COMPUTER CAREER

February 2007 – Present [snip]
Developer

I am currently an analyst/programmer with [snip]. My function is to assist in the migration of the mainframe systems to a system being developed on Solaris machines. This involves writing programs to maintain the systems in alignment until the system is completely transferred, and designing and writing programs to archive the data in a suitable format to be retrieved on the new system. I am also testing the system from the mainframe side to ensure that we have catered for all the foreseeable conditions.

I am using Assembler, COBOL and PL1 as programming languages. The operating system is OS390 with TSO /ISPF. I am using VSAM and QSAM for files and DB2 as the database. I am using Test Director to co-ordinate the testing. I am using FileManager as the file handling utility. I use Word and Excel as documentation tools and use Groupwise and Outlook as the Email systems.

November 2006 – February 2007 [snip]
Programmer/Analyst

The company I was working for was an engine manufacturer and parts distributor. My position with the company was as an Analyst/Programmer as part of a team moving the current [snip] IT systems onto their American parents (Caterpillar) computer. As part of the move the systems were being upgraded to the Enterprise system and to the American standards. My role had been to move the code to Changeman on the American machine making any necessary changes and building the JCL streams to action these programs. I also resolved any problems that occurred as a result of the move.

I was using Assembler and COBOL E as the main programming languages and CICS as the TP monitor. The operating system was zOS. The Databases used were DB2 and IMS DB/DC and other files were QSAM and VSAM. I used Changeman as the change management control system. Other software I used were Fileaid, Dumpmaster, Connect Direct, FTP and Xpediter. I used Lotus Notes for email.

July 2006 – September 2006 [snip]
Tester/Developer

My position with this bank was as a Tester / Programmer on the banks Ulster Integration Project. Ulster bank account processing was being moved onto the systems currently used by the [snip]. This involved enhancing some of the systems to cater for differences in processing between the base system and the requirements of Ulster Bank. The final stage of this process was to parallel run part of the Ulster processing on the new system as if it were the live environment. My role was to monitor these parallel runs and where there had been failures to resolve the problems and make any necessary code/ JCL/ Scheduling corrections. The business had been monitoring the results and again where there had been shortcomings in the system I had to code and introduce into the testing environment enhancements to the system.

I was using Assembler and COBOL as the main programming languages and CICS as the TP monitor. The operating system was zOS. The Database I used was DB2 and other files were QSAM and VSAM. I used Endevor and Infoman as the change management control system and CA7 as the job scheduler. Other software I used were Fileaid, Abendaid, Connect Direct, JMR (job management and retrieval), Peregrine and Tracker to monitor and track faults and resolutions.

May 2001 – May 2006 [snip]
 

My most recent function with the company was in a support role on their mainframe systems. I located the source of problems and designed and implemented solutions to resolve them.
In the early part of this year I was developing programmes to reformat data for migration from the mainframe to the new operating environment on Solaris machines.
In the years prior to this I was essentially used in a support position, however during that time I had been involved in development projects for the company. These projects varied in size from ones involving only one part of the business function to some spanning several business areas. These projects included the introduction of new insurance products - a large DB2 / COBOL/ CICS development which included redesigning the approach to insurance, the redevelopment of statement processing and Arrears processing. I also acted as a Consultant on an early migration project to convert their old TP system utilising flat files to a CICS based system using a DB2 database. As part of my work with the company I had to provide detailed documentation including estimates, functional specifications, system specifications, program specifications, test design and implementation plans.

I was using Assembler, COBOL and PL1 as programming languages. The operating system was OS390 with TSO /ISPF. I used VSAM and QSAM for files and DB2 as the database. I used both CICS/TS and THIRST as TP monitors. I had used Test Director on several of the projects. I initially used Xpediter as a testing and fault- finding aid, and Fileaid to manipulate files. I then used the IBM equivalents -FileManager, Debug, Application Monitor and Fault Analyser. I used Word and Excel as documentation tools and used Groupwise as the Email system.

July 2000 – April 2001 [snip]
Developer

I was employed with the bank as a developer on a team enhancing the credit scoring system running on the mainframe but front ended by a PC based system for new account applicants. I had been responsible for providing documentation from functional specification through to program specification. I had also been responsible for coding both the new programs and the changes to the existing system for the mainframe portion of the project.

I had used both Assembler and Cobol on this project, VSAM and QSAM were used for file handling. I used Xpediter as a testing aid for the batch work. The source was held partially on Endevor running on the TSO/ISPF System and partially on there own Roscoe based system. I used Word to produce the documentation.

My previous project with the bank was coding and testing programs to perform the initial load of a new database that formed part of a new automatic credit decision process for existing customers being implemented at the bank. The languages used to write the programs were Assembler and Cobol. I used DB2 for the database and VSAM for ancillary files. I used Xpediter as a testing aid and Endevor for holding program source.

April 1998 – July 2000 [snip]
Analyst Programmer Worcester

This contract was with a catalogue company where I was employed as an Analyst Programmer on their accounts system.

The project I was finally working on was software to support a new store card being introduced by the company. I was coding the software for both their online and batch systems. I also produced test plans and designed test data to ensure the system was functional.

The project prior to this was to change the article numbering system for their catalogues. An external software house did the majority of the coding work on this project. On the project I specified the changes to the modules, produced test plans, and designed the test data. I was also responsible for testing and correcting the modified code returned by the software house. I used Xpediter to establish that all the key areas of the programs were tested and I also gave introductory courses on Xpediter to other staff. I produced documentation using Word and Excel.

My previous project with the company was to test and correct programs that were modified by a software house for the Millennium. My role on the project was to design data that would test date critical sections of code, produce test plans for the testing team, check discrepancies in the test results and where necessary provide the specifications to correct the code. I was also responsible for testing sections of the code and for coding and testing any corrections required.

The languages I used with this company were Assembler and Cobol, file access was VSAM and QSAM and I was using Xpediter as a testing aid.

September 1994 – March 1998 [snip]
Analyst Programmer

I was employed as an Analyst Programmer with an electricity company working on the modification of programs for the 1998 deregulation of the electricity industry. The language used for new programs was COBOL 370 using CICS and DB2. I used Assembler and CICS with VSAM on the existing systems.

My previous project with the company was assisting with the design and writing the programs for their Electronic Data Interchange system to bill clients electronically, but still assisting in the maintenance of their current production system. The language used for the new system was COBOL using CICS and VSAM. I used Assembler and CICS on the existing systems.

The operating system was MVS/ESA, TSO and ISPF were used for program and batch job editing. VSAM was the main file access method, however DB2 was introduced. Other software I used was Xpediter for interactive testing of Batch and CICS programs, Selcopy and File Aid for manipulating Data sets. I produced documentation on Word running under Windows. Lotus CC mail was the e-mail system in use.

February 1994 – August 1994 [snip]
Analyst Programmer

This contract was with a bank as an Analyst Programmer on their Registrars system. This system was used to maintain a database of shareholders for Companies who hold their share register with the bank. This included the processing of share sales, transfers, scrip issues, rights issues and dividends.

The main language used on the project was Assembler, however I also used COBOL II and PL1. The operating system was MVS/ESA, TSO and ISPF were used for program and batch job editing. Selcopy and Fileaid were used for batch file handling. An enhanced version of the TSO Test facility was used for interactive testing of batch programs. Microsoft Office Professional, Windows 3.11 and MS DOS 6.2 was the software in use on the work station.


August 1993 – January 1994 [snip]
Analyst/Programmer

This contract was at an Electricity Company as an Analyst Programmer on their stores accounting system. This system was used to maintain average prices and to provide valuations of stock, sales and stock movements within the Company. The system was enhanced to integrate with Walkers general ledger package and to remove redundant code.

The language used on the project was Assembler, file handling was with VSAM and DB2. The operating system was MNS/ESA, TSO and ISPF were used for program and batch job editing. SIMON was used for interactive testing of batch programs.

August 1992 – July 1993 [snip]

Analyst Programmer

This contract was with a bank as an Analyst Programmer on their Registrars system. This system was used to maintain a database of shareholders for Companies who hold their share register with the bank. This includes the processing of share sales, transfers, scrip issues, rights issues and dividends.

The main language used on the project was Assembler, however PL1 was also in use. The operating system was MVS/ESA, TSO and ISPF were used for program and batch job editing. Selcopy and Fileaid were used for batch file handling. An enhanced version of the TSO Test facility was used for interactive testing of batch programs.

January 1992 – May 1992 [snip]
Analyst Programmer

This contract was with a credit card Company as an Analyst Programmer. The project was to transfer all the credit card processing from Basildon to FDR’s Omaha data base. Included in the transfer were modifications and enhancements required by banks using the service provided by F.D.R.

The main language used on the project was COBOL II, Assembler was used for sub-routines. The operating system was MVS/ESA, Roscoe was used for program and batch job editing on the Omaha machine and TSO was used for the same functions in Basildon. Data xpert and Selcopy were used for general file handling.

November 1986 – August 1991 [snip]
Analyst Programmer

This contract was with a bank as an Analyst Programmer on the inter-bank financial messaging system. This was a communications system to allow banking messages to be transmitted and received via either the banking communities own communications network (S.W.I.F.T.) or the Telex network to other banks. The basis of the system was Direct Multi-Network Link and Direct S.W.I.F.T. Network Link (DMNL/DSNL) products supplied by IBM and running under MVS/CICS.

The language used on the DMNL project was Assembler, used in conjunction with Command Level CICS and DMNL Macro’s. Intertest and EDF were the program testing monitors and were used together with ADF (an online dump facility) to debug program and batch job editing and job submission. I used Selcopy for general batch file handling. The file access method was VSAM. BTAM was used for communication between the Mainframe and Tandem. COBOL was used for programs interfacing with the COMFORT and CORONA reconciliation packages.

March 1986 – October 1986 [snip]
Analyst/Programmer

This contract was with a Military Bank in Germany and I was employed as an Analyst Programmer to provide a front end system to Software Internationals general ledger package. The system was to provide on-line data capture facilities and batch programs to supply reports, reformat and auto-generate transactions suitable for the general ledge package.

The machine in use was an IBM 4381, 3270 terminals, 3380 disk drives and tapes. This machine used VM/CMS, DOS/VSE and CICS/VS. The file access method was VSAM. Other software in use was CA-DYNAM, SDF and RAPS.

April 1984 – March 1986 [snip]
Analyst/Programmer

From 1984 to 1986 I was contracted to a valve manufacturing company. I was employed as an Analyst/Programmer to design and write a costing system for the accounts department. This system was used to maintain standard and lastest costs and to provide costing valuations for finished stocks, sales, work in progress, stores etc., The languages used to write the system were COBOL for the batch programs and Assembler/Command Level CICS for the on-line programs. The machine in use was an IBM 4341, 3270 terminals, 3340 disks and tapes. The operating system was DOS/VSE, CICS/VS and Power Spooling system were also in use on the machine. The file access method was VSAM. OWLE was used for editing and job submission purposes.

January 1982 – February 1984 [snip]
Systems/Analyst Programmer

From 1982 to 1984 I was contracted to an Oil Company in the Middle East. The first eighteen months I was employed as an Analyst Programmer on a ‘Well Information’ system. The language used to write the transactions was PL1 using Command Level CICS, the subroutines were written using Assembler and Macro Level CICS. The file access method was VSAM and the machine in use was an IBM 4331, 3270 terminals, 3310 disks and tapes. The operating system was DOS/VSE. CICS and Power Spooling system were also in use on the machine.

The system was used for the retrieval and maintenance of geological data, contract information and flowing test data required for the drilling and maintenance of Oil Wells. I was also responsible for training two trainnee Programmers in the use of PL1, CICS and DOS.

For the last six months of the contract I was utilized in the role of Systems Programmer. I installed the IBM Information System and maintained existing software solving programmers’ and software problems in general. The operating system on the 4341 was VM/CMS, DOS/VSE and CICS.

March 1978 – January 1982 [snip]
Analyst Programmer

During this time I was contracted to a Merchant bank, my principle involvement with this bank was on the development and maintenance of programs servicing the investment division. These programs covered the purchase and sale of stocks and foreign bonds, distribution of dividends and the valuation of portfolios. These systems used Assembler/CICS transactions. Extel also provided stocks data on magnetic tape. My final project was the development of on-line transactions to enquire onto and maintain data sets on the IBM machines with information supplied on tape from the Tandem machines.

The hardware used by this bank was two, IBM 370/138’s, 3270 and 3278 terminals, 3340 disks, 1403 printer tapes and card reader. These machines used VM/CMS, DOS/VS, CICS/VS and Power Spooling system. Librarian was used to maintain source programs. Selcopy and Westinghouse file handling utilities were also in use and Intertest was used as a development aid for CICS transactions.

December 1977 – February 1978 [snip]
Systems Consultant

During this period I was contracted to a software house writing Assembler/CICS programs for an account package they were developing. The machine’s in use were IBM using DOS/VS, CICS/VS and standard IBM library maintenance. I was also responsible for converting the batch programs to run under OS/VS.

April 1977 – November 1977 [snip]
Senior Programmer

During this contract I was employed as a Senior Programmer working for a Motor Manufactures. I was responsible for the maintenance of the various wage suites of programs used within this group. All of these programs were written in Assembler, however I used PL1 for occasional ‘one-off’ reports. The hardware was a 370/145 with 3330 disks running under OS/VS1. Librarian was used to maintain the source programs.

April 1975 – March 1977 [snip]
Programmer

I worked as a programmer for this Motor Transmission Manufacturers Company on an on-line stock control and production scheduling system. The hardware in use was an IBM 370/135, 3330 disks, 3270 terminals and a System 7. The System 7 was used to collect stock movement data, which was then periodically read by the 370/135. I used Assembler to write all on-line transactions and PL1 for all batch work. DOS/VS and D Bomp was the software in use.

August 1974 – March 1975 [snip]
Programmer

From 1974 until 1975 I worked at a Confectionery Manufacturers where I learnt Cobol however, I only used Assembler, initially on the Unipay wages system and later on a product costing suite. The hardware was two IBM 370/145s with 3330 disks and tapes. The operating system was OS/VS1. Librarian was used to maintain the source programs.