Freelance Mainframe PL/1 Analyst Developer (Public Sector)
Location: Brussels, Belgium (2–3 days per week onsite, remainder remote)
Start Date: ASAP
Contract Type: Freelance
Project Type: Long-term government IT systems maintenance & evolution
About the Client
Our client is a Belgian Government administration based in Brussels, responsible for managing and operating large-scale, mission-critical information systems supporting public services.
The organisation operates in a highly structured and regulated environment, with strong emphasis on system stability, data integrity, compliance, and continuity of service. The mainframe platform plays a central role in supporting core business processes used by internal users and external stakeholders.
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Freelance Mainframe PL/1 Analyst Developer to work on the client’s core mainframe platform. The role combines technical development and functional analysis, requiring close collaboration with business stakeholders, IT teams, and external partners.
You will be involved in the analysis, development, maintenance, and evolution of existing mainframe applications, translating business needs into robust technical solutions while ensuring compliance with public-sector standards and procedures.
Key Responsibilities
Analyse business and functional requirements provided by internal stakeholders and translate them into technical specifications.
Design, develop, and maintain mainframe applications using PL/1 within a z/OS environment.
Perform impact analysis on existing applications and data flows when implementing changes or new features.
Ensure corrective and evolutionary maintenance of legacy applications, including bug fixing, enhancements, and optimisations.
Collaborate with functional analysts, business users, and other IT teams to clarify requirements and propose appropriate technical solutions.
Participate in testing activities (unit, integration, and acceptance support) and ensure high-quality deliverables.
Produce and maintain technical and functional documentation in line with government standards.
Support production environments by analysing incidents, identifying root causes, and implementing sustainable fixes.
Ensure compliance with security, quality, and operational procedures specific to public-sector environments.
Contribute to long-term system modernisation and continuous improvement initiatives.
Technical Environment (incl. but not limited to)
IBM Mainframe (z/OS)
PL/1
JCL
DB2
CICS
Batch processing environments
Mainframe development and versioning tools
Large-scale legacy information systems (public-sector context)
Candidate Requirements
Proven experience as a Mainframe Analyst Developer in large or complex environments.
Strong hands-on expertise in PL/1 development on IBM mainframe platforms.
Solid understanding of functional analysis, requirements gathering, and business process mapping.
Experience with DB2, JCL, CICS, and batch processing.
Ability to work on legacy systems while contributing to system evolution and improvement.
Experience in public-sector or highly regulated environments is a strong asset.
Autonomous, structured, and comfortable working in a freelance setup.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Fluent in English (spoken and written).
French is a strong plus.
Contract Details
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Onsite/Remote: 2–3 days onsite per week
Duration: Long-term mission
Contract Type: Freelance