Description Keeping a financial system reliable takes more than fixing what breaks.
As a Senior IT Application Developer with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), you'll maintain and improve the Debt Management System (DMS). You'll help keep daily operations running while developing solutions for business driven initiatives, including One Washington remediation and the State Matching Funds project.
You'll have a small team behind you and room to contribute your ideas.
You'll work with a business analyst, a tester, and three developers who share knowledge and make technical decisions together. Your week will include production support, development work, and solving problems with business partners. The team uses documented requirements, DevOps, and Visual Studio to manage changes and track progress.
We encourage you to apply if you enjoy understanding how systems work and finding ways to improve them.
You're an experienced application developer who can troubleshoot production issues, design solutions, and explain technical choices. Experience with data integration tools such as SSIS will help, but you don't need to know Pentaho on day one. The team provides training, examples, and documentation to help you learn.
Your first 90 days are about learning the system, building relationships, and beginning to contribute.
You'll get familiar with the DMS architecture, Pentaho software, and DMS configuration while learning how the team works. With support from your colleagues, you'll begin handling production needs and completing project tasks. Within six months, success means you're contributing solutions, working well with business partners, and helping the team meet project commitments. Over your first year, you'll help deliver the One Washington remediation and State Matching Funds projects.
The work arrangement offers flexibility, with real responsibilities attached.
This permanent position is primarily telework, with flexible scheduling and regular Microsoft Teams meetings. You'll collaborate with business partners every other week and meet with developers weekly to share ideas and troubleshoot. Production support and project deadlines will require coordination, but the remote-first arrangement can reduce commuting and give you more flexibility outside work.
Still reading? Here's what you'll do.
Some of What You'll Do
- Maintain and support the Debt Management System.
- Develop solutions for One Washington remediation and the State Matching Funds project.
- Design, build, test, and troubleshoot application changes.
- Configure the DMS commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) application.
- Develop and maintain interfaces using Pentaho.
- Analyze requirements and work with business partners on solutions.
- Investigate production issues and resolve system defects.
- Participate in code reviews, technical discussions, and team planning.
- Document changes and track work in DevOps.
Who Should Apply
You can qualify through one of the following pathways:
- Eleven years of professional experience in computer application development and maintenance; or
- Associate degree in Information Technology or related field and nine years of professional experience in computer application development and maintenance.
- Bachelor's degree in Information Technology or related field and seven years of professional experience in computer application development and maintenance.
And Concurrently: at least five years of experience with Microsoft SQL Database, Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)
And Two years of experience leading team(s) on medium to large scale development effort.
You should be able to demonstrate experience with:
- Developing, maintaining, and troubleshooting business applications.
- Analyzing requirements and designing technical solutions.
- Supporting production systems while meeting project deadlines.
- Collaborating with developers, testers, and business partners.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, & Experience
- Experience with Pentaho or comparable data integration tools such as SSIS.
- Experience configuring and supporting COTS applications.
- Familiarity with DevOps, Visual Studio, and software development life cycle practices.
- Experience supporting financial or debt management systems.
- Ability to learn specialized tools using documentation and team guidance.
How to Apply
Submit:
- Your resume.
- Your cover letter.
- Three professional references.
Questions? Email recruiter Kris George at kris.george@dshs.wa.gov and reference job number 09134.
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. Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here. Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.
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Benefits
More than Just a Paycheck! Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.
Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.
Insurance Benefits Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.
Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.
Retirement and Deferred Compensation State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
Social Security All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Holidays Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.
Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.
Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.
Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.
Sick Leave Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.
Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
Vacation (Annual Leave) Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.
Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.
Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.
Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.
Military Leave Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.
Bereavement Leave Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.
Additional Leave Leave Sharing Parental Leave Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Leave Without Pay
Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.
Updated 01-07-2026
