Sr. Software Engineer - MVS and COBOL - job 8 of 21

As a Sr. Software Engineer at Visa in Highlands Ranch, your main responsibilities will include serving as the developmental point of contact for complex software issues, managing the lifecycle of applications, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to implement business requirements. You will also design and develop offline applications, analyze existing code for areas of improvement, and actively engage with business units to define modifications. Ensuring the integrity and availability of Debit Processing Settlement applications is key to this role.

Candidates looking to secure the Sr. Software Engineer position at Visa must have a strong background in MVS, COBOL, JCL, and PROCs programming. Proven leadership experience, especially related to large-scale mainframe projects, is essential, alongside a collaborative mindset and excellent problem-solving skills. A passion for teamwork and a track record of delivering high-quality software solutions will set you apart in this role.

The hybrid work model for the Sr. Software Engineer position at Visa involves employees typically working from the office 2-3 days a week, depending on the needs of the business and guidance from leadership. This structure allows for a perfect blend of in-office collaboration and remote work, fostering both communication and productivity within the team.

At Visa, the culture for a Sr. Software Engineer is one of high performance, integrity, and teamwork. We prioritize collaboration and encourage engineers to engage with various stakeholders across the organization. The environment fosters innovation, promotes a sense of belonging, and values every team member’s contributions, resulting in a supportive community that strives for excellence.

For the Sr. Software Engineer role at Visa, mastery of MVS, COBOL, JCL, and PROCs is essential. These languages are crucial for designing, developing, and maintaining mainframe applications. Staying updated with relevant programming tools and technologies is also important to effectively implement business requirements and enhance existing systems.

When addressing your experience with MVS and COBOL during the interview, make sure to highlight specific projects or applications you’ve worked on. Discuss the challenges you faced, how you approached coding solutions, and the positive outcomes of your contributions. Be prepared to show your technical skills through examples that illustrate your expertise and commitment to quality.

To ensure the integrity of your mainframe applications, focus on thoroughly testing your code, employing best practices for design, and collaborating with your team to gather feedback. Discuss proactive strategies you employ for code reviews and performance evaluations to maintain the application’s overall reliability and performance.

When answering this question, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to clearly present the context of the issue, your responsibilities, the actions you took to resolve it, and the ultimate outcome. Emphasize your analytical skills, teamwork, and how this experience improved application performance or team processes.

Staying updated is essential in tech. Discuss any online courses, professional groups, or industry publications you follow related to mainframe technology. Highlight your proactive approach to learning and how it has benefited you in your role as a software engineer.

Collaboration is key in software development. Share specific instances where working closely with team members or stakeholders improved the final product or resolved issues faster. Emphasize communication, feedback cycles, and how you integrate others' strengths into your workflow for the best outcomes.

In your response, detail particular instances where you identified areas for improvement, proposed solutions, and saw them through to implementation. Focus on the impact of these enhancements and the positive feedback received regarding both performance and usability.

Talk about specific tools (e.g., JIRA, Git, or CI/CD pipelines) and methodologies (Agile, Scrum, etc.) you employ to streamline the software development life cycle. Provide examples that showcase your ability to manage projects effectively, adhere to deadlines, and maintain quality.

When discussing problem-solving, illustrate your methodical approach by outlining how you analyze the challenge, gather information, and collaborate with teammates to devise solutions. Provide a relevant example where your problem-solving skills led to a successful resolution.

Ensure you cover your emphasis on code reviews, testing practices, and adherence to coding standards in your strategies for high-quality code. Providing specific examples of how these practices have led to successful project outcomes will reinforce your commitment to quality.

Explain your method for prioritizing tasks through organization, understanding project timelines, and communicating with your team. Stress the importance of clarity on project deadlines and maintaining flexibility in adjusting priorities as necessary.