IT Application Development Specialist

Salary: $112000 - 151000 per year Requirements: We require a bachelors degree or higher in computer science, or in business/public administration with 9 semester or 15 quarter hours of computer science coursework, plus 7 years of increasingly complex problem-solving as a developer building or maintaining large-scale, mission-critical applications using COBOL, ECL, SSG, Bootstrap, JavaScript, Knockout, jQuery, Ninject, ASP.NET MVC, Entity Framework, Reporting Services, MS SQL Server, Microsoft .NET C#, T-SQL, and HTML. Alternatively, we accept an associates degree or completion of an accredited vocational program in an information technology or related field, along with 6 years of consultative, administrative, or supervisory experience in IT analysis, system maintenance, troubleshooting, or application/database design and programming, plus 7 years of advanced development experience on mission-critical systems using the technologies listed above; these may be gained concurrently. We may also consider 8 years of consultative, administrative, or supervisory experience in IT analysis, system maintenance, troubleshooting/problem resolution, or application/database design and programming. We need strong capability to keep learning and growing. We need a service-oriented mindset and the ability to respond to the needs of others. We prefer expert-level knowledge of application development principles, current industry practices, and the Microsoft technology stack, including Windows, Visual Studio, IIS, .NET C#, SQL, TFS, and SharePoint, gained through 5 or more years of experience. We value working knowledge of Agile principles, Scrum methods, and DevOps concepts. We require experience in a highly regulated environment where information security requirements and regulations apply to IT assets and data. Responsibilities: We lead and support teams that design, build, enhance, test, upgrade, replace, and maintain mission-critical 24/7 applications. We oversee three technical architectures, including Unisys, IBM, and SQL, and the processes that transfer information among them. We help drive iterative improvements to the software development lifecycle. We design, develop, maintain, and troubleshoot interfaces with internal business partners, state agencies, and third-party organizations. We recommend, shape, and deliver technical solutions. We break down high-level business and user needs into functional requirements. We investigate and resolve complex application, interface, and data issues. We monitor application health and performance and respond quickly to problems. We resolve incidents for stakeholders, customers, and partners by identifying root causes and mitigating or fixing them. We supervise one senior IT application development position and four IT contract roles in daily development activities. We collaborate with DevOps teams to improve deployments, support compliance with technology standards, and contribute to disaster recovery and business continuity efforts. Technologies: ASP.NET Bootstrap C# COBOL DevOps IBM Support JavaScript MVC SQL Security SharePoint Visual Studio Windows jQuery ETL LESS Network TDD TSQL Web More: We are the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families, and our mission is to help children and youth grow up safe, healthy, and thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally through the support of family and community. This is a full-time, non-permanent IT Application Development (Senior/Specialist) role based in Olympia, Washington, with a flexible hybrid work arrangement and an intent to convert the position to permanent in 2027. We offer a competitive state benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, retirement plans, paid leave, holidays, and other compensation benefits. We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, and we encourage candidates to apply even if their background does not match every qualification exactly. last updated 28 week of 2026