Instant Client / Oracle Database Appliance server, Unix, ESB – Enterprise Service Bus, SQL, TIBCO EMS – Enterprise Message Service / JMS, REST, Impero Guest
HP ALM / Micro Focus Quality Center, Citrix, JIRA, XRAY, Impero Guest, MobaXTerm, Confluence, SharePoint, MS Teams, MS Office
Georg D.
Last position:
Senior Project Manager at Apleona GmbH
- Project review, restructuring, and PM for the migration of a total of 12,000 Windows workplace systems (650 applications) from SCCM and Empirum/Matrix42 to MS-Intune after a merger.
- Took over a heavily delayed / not ideally managed project in the role of the "firefighter".
- Completely revised and adjusted/updated the planning of the customer and the involved service provider.
- Introduced planning baselining as well as tracking/mitigation of current risks.
- Introduced an efficient, partially automated planning/reporting interface between MS Project Planning (service provider) and Jira (customer).
- Restructured meetings to increase efficiency and remove redundant appointments.
- Completed the analysis and design phase and created base data for migrations from heterogeneous systems of the two merged companies.
- Started the User Acceptance Test (UAT).
- Technologies: MS Autopilot, Zero Touch.
Ensar Y.
Last position:
Service Manager Microsoft Cloud Services (ITIL) at Industry (technology group)
- Took on the role of Service Manager for Microsoft 365 and Azure services
- Coordinated service providers in the areas of collaboration and security (Exchange Online, Teams, Azure AD)
- Monitored and optimized SLA-compliant operating processes (Incident, Change, Problem)
- Worked closely with internal IT management and integrated ITIL processes into Azure DevOps
- Microsoft Azure, Exchange Online, Teams, Azure AD, ITIL v4, Azure DevOps, Power BI, ServiceNow
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
Abdullah A.
Last position:
Technical Program Manager - IT & Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Maxon Computer GmbH (a Nemetschek Company)
Led cross-functional compliance and IT programs spanning infrastructure, security, legal, and executive stakeholders, ensuring audit readiness and regulatory alignment.
Acted as single point of ownership for IT governance and CSR programs, defining scope, milestones, risks, and success metrics.
Partnered directly with VP of IT as a governance and control counterpart, supporting security incidents, compliance posture (ISO 27001, GDPR, SOC 2), and executive reporting.
Supported organizational readiness for emerging EU regulations, including the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and EU AI Act, by analyzing regulatory requirements, identifying governance and compliance impacts, and aligning internal policies and control processes.
Designed and scaled data collection and reporting processes for CSR and regulatory reporting across group and subsidiary level.
Drove process improvements and standardization, increasing transparency, predictability, and audit readiness.
Technologies and tools: Office 365 Power BI, MS SharePoint, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Teams, Zendesk, Confluence, JIRA, Vanta.
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Statistics of experts using TSO/ISPF
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
36 years
Position duration
2.2 years
Positions per freelancer
22
Top business areas
Information Technology, Quality Assurance, Business Intelligence
Top industries
Information Technology, Banking and Finance, Insurance
Certification focus areas
Information Technology, Quality Assurance, Project Management
Bachelor's degree or higher
58%
Master's degree or higher
33%
Doctorate
8%
Certifications per freelancer
3
Most common languages
German, English, French
Speak two or more languages
94%
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 TSO/ISPF
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.
TSO/ISPF 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 (90%)
- Banking and Finance (84%)
- Insurance (77%)
- Manufacturing (55%)
- Professional Services (45%)
- Automotive (42%)
- Government and Administration (42%)
- Healthcare (32%)
Please note that freelancers can work across multiple industries, so percentages overlap.
About the technology
TSO/ISPF in z/OS
TSO/ISPF is the interactive working environment used to access and manage IBM z/OS systems. TSO, or Time Sharing Option, provides command-line access, while ISPF adds menus, panels, editors and utilities for daily mainframe work. Together, they support controlled operations across development, testing and production environments.
Core capabilities
Experts use TSO/ISPF to navigate datasets, edit source members, submit and monitor JCL, review job output and manage libraries. They also create tailored panels, skeletons and command procedures that make recurring tasks safer and easier to follow. Strong knowledge of z/OS conventions is essential for reliable work.
- Dataset and member administration
- JCL submission and spool analysis
- ISPF panel, message and skeleton development
- REXX and CLIST automation
Ecosystem and tooling
TSO/ISPF sits close to the wider IBM mainframe toolchain. Relevant expertise often includes JES2 or JES3, SDSF, RACF, IBM utilities, REXX, CLIST, COBOL, Db2 and source control practices for z/OS. Depending on the environment, specialists also work with CICS, IMS, CA tools or modern interfaces that connect mainframe workflows with distributed systems.
When companies need help
Companies bring in freelance expertise when internal knowledge is scarce, a long-running z/OS environment needs modernization or operational risk must be reduced. Germany-based banks, insurers, manufacturers and public-sector organizations may need support that fits established controls and documentation practices. Remote work is possible when secure access, clear runbooks and dependable coordination are in place.
- Standardizing TSO/ISPF procedures across teams
- Replacing manual steps with REXX or CLIST automation
- Supporting migrations, audits or release work
- Documenting inherited mainframe processes
Selecting a specialist
Look for evidence of work with the exact z/OS components in scope, not only familiarity with the TSO/ISPF interface. A capable professional explains dataset security, job dependencies, recovery steps and promotion controls in practical terms. They should also communicate clearly with application, operations and security teams, whether collaboration is remote or on site.
Reliable project outcomes
Good TSO/ISPF work leaves behind repeatable procedures, readable panels and traceable changes. Specialists should test JCL and automation safely, protect production datasets and document assumptions before changing established workflows. The result is a maintainable operating model that supports both experienced mainframe teams and colleagues learning the environment.
Frequently asked questions
What clients ask us most about TSO/ISPF — answered in short.
TSO/ISPF is used to interact with IBM z/OS systems through commands, menus, panels and utilities. Companies rely on it for dataset management, source editing, JCL submission, job-output review and controlled operational tasks.
TSO/ISPF combines two related parts of the z/OS user experience. TSO provides command-based access, while ISPF supplies the menu-driven interface, editor, panels and utilities that make common mainframe work more structured.
A strong TSO/ISPF specialist often also understands JCL, JES2 or JES3, SDSF, RACF and z/OS datasets. REXX, CLIST, COBOL, Db2, CICS or IMS may be important depending on the systems and deliverables involved.
A TSO/ISPF freelancer is useful when work centers on ISPF customization, JCL-heavy operations, dataset procedures or automation with REXX and CLIST. This is especially valuable when internal teams know the business systems but lack capacity to improve the daily z/OS workflow.
The right level depends on risk and scope rather than a fixed experience threshold. For production changes, choose a TSO/ISPF professional who can demonstrate safe promotion, security awareness, job dependency analysis and recovery planning in comparable z/OS environments.
TSO/ISPF work can often be performed remotely through approved secure access and well-defined change procedures. On-site collaboration may still matter for restricted environments, workshops with operations teams or projects where German-language documentation and coordination are expected.
TSO/ISPF remains deeply integrated with z/OS datasets, JCL and established operational controls, while graphical tools can improve accessibility or connect mainframe work with distributed workflows. The choice depends on security, governance, team skills and the tasks that must be supported.
Ask a TSO/ISPF specialist to explain a realistic workflow, such as diagnosing a failed batch job or designing an ISPF panel. Quality shows in precise questions, safe handling of production data, clear documentation and practical knowledge of the surrounding z/OS toolchain.
The average hourly rate of freelancers in Germany who have used TSO/ISPF in their recent projects is 94 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 751 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers in Germany who have used TSO/ISPF in their recent projects, 58% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 33% hold at least a Master's degree, and 8% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers in Germany who have used TSO/ISPF in their recent projects have 36 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 2.2 years.
The most common languages among freelancers in Germany who have used TSO/ISPF in their recent projects are German (100%), English (94%), and French (23%).
The most common industries among freelancers in Germany who have used TSO/ISPF in their recent projects are Information Technology (90%), Banking and Finance (84%), and Insurance (77%).
The most common business areas among freelancers in Germany who have used TSO/ISPF in their recent projects are Information Technology (100%), Quality Assurance (87%), and Business Intelligence (65%).
Main locations of FRATCH Experts, who have recently used TSO/ISPF
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
