Software Development Specialist 4

Who We Are Our mission is to promote positive, lifelong outcomes for Ohio youth through early intervention, quality education, and family support programs. At DCY, we offer our employees a rewarding work experience in public service helping Ohioans achieve a sustainable lifestyle that includes generous benefit options and a flexible work life balance making our agency a great place to work! To learn more about DCY, please visit our website at Department of Children and Youth | Ohio.gov. Location Requirements: DCY’s core hours of operation are Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., however, daily start/end times may vary based on operational need across DCY divisions. Employees may begin as early as 7:00 a.m. and as late as 9:00 a.m., based on supervisory approval. This position performs work on-site daily at DCY’s office space. What You'll Do You will serve as a technical expert and strategic partner in designing, developing, testing, and supporting enterprise technology solutions that support agency operations. This role combines software development, systems analysis, architecture collaboration, technical leadership, business process improvement, and mentoring responsibilities. You will work closely with IT leadership, architects, business stakeholders, vendors, and development teams to deliver secure, scalable, and effective technology solutions that align with organizational goals. Solution Design and Business Analysis Collaborate with IT Architects, IT Managers, and business areas to design technology solutions that address agency needs. Analyze business requirements and help translate them into technical specifications. Assist with developing and documenting business cases that support technology investments. Evaluate alternative solutions and recommend the most effective approach. Lead design reviews and participate in architecture discussions. Application Development and Technical Leadership Design, develop, enhance, and maintain enterprise applications using technologies such as: - C#/.NET - VB.NET - JavaScript - HTML - Visual Studio - Oracle Database - Microsoft SQL Server - Stored Procedures and Triggers - Azure Development Services - Azure DevOps Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues. Optimize application performance through code improvements and system tuning. Promote software reusability and adherence to development standards. Business Process and Documentation Define, document, and improve current and future-state business processes. Create and maintain technical and enterprise documentation. Develop recommendations for policies, standards, guidelines, procedures, and best practices. Produce technical position papers and implementation documentation for leadership review and approval. Testing and Quality Assurance Develop test strategies and pass/fail criteria. Coordinate and oversee system, performance, and load testing activities. Evaluate technical environments to ensure software solutions will perform effectively. Identify and resolve software, hardware, and environmental conflicts before deployment. Conduct testing retrospectives and recommend continuous process improvements. Production Support and Operational Excellence Provide support for business-critical applications after implementation. Monitor system performance and troubleshoot issues affecting users. Support highly available environments that may utilize: - Load balancing - Failover solutions - Clustering technologies Coordinate deployment schedules and implementation plans. Mentorship and Communication Act as a technical resource for development teams. Research and identify solutions to complex technical challenges. Present technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. Mentor peers and less-experienced staff through formal and informal training. Create technical documentation and learning resources to support team development. Pay Information: Unless required by legislation or union contract, starting salary will be step 1 of the salary range associated with this position. New hires advance to the next step in the range after 6 months and annually thereafter. Based on collective bargaining and legislative activity, there may be cost of living increases awarded annually. Additional longevity supplements begin after 5 years. The current wage progression for this position is in the table below. Months of Employment At Hire 6 Months 18 Months 30 Months 42 Months 54 Months 66 Months 78 Months 90 Months Pay Range 36/ OCSEA Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 Step 9 Hourly $46.00 $48.28 $50.66 $53.13 $55.72 $58.55 $61.46 $64.52 $67.75 Annual $95,680 $100,422 $105,373 $110,510 $115,898 $121,784 $127,837 $134,202 $140,920 Additional Information Visa Sponsorship: The Ohio Department of Children and Youth does not provide employment-based visa sponsorship. Supplemental Questions: All answers to the supplemental questions must be supported by the work experience/education provided on your civil service application. Attachments will not be considered as part of your application. Selection Process: Selection devices such as a structured interview, proficiency instrument, and/or assessment may be required for this position. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency with a passing score of applicable selection device to be considered for this position. Regardless of a passing or failing score, all results will be maintained for 6 months. Applicants with a passing score will be retained and utilized for a 6-month period. Applicants with a failing score in the same position may not re-take the same selection device for a 6-month period. Travel Requirements: Travel required, as needed. Must provide own transportation or in order to operate a state vehicle, you must have a valid driver’s license. Background Check: The final candidate selected for the position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.