Backbone Partners with Zcrafter
Zcrafter is a tool brining AI to your Mainframe workflow
Find open Application Developer positions requiring Mainframe or COBOL expertise.
.png&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
Application Developers build and maintain mission-critical enterprise applications that support core business operations. In legacy-heavy environments, this typically means enhancing long-lived transactional systems, implementing new business logic, and ensuring changes are safe, testable, and production-ready. They collaborate closely with business analysts, QA, and production support to deliver reliable updates to systems that cannot afford downtime. Successful application developers combine strong analytical thinking with patience, attention to detail, and the ability to work confidently in large, mature codebases.
The role may have different names depending on geography and domain. Some of the most common name variations of the Application Developer role in the Mainframe and COBOL space are Application Developer, Application Programmer, Programmer Analyst, Backend Developer, Senior Application Developer.
Common questions about Backbone Jobs and how we help you find your next role.
These are the top skills employers on Backbone Jobs are looking for when hiring Application Developers: Mainframe, COBOL, DB2, JCL.
Based on 52 job listings, the average salary for a Application Developer in the Mainframe space is $106,794 in 2026.
The latest insights on proven technology
Zcrafter is a tool brining AI to your Mainframe workflow
The best job boards, remote opportunities, and entry-level programs.
A short introduction to Backbone Jobs and why we think there's a place for us
These are the countries where companies are currently hiring Application Developers.