Cloud App Developer

The Office of Secretary of State (OSOS) offers some of the most unique and diverse job opportunities in state government. Its critical responsibilities include: ensuring a fair and accurate elections process; connecting Washingtonians through the power of libraries; protecting our important government records; and registering corporations and charities. The Secretary of State also administers vital community programs that inspire giving, document our history, and assist crime survivors in avoiding further abuse. This independent office under the state Constitution operates from facilities in the Olympia area and statewide. The OSOS is looking for top-performing employees who embody its core values of integrity, service excellence, visionary leadership, collaboration and teamwork. It is committed to both employee growth and work-life balance. The benefits of working in state government also include potential eligibility for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Visit our website at: www.sos.wa.gov. The Division of Information Technology (IT) ensures that all technology systems within OSOS business programs run smoothly, securely, and efficiently. We are the strategic partner in driving business goals, improving operational efficiency, and safeguarding critical data and systems. IT is deeply involved in ensuring the seamless flow of information, providing scalability and innovation, handling everything from hardware, software and tools to complex systems delivering valuable customer experience.

Cloud App Developer Permanent, Full-Time

The Application and Data Management program is responsible to provide core IT application and data management maintenance and support, while striving for continuous modernization and innovation of existing systems supported within OSOS IT in partnership with Business. The incumbent in this position reports to an IT Application Development Senior Specialist Supervisor within the Office of the Secretary of State (OSOS). This position is responsible for the analysis, design, development, and implementation of the Combined Fund Drive (CFD) System which supports 80k + state employees, and other OSOS statewide applications that support internal and external customers. The incumbent will analyze, design, develop systems, databases and user interfaces. The incumbent will ensure all developed and deployed code meets state and federal standards for accessibility, security, and in meeting industry best practices. These duties touch every division and mission of the Office. Further duties can be defined to support team collaboration and duty functions or as assigned.

Cloud Developer Tasks include:• Programs within the OSOS Cloud environments as day-to-day operations, managing to issues and outages related to any applications supported by the position.

• Develops and maintains cloud-based applications and services.
• Designs and implements cloud architecture that meets business requirements.
• Collaborates with DevOps team to ensure efficient deployment and operation of cloud infrastructure.
• Optimizes cloud development and systems for scalability, security and performance
• Monitors and troubleshoots cloud systems to ensure uptime and performance.
• Keeps up to date with the latest trends in cloud computing and programming.
• Implements software design, practices and processes to build efficient, scalable and durable software applications
• Performs code reviews, verifies code quality and aligns to the OWASP guidelines for development best practices.
• Contributes to team development practices by following established coding standards
• Assists peers with troubleshooting, and applying secure, consistent development patterns under the guidance of senior engineers and technical leads.
• Supports transparency and operational stability by providing clear, timely communications to target audiences
• Participates in continuous improvement efforts by helping evaluate new tools and methods, contributing to prototypes or proof-of-concepts developed by senior staff, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure new approaches integrate smoothly with existing systems and align with organizational goals.
• Collaborates with supervisors, architects, business stakeholders, peer developers and business analysts in a professional manner to define, design, and implement key features that enhance overall user experience and deliver meaningful value.
• Researches, designs, and implements new technologies, processes, and methods following SOLID coding principles and SDLC best practices to solve complex problems that have higher ambiguity.
• Analyzes existing workflows to identify inefficiencies, gaps, and opportunities for improvement, recommending innovative solutions that streamline operations.
• Provides training, guidance, mentorship and knowledge sharing sessions to help fellow developers and business users to understand and adopt new processes effectively.
• Reviews logs, application code, and databases, troubleshoots problems, consults with business users and team to maintain systems and uptime of systems.

Tier 3 Technical Support Tasks include:• Supports incident response for application environments by assisting in identifying, tracking, and resolving emergency issues, outages, and work stoppages, while keeping appropriate audiences informed of status and progress through established communication channels.

• Maintains application resilience by creating, updating, and testing disaster recovery plans; guides the team toward areas requiring functional testing; and ensures supported applications comply with applicable policies.
• Sustains application performance by configuring and maintaining databases, performing routine checks, and collaborating with senior staff to ensure consistent, reliable operation across supported systems.

Developer Support and Application Status Management Tasks include:

• Contributes to team development practices by following established coding standards, assisting peers with troubleshooting, and applying secure, consistent development patterns under the guidance of senior engineers and technical leads.
• Supports communication and operational stability by providing clear, timely updates to stakeholders on application issues, outages, and incidents, documenting steps taken toward resolution, and ensuring transparency throughout the process.
• Participates in continuous improvement efforts by helping evaluate new tools and methods, contributing to prototypes or proof-of-concepts developed by senior staff, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure new approaches integrate smoothly with existing systems and align with organizational goals.

Miscellaneous Tasks include:• Supports internal staff and external customers in troubleshooting issues.

Required Qualifications: • Four years of experience in applications development, including contributing to the design, development, and maintenance of applications using industry-standard tools, frameworks, and programming languages. Experience working with relational databases such as MS SQL or comparable technologies, including supporting database development, maintenance, queries, and troubleshooting. Experience in developing applications in the Microsoft.Net environment, C#, ASP.NET, MVC, .NET Core, AngularJS, Angular, VB.NET, HTML, CSS, TypeScript, JavaScript, jQuery, TSQL, PowerShell, and Software Defined Storage.

OR• A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or related field and 1 year of experience working in the technology industry where development of systems or applications was the primary job responsibilities whether full stack, (app, services, data) or cloud based (Azure app services, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, runner, or amplify), etc.

• Ability to efficiently use a personal computer and applicable software to successfully perform the essential functions of the position.

• Ability to read and write English language.

Information Technology Experience is the progressive technical expertise of enterprise solution design and engineering in any of the following functional & technical IT domain areas:

• Software development & engineering (web, mobile, desktop, and embedded systems).
• Cybersecurity (network, asset, risk)
• Cloud computing & DevOps: (cloud architecture, management, and workflow automation)
• Data Science, AI & Analytics (big data, machine learning, data mining, and AI systems)
• Network administration (design and support)
• Quality Assurance (QA testing for failures, missed features and quality)
• Database Administration (managing and securing data stores, tuning & optimization)
• Emerging Technology

Preferred Qualifications:• 1 year of experience working with Microsoft Azure Cloud or has the Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) or is willing to accomplish the AZ-204 learning path in the first 6 months of hire.

PLEASE READ: If you have gotten this far and are thinking you do not qualify, consider again. Studies have shown that members of historically marginalized and underrepresented communities, specifically women and people of color, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they clearly meet every single qualification. At the Office of the Secretary of State, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic work force with a foundation of belonging. If you are excited about this role and have relevant experience and skills, but question whether your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply regardless. You may just be the ideal candidate this office needs.

Working Conditions The role necessitates an individual who can function effectively both independently and as part of a team. It demands the ability to excel under pressure in order to meet stringent deadlines. The candidate must demonstrate adaptability within the rapidly evolving realm of web development, particularly with regards to website security. Thoroughness and precision in task execution are paramount, as is the capability to manage multiple tasks concurrently. Proficiency in interpersonal and communication skills, directed towards both internal and external stakeholders, is a fundamental requirement. The standard work hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm. However, there is an expectation of availability beyond these hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, particularly during unforeseen emergencies. The role includes the physical ability to handle objects weighing up to 50 lbs, with or without reasonable accommodation. Additionally, readiness to travel to different office locations within the state on short notice is essential. The work environment is predominantly office-based, involving prolonged periods of sitting and extensive utilization of the keyboard. Remote work is allowed per office policy; however, you must be in the office full time for the six-month trial services/probationary period and three days in person (50% of time) after that.

Special Requirements• This position is in a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, The Office of the Secretary of State, and the WFSE.

• Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will 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 position.

How to Apply• Required: To be considered for this position you must attach the following:• Letter of interest describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the duties and qualifications of the position.

• Current resume

• Three Professional references. Personal references will not be considered.

• You must complete the supplemental questions at the end of this application. Incomplete responses such as "see resume" will not be considered.

• All veterans must include a copy of your DD214 to receive preference in the hiring process. You must black out your social security number before attaching it to your application.

The Office of the Secretary of State is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We do not discriminate on the basis of religion, age, gender, marital status, color, creed, national origin, political affiliation, military status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any sensory, mental or physical ability. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply. Persons of disability needing assistance in the application process, or those needing the announcement in alternative format, should call (360) 704-5211.