Job Description

As a Senior Mainframe Developer in our Warehouse Tech team, you’ll be at the heart of the engine that powers NEXT. Based in our South Elmsall office, you’ll join a specialist team dedicated to developing and maintaining the software behind our highly automated warehouse and distribution network. Your work ensures that thousands of items are picked, packed, and dispatched to customers across the globe every single day. Whether you’re evolving our international operations or keeping our UK systems robust, you’ll have the autonomy to make a tangible impact from day one. To help you settle in, you’ll be supported by a collaborative team of experts and given the tools you need to understand our unique automation landscape.

What you’ll take on

In this role, you’ll bridge the gap between complex technical specifications and high-performance code. You will:

• Develop and maintain mission-critical software using COBOL, CICS, and DB2 to support our vast distribution estate.
• Lead the full development life cycle, from initial requirements gathering and business analysis through to testing and deployment.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver project streams that expand our global reach and evolve our warehouse offerings.
• Provide essential support to internal users, ensuring system stability through proactive maintenance and participating in an out-of-hours cover rotation.
• Drive continuous improvement by sharing your expertise to refine our departmental processes, making our development practices faster and more efficient.

What you’ll bring

We’re looking for a seasoned developer who balances technical mastery with a practical, problem-solving mindset. You’ll thrive here if you have:

• Strong technical foundations in COBOL, CICS, JCL, and IBM DB2, with a proven track record of delivering clean, reliable code.
• An analytical approach, with the ability to interpret business needs and turn them into functional technical solutions.
• Great communication skills, allowing you to work effectively with both technical peers and internal stakeholders.
• Adaptability and organisation, staying calm and focused during busy periods or when handling out-of-hours support.
• Desirable: experience with SQL, Microsoft Azure DevOps, Natural/ADABAS, or ZOS Connect.

#LI-LE1 #LI-Hybrid

You know Next, but did you know we’re a FTSE-100 retail company employing over 35,000 people across the UK and Ireland. We’re the UK’s 2nd largest fashion retailer and for Kidswear we’re the market leader. At the last count we have over 500 stores, plus the Next Online and it’s now possible to buy on-line from over 70 countries around the world! So we’ve gone global!