Lead Director - Mainframe Systems Engineering

POSITION SUMMARY

CVS Health is seeking a transformational technology leader to own the end-to-end strategy for our IBM zSystems (Mainframe) platform, one of the most consequential and complex infrastructure environments in U.S. healthcare. Processing millions of transactions daily, this platform sits at the core of our ability to serve patients, members, and customers reliably and securely.

The Lead Director - Mainframe Systems Engineer is a senior leadership position, not a hands‑on engineering role. In this Executive role, you will set strategic direction, shape organizational design, and deliver platform modernization at enterprise scale, leading through a team of deep subject‑matter experts who bring the technical depth. Your value is in knowing what great looks like, building the team and culture to achieve it, and connecting platform performance to business outcomes that matter at the executive level.

Expectations For The Role

• Define and execute the long‑term engineering strategy for IBM zSystems, encompassing platform modernization, automation frameworks, and the adoption of AIOps and AI‑enabled operations capabilities
• Build, develop, and retain a high‑performing organization of platform engineers, systems administrators, and operations specialists, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Own enterprise platform reliability, operational resilience, and system availability for mission‑critical transaction processing, including SLA governance and incident management
• Lead security‑by‑design principles, compliance engineering, and vulnerability remediation across all mainframe platforms and tooling
• Champion integration initiatives connecting mainframe systems with cloud platforms, APIs, and modern application architectures to support broader enterprise modernization goals
• Manage strategic vendor relationships, including IBM and automation platform providers, and exercise stewardship over technology budgets and investment priorities
• Drive cross‑functional collaboration with architecture, security, application, and business teams to ensure the platform supports and accelerates enterprise objectives
• Serve as an executive‑level advocate for the mainframe platform, translating complex engineering strategy into business value narratives for senior leadership and board‑level audiences when required

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of enterprise platform engineering experience, with meaningful exposure to IBM zSystems (z/OS) or comparable mission‑critical environments such as HP NonStop or large‑scale Unix/Linux systems
• 6+ years of progressive leadership experience managing engineering teams through transformation, including direct reports, contractors, and matrixed organizations in complex enterprise settings
• At least 5+ years of technical literacy across z/OS architecture, mainframe operational concepts, and security frameworks (RACF, ACF2, or TopSecret) to set realistic expectations, evaluate your team's work, and engage credibly with subject‑matter experts
• A demonstrated track record of delivering large‑scale platform modernization, infrastructure automation, or technology transformation programs, on time, within budget, and with measurable business impact
• Executive‑level communication and influencing skills, with the ability to navigate competing stakeholder priorities and build alignment across technology and business leadership
• Experience owning significant technology budgets and managing strategic vendor relationships, including contract negotiation and long‑term roadmap alignment

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Deep hands‑on background with IBM zSystems, including system programming, LPAR management, or mainframe application development
• Experience in healthcare or financial services transaction processing environments where platform reliability carries regulatory and patient safety implications
• Familiarity with AIOps platforms, machine learning applications in infrastructure management, or AI‑driven security operations
• Experience establishing enterprise‑wide SLAs, engineering performance metrics, and organizational design frameworks for large technical teams
• ITIL Foundation or IBM Certified System Administrator (z/OS) certification

EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree or, equivalent experience (HS diploma + 4 years relevant experience)

EEO & Equal Opportunity Statement

CVS Health is an affirmative action employer, and is an equal opportunity employer, as are the physician‑owned businesses for which CVS Health provides management services. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring, promotion, or any other personnel action based on race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We proudly support and encourage people with military experience (active, veterans, reservists and National Guard) as well as military spouses to apply for CVS Health job opportunities.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.

Pay Range

The typical pay range for this role is:
$144,200.00 - $288,400.00

This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full‑time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors. This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short‑term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above. This position also includes an award target in the company's equity award program.

Great benefits for great people

We take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families. This full‑time position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, emotional, and financial well‑being of colleagues and their families. The benefits for this position include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, retirement savings options, wellness programs, and other resources, based on eligibility. Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on Benefits Moments.