L&I IT Application Development - Senior/Specialist (MIPS Supervisor)

About the Division and Office

The Information Technology (IT) Division is an internal service organization responsible for providing information technology-based products and services in support of the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) agency business priorities so that L&I can keep Washington Safe and Working.

The mainframe program is responsible for managing L&l's Industrial Insurance applications, which are the agencies priority one systems. These applications are crucial for effectively managing the worker compensation program and are used by over 3,000 staff. These applications include both internal and external-facing applications that support Health Services Analysis (HSA) business processes. The Medical Information Payment System (MIPS) is L&I’s Industrial Insurance billing system. MIPS has over four (4) million lines of code and processes a minimum of 20,000 bills per day which equate to over 500 million dollars each year MIPS has both an online and batch component and contains more than 600 modules. MIPS has 1,200 users across 16 teams, and supports 100 thousand credentialed providers, making it one of the agencies’ most critical applications and databases.

The Mainframe program is made up of four (4) units that support critical operations of the domain. The Claims, Employer Systems, MIPS, and Operational functions are critical to balancing the support of aging systems. This position reports to the Director of Mainframe Operations and Strategy and serves as the supervisor of the MIPS Mainframe team, supervising entry, journey and senior level staff.

About the Role

As the IT Application Development – Senior/Specialist, you will serve as the Senior Application Development and supervisor for the MIPS Mainframe and .NET product teams and will provide expert technical leadership, system design authority, and supervisory oversight for an application that supports statewide medical billing, provider payments, and industrial insurance operations. These are services injured workers and medical providers across Washington depend on every day.

In this role, you’ll lead the design, architecture, and modernization of MIPS. You will make sure it stays reliable, high-performing, and continues to meet legislative and policy requirements. You’ll direct a multidisciplinary team of IT professionals and give advanced consultation and architectural guidance on high-risk system components. You will also manage projects that deliver agency-wide infrastructure upgrades and enhancements to Insurance Services applications.

This is an advanced-level programmer/analyst position with a high degree of autonomy. You’ll independently develop, enhance, and maintain multiple complex applications across several programming languages and technologies, often leading those efforts and balancing several projects at once. Your deep understanding of the mainframe will be key to solving difficult problems and guiding sound technical decisions.

Some of what you’ll do:

• Mainframe MIPS Programming
  • Serve as the technical authority for MIPS mainframe and .NET components, providing expert level design, architecture, and development leadership. Lead the design and implementation of new system logic, data flows, and application components where no existing precedent exists. Architect modernization strategies for legacy MIPS components and establish coding standards, development patterns, and technical best practices. Direct cross system integration design with ProviderOne, MPOS, MIPC, and other enterprise systems.
  • Create new applications and modify existing applications, debug applications and system problems.
  • Complete testing to ensure customers do not encounter errors.
  • Monitor Applications and systems, ensure efficient and reliable application operation.
  • Create application and system documentation.
  • Apply and accommodate software and hardware upgrades.
  • Respond to problem calls.
  • Coordinate pre-productions and production code drops when assigned for high-risk system changes.
  • Leads projects assigned, including development of project plans, schedule, coordination of design/maintenance and testing activities requiring advanced technical design, architectural decision making, and cross team coordination.
  • Investigate application abends as needed which may include 24-hour system response for production problems.

• System Analysis
  • Determine the best and most appropriate alternatives for computer systems to meet customer needs.
  • Translate business requirements into programming and development specifications.
  • Documents technical specifications and perform estimates on Service Requests, project tasks and other technical work for high-risk enhancements, legislative mandates, and cross system integrations.
  • Performs system and program design.
  • Responsible for analysis and resolution of problems and consultations with other computer analysts and programmers.
  • Reviews fiscal notes and prepares feedback for compliance with architectural standards and enterprise design patterns.
• Maintenance and Critical Response
  • Monitor and Maintain Databases and Solutions by investigating application usage, error reports, and performance or reliability issues as needed by conducting advanced analysis of system performance, data integrity, and cross system dependencies.
  • Provide Critical Response and Problem Resolution by responding to critical production problems.
• Understanding Customer Needs
  • Responsible for coordinating with customers to define, develop, test, and implement system requirements.
  • Lead requirements analysis for enterprise level enhancements, ensuring alignment with business needs, legislative mandates, and technical architecture.
• Scrum master for MIPS Mainframe product and MIPS .NET Product Team
  • Actively identifying and clearing roadblocks.
  • Facilitating daily standups, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.
  • Responsible for shielding the team from outside interruptions and distractions.
  • Assisting with product backlog management, refinement, and defining goals for the team.
  • Enhancing collaboration and helping the team resolve internal conflicts.
• MIPS Mainframe and .NET Team Supervisor
  • Hire, train, mentor and coach direct report staff. Lead and supervise the Mainframe MIPS team of Entry, Journey, and Senior level staff composed of Entry, Journey, and Senior level IT professionals by providing leadership, mentoring, direction, future vision technical guidance and evaluations for direct reports.
  • Responsible for performance management tasks by consulting with Manager and Office of Human Resources (OHR) – Human Resources Consultants (HRC). This includes individual development plans for staff, timely performance and development plan expectations and evaluations, and corrective progressive discipline.
  • Ensure assigned duties are accomplished and employees are demonstrating competencies. Ensuring employees have the tools and resources to complete the job successfully.
  • Coach, guide, and mentor the team with an eye towards future responsibilities and goals of individual team members by preparing formal performance and development plans. Assesses and reviews training needs for staff and arranges for or provides additional instruction.
  • Establish and maintain position descriptions (PD) in partnership with manager and assigned HR Consultant.
  • Review PD annually with staff.
  • Evaluate team members, provide feedback, and approve leave/training requests.
  • Attend meetings and complete regular status reports to communicate progress on assigned tasks.

And much more!

Required:

• Ten (10) years of direct and progressive professional Information Technology experience:
  • Consulting, analyzing, designing, implementing, maintaining, or programming computer software applications and/or databases and providing technical customer support in Information Technology.
  • Using all or some of the following technologies: COBOL, NATURAL/ADABAS, JCL, VB, VB.NET, Visual Studio, ASP, ASP.NET, EntireX, MQ Series, Java Script, HTML, XML, SQL Server and MS Access.
  • Ability to solve complex technical problems and apply emerging technologies in mainframe environments.

NOTE: Education may substitute year for year for experience up to four (4) years for a bachelor’s degree and up to two (2) years for an associate’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or a closely aligned field.

Required Competencies

• Scrum Master Certification

Things You Need to Know

At L&I, your voice matters. In addition, L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3.3 million workers. Take a look at this brief video and learn more about why L&I is an employer of choice.

L&I provides a modern work environment and excellent benefits including paid leave, tuition reimbursement, Infants at Work Program and a generous retirement package for qualified employees at the end of their career. Click on the “Benefits” tab to learn more.

For this position, teleworking may be up to full time with the expectation of attending in person meetings and training occasionally or upon business needs. The assigned duty station for this position is Tumwater, WA.

We offer hybrid and remote work options, though we’re primarily seeking candidates who live in Washington State or are willing to relocate, to support in-person collaboration and access to on-site resources when needed. Remote work from a state outside of WA requires approval.

To receive more information on opportunities at L&I sign up for GovDelivery and select L&I job alerts.

Application process

To be considered for this opportunity, you must submit a completed online application including work history and professional references.

A resume and cover letter are not required and will not be used in lieu of a complete application.
Please ensure your application includes detailed work history that clearly demonstrates how your experience relates to the qualifications and responsibilities of this position. For each previous position listed, include specific duties, project(s), accomplishments, and relevant skills that showcase your experience.

You are also required to provide three (3) professional references with current telephone numbers. References should be individuals who can speak to your work performance, skills, and professional experience.

**Applications with incomplete work history, missing employment information, or references to a resume in place of detailed work experience, or fewer than three (3) professional references with current telephone numbers may be considered incomplete and may not be considered for further review.

Your application materials will be used to determine whether you meet the qualifications for this position and advance in the selection process.

Please do not attach or place any medical information within the application, experience or work history. If you do, we will have to reject your application to safeguard others from receiving your confidential information. You will have to remove the confidential information before you can apply again.

To learn more about our hiring process timeline at L&I please visit our L&I recruiting page at Hiring Process at L&I. If you would like to read our website in a language other than English, scroll up to the top of the page to select your language of choice from the banner.

Other information

• IT position applicants selected to move forward in this hiring process will receive an email skills assessment invitation within 3 weeks of your application being accepted. An applicant may complete the assessment when ready, but the invitation to complete the assessment will expire 5 days after the invitation was sent. Once you start the assessment, you will be required to complete it. You cannot start your assessment and then come back to it later. Please look in your email inbox or spam as these invitations are sent by CodeSignal.
• For positions requiring travel, you must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and have insurance if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.
• This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
• Candidates who are offered a job with L&I must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.
• The Department of Labor and Industries does not participate in E-Verify. Employment eligibility is verified solely through the I-9 form process described below.
• The Department of Labor & Industries complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form, I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.
• Please note: L&I may use this announcement to fill multiple permanent and/or non-permanent positions.

Background Check Notice

Prior to a placement in this position, a background check, including criminal history record will be conducted. Information from your background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining your eligibility to perform the requirements of the position.

Did You Know?

Washington is America's Top State to live, play, and work, according to U.S. News (2021). Join the L&I team and enjoy all the Evergreen State has to offer.

In addition to offering a positive balance between life and work, L&I provides one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation. We also believe your voice matters. We value our employees and their work-life balance by encouraging flexible schedules. L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3 million workers.

Veterans Preference

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach to their application a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as Social Security numbers. For further information, contact L&I’s Jobs@lni.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

L&I employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contributes to the success of the agency’s mission. Having a diverse workforce is this agency’s greatest source of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures to provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone and we strongly mean everyone.

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need accommodation in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call 360-902-5700. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials, and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

For more Information