STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Software Engineer

Recruitment #191129-7605FD-001

Introduction

The State of CT Connecticut is a leader in the coordination of early childhood programs throughout the country.  The Office of Early Childhood (OEC) coordinates the delivery of early childhood services for the state’s youngest residents; including early care and education, home visiting, developmental support, and program and provider development. We are an agency, making a difference in the lives of the state’s youngest residents. We believe in ensuring all children are safe, healthy, learning and thriving, and we need a hard-working, solutions-oriented professional to join our growing technology team.

We are recruiting for two (2), full-time, Software Engineers to join our growing technology division. The OEC is looking to build modern, user friendly, customer-centric applications to support our six divisions and the members of the public we serve. Technical growth is crucial to IT culture of the OEC, and in this position, you will be part of a newly formed team with growth potential.

This development role would be at the ground floor and have direct influence over the foundational design and strategic execution of this evolving IT business unit. You will be involved in the entire software life cycle of our projects, application designs, UI/UX designs, data structures, web services, application security and unit testing.  In the Technology Division, you can expect to work with state partners and contractors to develop new digital solutions for challenging questions in the agency and create opportunities for colleagues to use data and information in a dynamic way. The Technology Division maintains and innovates on the existing information systems and find ways to make the systems work for the agency.

The successful candidate will:

• Partner with internal stakeholders ensuring applications designed are developed fulfill the business’s needs.
• Analyze systems specifications of new and existing applications to determine requirements.
• Create technical specifications from business requirements/business specifications.
• Define detailed development tasks, task dependencies and estimates to complete work.
• Consult and/or participate in the requirements, design and coding walkthroughs to ensure the development of quality solutions.
• Design, code, debug, test via unit testing, and integrate software application solutions while ensuring all designs are consistent with agency coding and security standards.
• Prepare and/or generate test data.
• Document programs and procedures
• Proactively identify problems and presents/develops solutions
• Investigate and resolve increasingly complex problems including providing support for production systems in a timely manner.
• Contribute to ongoing professional development for the entire team.

Other duties may include:
• Monitoring technology trends, and incorporating new tools and development practices
• Collaborating with external development teams and industry partners
• Reviewing and providing feedback on vendor and third-party design standards/specifications while vetting new integration partners
• Determining how existing applications, systems, databases, interfaces and/or hardware can interact to meet new and emerging enterprise initiatives.

We are looking for YOU, if:

  • You will bring a strong desire to develop, an eye for creativity and your ideas for modern infrastructure and process.
  • You are the type of person who continuously seeks improvements in design, looks to find weak spots and offers improvements in designs and processes.
  • You are the type of person who is not afraid to pick up a shovel and dig in.
  • Your interpersonal skills include excellent verbal and written communication and the ability to work effectively with all levels of technical and non-technical staff and management.
  • You have strong organization and documentation skills, client face time experience, and an attitude to learn and grow with the position. 

The OEC is a proud supporter of the state's Telework Program and provides flexible work schedule options to its employees.

Selection Plan

All applicants must include a name within the "Resume Tab" of their application with their submission.  If you are slected for an interview, it is at that time you will need to provide a Resume, Cover Letter and documentation regarding job performance reviews for the current year and past two (2 years.  The same requirement would apply for positions which require certification/licensure.

Updates of this recruitment will be provided through your JobAps portal account.  Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.  For all other inquiries, please contact Ellen Morris, ellen.morris@ct.gov, 860-713-6670.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency Information Technology (IT) environment, this class is accountable for performing the most complex and technical support work and/or acting as a working supervisor of Information Technology Analysts engaged in information systems development or technical support.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

All Functional Areas: Diagnoses host system problems and develops and coordinates resolutions; manages planning, analysis, design, selection, installation and implementation of new technologies; evaluates new technologies; tests and evaluates new hardware and/or software; makes recommendations for hardware and/or software purchases; determines interface and utility requirements and creates design specifications; acts as liaison to hardware and/or software vendors, system developers, programmers and management; develops and implements network and system security guidelines; makes recommendations for migration and upgrade directions; trains operators, systems developers and users on new procedures; conducts system performance analysis, tuning or storage management; conducts technical training programs for IT staff; acts as project coordinator overseeing other technical staff and support personnel; plans, coordinates and directs multiple projects of assigned staff; reviews work of assigned personnel; calculates project time and cost estimates; prepares necessary procedural specifications to meet design requirements; arranges necessary hardware and software availability; oversees hardware and software vendors; manages project budgets and schedules; reviews work of assigned Information Technology Analysts and serves as consultant and/or troubleshooter; reviews documentation work of assigned staff; communicates with business owners and management; facilitates meetings; assists in development of information technology policies, procedures and standards; participates in Request for Proposal (RFP) process; implements disaster recovery plans, assists in determining critical applications and personnel, or ensures offsite backups; defines data flow; performs related duties as required.

Working Supervisor Use: Plans unit workflow and determines priorities; schedules, assigns, oversees, and reviews work; establishes and maintains unit procedures; provides staff training and assistance; conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations; acts as liaison with operating units, agencies, and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures; make recommendations on policies or standards; prepare reports and correspondence; performs related duties as required.

Systems Programming: Performs the most complex duties related to application development; develops and implements system programming standards; configures and installs host-based application packages; maintains host operating systems; installs and upgrades host and/or Front End Processor (FEP) operating system software; performs other related duties as required.

Software Development: Configures and installs host-based application packages; analyzes upgrades for complex applications to determine functionality and necessary software customization; writes program specifications and systems specifications; designs forms, screens and reports; performs related duties as required.

Database Administration: Provides advanced level database support and troubleshooting; designs, installs, tunes and maintains integrity of major host-based database; leads integration efforts, transitioning applications to new technology; performs related duties as required.

Network Support: Designs and implements complex communications networks; diagnoses and resolves problems using network management systems and utilities; performs related duties as required.

IT Security: Develops, tests and maintains agency disaster recovery plans designed to restore IT system operability; develops process and procedures in support of IT Business Continuity Planning; conducts platform recoverability assessments and Business Impact Analysis (BIA) to determine and assess the impacts associated with disruptions to business functions; conduct risk analysis of IT environments by assessing administrative, technical and physical safeguards; performs IT investigations to include maintaining chain of custody procedures; performs forensics and documents detailed reports of findings; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of principles and techniques of systems analysis, design, development, and computer programming; considerable knowledge of principles of information systems; considerable knowledge of principles and theories of business and planning functions; considerable knowledge of programming languages; considerable knowledge of project management principles and techniques; considerable knowledge of principles, problems and techniques of data processing and data communication operations; considerable knowledge of data processing and data communications equipment and diagnostic tools; considerable knowledge of methods and procedures used to conduct detailed analysis and design of computer systems; considerable knowledge of principles of complex computer operating systems; knowledge of principles and techniques of business information systems re-engineering; knowledge of network protocols and architecture; knowledge of practices and issues of systems security and disaster recovery; knowledge of applications systems development principles and techniques; knowledge of principles and practices of data base management; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable problem solving skills; considerable technical problem solving skills; considerable analytical skills; considerable ability to prepare correspondence, manuals, reports and documentation; considerable ability to analyze and resolve operational and communications problems; considerable ability to analyze and debug complex software programs; considerable ability to identify, analyze and resolve complex business and technical problems; some supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Seven (7) years of experience in information technology (IT) operations, programming, systems/software development or another IT related field.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been at the full professional working level with responsibility for performing a full range of complex technical support functions in one of the following areas:
1. Assisting in the design, implementation and management of a major communications network.
2. Providing technical and administrative support for a wide area network (WAN) or mini-computer system.
3. Assisting in the installation and maintenance of major sub-systems or installing and maintaining other host and/or network software.
4. Participating in the design and development of system applications.
5. Serving as a project coordinator responsible for coordinating the design, development, programming and implementation of moderately complex information systems projects.
NOTE: For state employees this is interpreted at the level of Information Technology Analyst 2.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

1. College training in management information systems, computer science or information technology related area may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling six (6) months of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.

2. A Master's degree in management information systems, computer science or electrical engineering may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference will be given to applicants with the following experience and training:

        • Strong knowledge of a high-level abstraction programming language required (.Net C# Preferred)
        • Strong SQL experience required
        • Strong responsive UI experience using frameworks such as Bootstrap, JQuery, Angular, among others
        • Web services and RESTful services are highly desired

Knowledge of distributed systems and RESTful micro-services and of cloud based infrastructures helpful.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.