DSHS FTAA IT Senior Application Developer

Description

Facilities, Technology & Analytics Administration (FTAA) Senior Application Developer (Two Openings)
Supports DSHS's Division of Child Support (DCS)

You join a team that keeps Washington’s child support systems running smoothly for families, partners, and thousands of daily users. Your work as Senior Developer strengthens the tools that help parents receive and distribute support, and you play a central role in modernizing complex applications that serve communities statewide. You collaborate with experienced colleagues who value clear communication, thoughtful problem-solving, and practical solutions that make a real difference.

In this role, you will support enterprise systems that span legacy and modern technologies, and you help guide the shift toward more flexible, efficient, and secure platforms. You apply your technical depth to create reliable software, improve system performance, and shape future architectural direction. You also share your knowledge with teammates, offering guidance that strengthens the entire development group.

You have the flexibility to telework from anywhere within Washington State. You will collaborate with technical staff, managers, and partners across agencies, and you will contribute to decisions that influence long-term system health, modernization, and service delivery.

Some of what you will do

• Lead technical development efforts for child support systems including design development, testing, implementation, and support.
• Architect enterprise solutions that support child support collection, distribution, and reconciliation across multiple platforms.
• Develop, maintain, and modernize enterprise applications using technologies, including .NET, VB6, COBOL, SQL, and related tools.
• Transform complex requirements into clear, well-tested technical solutions that meet state and federal standards.
• Improve application performance and reliability through code optimization, database tuning and process automation.
• Ensure compliance with IT policies, security standards, regulatory requirements, and quality benchmarks throughout the application lifecycle.
• Support critical services by diagnosing issues, restoring access, and resolving defects across the application stack.
• Guide modernization work by redesigning legacy applications, planning new architectures, and helping move hierarchical data into modern database designs.
• Mentor technical staff by sharing best practices, reviewing code, and supporting skill development across the team.
• Provide on-call support for critical child support systems.
• Resolve critical production issues by identifying root causes, implementing solutions, and ensuring timely restoration of critical applications.

Who should apply

You have deep experience creating and supporting enterprise software solutions and can work independently on complex, high-impact projects. You understand multiple development languages and frameworks, and you can apply that knowledge to both legacy and modern environments. You communicate clearly, write well, and collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical partners. You use good judgment, demonstrate integrity, and work respectfully with others.

You bring many of the following skills and strengths:

• Enterprise software development with 10 or more years designing, building, and implementing technical solutions for large systems.
• Modern and legacy development using languages such as COBOL, C#, Visual Basic, and SQL.
• Architectural design including database structures, schemas, and integration across platforms.
• Secure development practices that protect sensitive data at the highest state-defined levels.
• Troubleshooting and root-cause work across multiple applications and environments.
• Software lifecycle knowledge includes planning, estimating, and supporting large-scale projects.
• Coaching and knowledge-sharing to help teammates grow and maintain consistent development standards.
• Understanding of child support program rules or the ability to learn them to inform technical decisions.

This role requires ten or more years of senior-level experience creating enterprise software solutions. You may meet the requirements through several experience and education pathways, but the core requirement is extensive, practical experience supporting complex systems.

Preferred knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Designing and building front-end and back-end solutions using a variety of technologies.
• Guiding technical direction across multiple projects and supporting teams through complex decisions.
• Applying secure coding standards, performing code reviews, testing, and supporting all phases of the software development lifecycle.
• Communicating clearly, documenting work, and contributing effectively whether working independently, leading a team, or partnering with others.
• Advanced knowledge of database structures and schemas, plus familiarity with IRS Pub 1075 or similar frameworks for safeguarding sensitive data.
• Coaching technical staff on development best practices and architectural design; experience with financial systems is helpful but not required.

The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Supplemental Information

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

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