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An AS400 and iSeries developer is a specialist who designs, codes, and maintains business applications on IBM's midrange platform — now known as IBM i — using languages such as RPG, CL, and COBOL alongside DB2 for i. These developers keep mission-critical ERP, finance, manufacturing, and logistics systems running on hardware that powers a significant share of global enterprise workloads.

What an AS400 and iSeries developer delivers

An AS400 iSeries developer builds and supports the green-screen and modernized applications that handle order processing, inventory, payroll, billing, and supply chain operations for enterprises running on IBM Power servers. They write new programs, refactor legacy logic, optimize DB2 queries, and integrate the platform with web services, mobile front-ends, and cloud systems.

The commercial value is straightforward. Many companies have decades of business rules embedded in RPG and COBOL code on IBM i, and that code processes high transaction volumes with stability the business depends on. A skilled iSeries developer protects that investment, modernizes it where it makes sense, and keeps the platform connected to modern toolchains.

Core services and deliverables

iSeries development work covers a wide range of tasks, from low-level program changes to full modernization initiatives. Typical deliverables include:

Tools, languages, and platforms

An experienced AS400 developer is fluent across the IBM i toolchain and the languages that dominate the platform. Look for working knowledge of:

Industries that rely on IBM i talent

The platform is concentrated in industries with heavy transactional workloads and long-lived business systems. iSeries developers are commonly hired by:

How to evaluate AS400 and iSeries developer candidates

Strong iSeries developers combine deep platform knowledge with the ability to bridge legacy code and modern architectures. When reviewing profiles, look for years of hands-on RPG and DB2 for i experience, exposure to ILE concepts and service programs, and evidence of modernization or integration projects. Portfolios should reference specific ERP environments, modernization frameworks, or integration patterns rather than generic claims.

Useful interview questions to copy and use:

Why hire AS400 and iSeries developers on Freelancer.com

IBM i is a specialized platform, and the talent pool is smaller than in mainstream web development — which makes reach matter. Freelancer.com gives you access to a global community of AS400 and iSeries developers, including senior RPG engineers, ILE specialists, DB2 for i experts, and modernization consultants who have worked across JD Edwards, BPCS, Infor, and custom green-screen systems. Profiles include verified ratings, completed project history, and portfolio samples so you can assess fit before you commit. Clients set their own budgets and receive competitive bids, and Milestone Payments protect funds until agreed deliverables are accepted.

Post a project on Freelancer.com today and connect with skilled AS400 and iSeries developers ready to maintain, modernize, and extend your IBM i applications.

What are the steps to hiring a freelance AS400 and iSeries developer?

Hiring on IBM i requires a clear brief because the platform spans many sub-skills — RPG coding, DB2 tuning, ERP customization, and modernization are not interchangeable. The steps below help you write a brief that attracts the right specialists, evaluate their proposals, and award with confidence.

Step 1: Post your project on Freelancer.com

The quality of bids you receive is shaped almost entirely by how clearly you describe the work. For an AS400 project, that means naming the languages, the IBM i release level, the ERP or application involved, and the specific deliverables you expect. Head to the post project page , fill in the brief, scope, timeline, and budget, and publish the project for freelancers to bid on.

Step 2: Review bids from freelancers

Bids on a specialist platform like IBM i are short proposals, not just price quotes. A strong proposal will show the developer has read your brief, understood whether you are dealing with legacy RPG III or modern free-format ILE, and proposed an approach that fits. Use Freelancer.com chat to ask clarifying questions before shortlisting.

Step 3: Evaluate freelancers and award the project

The final decision combines proposal strength with hard evidence on the freelancer's profile. For IBM i work, look for consistency across multiple completed projects rather than a single impressive example, and pay attention to written reviews from clients in similar industries.