Mainframe Application Assessor (Architecture)

This role is open to an experienced Mainframe Application Assessor to lead an architecture-focused assessment of a legacy mainframe application for a South Australian Government department.
This is a review and advisory engagement, not a development role.
You'll evaluate the current-state architecture of a mainframe application, map its dependencies, and deliver a clear, well-reasoned modernisation recommendation to guide the department's future ICT direction — informed by real understanding of the technology, not just a template.
Location: Based anywhere in Australia, remote-friendly. You will need to be on-site in South Australia for approximately 1–2 weeks for workshops, stakeholder interviews, and discovery sessions.
Engagement type: 3-month contract at this stage.
What you'll do:Assess the current-state architecture of a mainframe application, including its technology stack (COBOL, PL/I, Assembler, CICS, IMS, DB2, VSAM, JCL)Map integration points, data flows, and upstream/downstream system dependenciesAssess technical debt, supportability, licensing exposure, and end-of-life riskApply a 6R modernisation framework (rehost, replatform, refactor, rearchitect, rebuild, retire) to develop a disposition recommendationIdentify risks, constraints, and indicative costs/effort for the recommended pathRun workshops and interviews with department SMEs, vendors, and platform owners to validate findingsProduce a comprehensive findings report and present to governance/steering forums
What you'll bring:Demonstrated experience assessing or architecting mainframe-based enterprise applicationsWorking knowledge of mainframe technologies (COBOL/PL1/Assembler, CICS/IMS, DB2/VSAM, JCL) — hands-on coding not required, but you need to genuinely understand the stack to assess it crediblyExperience applying modernisation or cloud migration frameworksStrong stakeholder engagement skills — comfortable running workshops and presenting to senior government stakeholdersExcellent report-writing and documentation skillsPrior government or regulated-sector experience highly regarded