JOB
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.
IT Application Development Senior/SpecialistPermanent, Full-Time
This position description is a senior level position that reports to an IT Application Development Supervisor within the Office of the Secretary of State (OSOS), IT Division. This position is responsible for the design, maintenance, and continued modernization of systems and services supporting the Corporations & Charities Division Business programs and services. This position will also provide technical support for OSOS office core development team interfaces and systems to include internal and external design, modification, and maintenance of data and user interfaces.
An incumbent in this position will be responsible for aligning OSOS IT systems to IT Policy, standards and external regulations for security, privacy, compliance and best practice. Where best practice does not exist, this position will devise best practice strategies to support technical work for applications, data, and services under their purview. These duties touch every division and mission of the Office. EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Application Developer Senior Specialist
Tasks include:-
Provides technical expertise in daily operations within application, data, and cloud development engineering to support applications, systems, services, data and hardware infrastructures for OSOS within the IT Division.
-
Serves as the technical lead for day-to-day development operations, issues and outages related to applications, data and services within OSOS for the CCD Division.
-
Diagnoses and triages cloud application development issues, working to find root cause, and corrects the problem.
-
Defines designs, and documents standards and best practice uses for application and data development to be used by the team.
-
Researches and identifies new and modern methods for continued best practice for application and data development for continued improvement and modernization over applications, systems, services, data, and hardware infrastructures.
-
Provides knowledge and expertise to other application core team developers in the use of various technical tools, integrated development environments, test driven development patterns and practices, and supporting frameworks.
-
Provides code review, version control management, deployment and release management process and guidance using ITIL, Agile, and other frameworks that best serve the applications, systems, services, data and hardware infrastructures for OSOS, and the development community responsible for this work.
-
Ensures applications are logically and functionally tested by directing development engineers to areas where testing is needed or lacking.
-
Creates, and oversees the maintenance and testing of disaster recovery planning for all application ecosystems supported by this position.
-
Coaches and mentors of all levels of development and data management engineers.
Application and Data Architecture Technical Lead
Tasks include:-
Collaborates with the architecture team to design and develop and implement architecture standards for applications across the full Software Development Lifecycle within the CCD Division book of business.
-
Implements professional level architectural design patterns, practices, and processes that ultimately provide the foundation for efficient, scalable, and durable application ecosystems for the Corporations and Charities Division.
-
Ensures application lifecycle management standards are well designed, documented, communicated, and continuously updated.
-
Ensures all new and current applications under this positions scope comply with regulation, policy, and standards of architecture necessary to safeguard, protect privacy, and meet cybersecurity provisions to meet or exceed all state and federal laws and rules.
-
Defines and implements architected designs focused on user centered approach, accessibility, and device agnostic usability.
-
Effectively consults with leadership and business partners in plain language for complex technical work.
-
Reviews and approves code to ensure alignment with industry best practices, consistent coding standards, and OWASP, Nist, CIS, etc secure coding guidelines, while identifying repetitive engineering workflows and implementing automation to eliminate manual effort, improve reliability, and increase development velocity across teams.?
-
Provides mentorship and technical guidance to lower-level application developers, offering support on coding practices, troubleshooting, and adherence to development standards whenever needed.
- Maintains clear, well-documented, and timely communication with leadership and stakeholders regarding application issues, work stoppages, outages, and incidents, providing proactive status updates and outlining the steps taken toward resolution to ensure transparency and smooth operations.
-
Establishes and documents best practices, standards, and guidelines to support consistent and scalable process improvements across the organization.
-
Develops prototypes, Proof of Concept (POC), and pilot solutions to validate and document new approaches before full implementation.
- Evaluates emerging tools, platforms, and methodologies to determine their applicability and potential benefits for developers and business users.
- Partners with cross functional teams to ensure new methods integrate smoothly with existing systems and align with strategic goals.
-
Collaborates with supervisors, architects, business partners, 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 with increased 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.
Miscellaneous
Tasks include:-
Other duties as assigned.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
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.