Software Engineer (Systems Programmer/Developer III) - 61161323

The mission of the South Carolina Department of Education is to serve students, support teachers, empower parents, and engage the community so that every student graduates prepared to reach their full potential.

PURPOSE OF POSITION The South Carolina Department of Education is seeking a skilled Software Engineer to design, build, and support the applications and integrations that serve students, educators, and districts across the state. Working within the Office of Information Technology, this role spans full-stack development on Microsoft Azure and the agency's Salesforce platform, connecting program, constituent, and educator data across systems. The ideal candidate will have current, hands-on experience in modern full-stack development, Salesforce development, and API-driven integration.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Application Development (40%)

• Design, build, test, deploy, and maintain production applications using C#, React, Python, Azure SQL, and Microsoft Azure for hosting.
• Deliver features end to end, from requirements and design through implementation, testing, deployment, and production support.
• Write clean, well-tested, maintainable code and contribute to shared libraries, components, and patterns used across the team.
• Diagnose and resolve production issues, including performance, reliability, and security defects.

Salesforce Development and Integration (30%)

• Build and extend Salesforce solutions using Apex, Lightning Web Components, SOQL, and Flow to support agency programs and stakeholder engagement.
• Design, build, and maintain integrations between Salesforce, agency applications, data platforms, and third-party services using REST APIs, platform events, and middleware.
• Manage Salesforce metadata through source control and automated deployment pipelines, maintaining sandbox and release discipline.
• Partner with Salesforce administrators and business analysts to translate requirements into declarative or programmatic solutions, favoring configuration where it fits.

Design, Quality, and Modernization (15%)

• Contribute to technical design for new applications and enhancements; document designs, integrations, and technical decisions.
• Follow and strengthen code review, automated testing, and CI/CD practices (GitLab, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps).
• Support migration of legacy applications onto modern frameworks and the Azure platform.
• Apply secure development practices and remediate vulnerabilities in coordination with information security staff.

Collaboration and Delivery (15%)

• Participate in sprint planning, backlog refinement, estimation, and other Agile ceremonies.
• Work with product owners, program offices, and team members to clarify requirements and acceptance criteria.
• Share knowledge through code review, pairing, and documentation, and support onboarding of new developers and interns.

This position is located in the Office of Information Technology.A high school diploma and work experience in the modification and maintenance of system programs, the design and development of system software, or the testing and debugging of system software. An associate's degree or a bachelor's degree in a related field may substitute for the required work experience.

• A two-year technical degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field. Relevant work experience may substitute for the degree on a year-for-year basis.
• Work experience in software development, including the design, development, testing, and maintenance of applications.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Three (3) or more years of professional software development experience building and supporting production applications.
• Hands-on Salesforce development experience, including Apex, Lightning Web Components, SOQL, and Flow.
• Experience integrating Salesforce with external systems through REST APIs, platform events, or middleware such as MuleSoft.
• Salesforce Platform Developer I certification; Platform Developer II or Platform App Builder a plus.
• Proficiency in full-stack web development with React and TypeScript on the frontend and C# or Python on the backend.
• Experience designing, building, and troubleshooting APIs and system integrations.
• Experience building and deploying applications on Microsoft Azure (App Service, Azure Functions, Container Apps, Azure SQL, Entra ID), ideally using infrastructure-as-code (Bicep).
• Relational database design and SQL development experience in Azure SQL or SQL Server.
• Proficiency with source control and CI/CD tooling (GitLab, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps), including source-driven Salesforce deployment (Salesforce DX).
• Familiarity with Agile delivery, code review discipline, and automated testing.
• Familiarity with accessibility standards (Section 508, WCAG) for public-facing web applications.
• Experience in state government, K–12 education, or a similarly regulated environment, including student data privacy requirements (FERPA).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical decisions to both technical and non-technical audiences.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Primary location: Columbia, SC.
• On-call availability may be required for mission-critical system incidents.
• Background check required.

The South Carolina Department of Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As a part of a generous compensation package, we offer comprehensive benefits that include generous paid time off, preeminent health care benefits, professional development opportunities, pension, and a 401(k). The South Carolina Department of Education offers an exceptional benefits package that includes:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year.
• 15 days sick leave per year.
• 13 paid holidays.
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs.

ONLY THOSE APPLICANTS CHOSEN FOR AN INTERVIEW WILL BE NOTIFIED BY LETTER THAT THE POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED. http://www.ed.sc.gov/jobs/human-resources/title-ix-nondiscrimination/