COBOL Module Lead

As a COBOL Module Lead at Sopra Steria, your key responsibilities include coding, unit testing, application development, and supporting the resolution of incidents swiftly while ensuring high-quality standards. You'll also analyze incidents to identify service restoration actions, assist with classifying and prioritizing incidents, and contribute to problem detection and documentation. Engaging with business requests and providing post-implementation support is also part of your role.

To qualify for the COBOL Module Lead position at Sopra Steria, candidates should have between 4-6 years of relevant experience. Proficiency in COBOL, JCL, and VSAM is essential, while familiarity with IMS, DB2, Object Star, and Rexx can be advantageous. Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills along with the ability to work in a UK shift are also important for this role.

The work environment for a COBOL Module Lead at Sopra Steria is hybrid, with an expectation of working from the office three days a week. This setup fosters collaboration while providing flexibility. Sopra Steria prides itself on promoting an inclusive workplace, respecting diverse backgrounds and encouraging a positive company culture.

Success as a COBOL Module Lead at Sopra Steria hinges on excellent analytical capabilities, problem-solving skills, strong coding expertise, and a thorough understanding of application development and support processes. The ability to manage incidents effectively, communicate progress to business partners, and adapt to Agile methodologies are also crucial skills that will enhance your contributions to the team.

The shift timings for the COBOL Module Lead role at Sopra Steria align with UK hours, including UK holidays, facilitating collaboration with European teams. This schedule allows for optimal productivity and engagement across various projects, helping you contribute meaningfully while balancing work-life commitments.

Discuss specific projects where you've implemented COBOL, emphasizing your problem-solving approach and the outcomes. Highlight your familiarity with COBOL in terms of coding standards, debugging, and how you've utilized it for application support and development.

Explain your methodical approach to prioritization, such as assessing the impact and urgency of incidents. Emphasize your experience in classifying incidents and how timely resolution contributes to overall business continuity.

Describe your documentation process, including capturing challenges faced, solutions implemented, and best practices. Share examples where your documentation has facilitated training or knowledge sharing within teams.

Discuss key coding practices you adhere to, like code reviews, unit testing, and utilizing version control. Reinforce the importance of maintaining quality in your output and how this affects overall project success.

Share your experience working within an Agile framework, including participation in sprints, daily stand-ups, or retrospectives. Highlight how Agile principles have influenced your project delivery approach and teamwork.

Provide details of a challenging incident you've resolved. Describe the situation, your analytical approach, the steps taken for resolution, and the eventual outcomes, showcasing your critical thinking and decisiveness.

Discuss your approach to translating technical details into easily digestible updates for stakeholders. Highlight any tools or reporting methods you utilize to keep non-technical team members informed about project status.

Explain your systematic approach to bug fixing, including how you replicate issues, conduct root cause analysis, and test fixes before closure. Stress the importance of documentation for future reference and learning.

Outline your procedure for assessing change requests, such as understanding the business need, evaluating impacted areas, and communicating with stakeholders. Emphasize collaboration and adaptability in implementing changes.

Discuss the significance of open communication, mutual respect, and shared goals in team collaboration. Share examples of how you've fostered teamwork and assisted colleagues in achieving collective success.