The Software Engineer III is a mid-level engineering professional responsible for the design, development, maintenance, and optimization of software applications and business process solutions. This role operates with a high degree of autonomy, providing technical expertise across multiple systems and business functions while driving development initiatives that improve performance, reliability, scalability, and operational efficiency.
The Software Engineer III serves as a subject matter expert for assigned applications, collaborates with cross-functional teams to implement technology solutions, mentors junior engineers, and contributes to strategic technology decisions. This position plays a key role in the full software development lifecycle, from solution design and development through deployment, support, and continuous improvement.
Essential Job Functions
Software Development & Application Support
- Design, develop, test, implement, and maintain software applications and business process optimization solutions.
- Manage the full software development lifecycle, including requirements analysis, coding, testing, deployment, enhancements, and ongoing support.
- Perform application upgrades, enhancements, patches, and maintenance activities.
- Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve software and system issues in a timely manner.
- Ensure application performance, reliability, scalability, and quality meet established service level agreements.
- Participate in architecture discussions and provide recommendations for technology solutions.
Technical Leadership & Expertise
- Serve as a technical and system subject matter expert for multiple business applications and platforms.
- Provide consultation and guidance to project teams, business partners, and stakeholders regarding system capabilities and technical solutions.
- Lead development initiatives and contribute to strategic technology decisions.
- Research emerging technologies and identify opportunities for innovation, process improvements, and modernization efforts.
- Develop proof-of-concepts to evaluate technologies and support Growth and Run initiatives.
Collaboration & Project Delivery
- Collaborate with business partners, product owners, and user communities to design and implement effective technology solutions.
- Work across departmental boundaries to improve software development capabilities and engineering practices.
- Participate in project planning, estimation, prioritization, and execution activities.
- Respond to technical inquiries, support requests, and operational issues in a timely and professional manner.
- Communicate effectively with internal stakeholders, external vendors, and business partners.
DevOps & Operational Excellence
- Partner with DevOps teams to implement and enhance CI/CD pipelines and deployment automation.
- Monitor and optimize application performance, reliability, and system stability.
- Create and maintain enterprise software packages and deployment configurations.
- Manage and maintain application dependencies and package repositories, including technologies such as NuGet.
Mentorship & Team Development
- Mentor and coach software engineers by sharing technical expertise and best practices.
- Support development managers in identifying training opportunities and growth plans for team members.
- Promote engineering excellence through knowledge sharing, code reviews, and technical guidance.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
- 5–7 years of experience in software analysis, design, development, testing, and support.
- Minimum 3 years of experience working with medium to complex applications, systems, or technology solutions.
- Proficiency in all aspects of the software development lifecycle.
- Proficiency developing enterprise applications using C#, .NET/.NET Core, and ASP.NET Core.
- Experience with SQL Server and T-SQL, including relational database development and data access.
- Experience with Entity Framework and Entity Framework Core (EF Core) or similar object-relational mapping technologies.
- Experience designing, developing, and consuming REST APIs and Web APIs.
- Experience developing and maintaining automated unit tests using modern testing frameworks and practices.
- Proficiency with Git-based source control and collaborative development workflows.
- Proficiency using AI-assisted development tools, such as GitHub Copilot or comparable AI coding assistants, to support coding, testing, refactoring, and documentation, including the ability to critically review and validate AI-generated output.
- Knowledge of secure coding practices, including authentication, authorization, and protection of sensitive application data.
- Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Experience working within Agile and/or DevOps environments.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience using Azure DevOps to implement and maintain CI/CD pipelines and deployment automation.
- Experience implementing application logging, monitoring, and observability solutions to support troubleshooting, performance analysis, and operational reliability.
- Experience with package management tools such as NuGet.
- Experience contributing to application architecture and designing scalable, reliable enterprise applications.
- Knowledge of cloud platforms, application architecture, and modern development practices.
- Experience leading technical initiatives and mentoring software engineers.
Salary Range: $89,800.00 - $125,500.00
- Salary is commensurate to experience, location, etc.
Horace Mann was founded in 1945 by two Springfield, Illinois, teachers who saw a need for quality, affordable auto insurance for teachers. Since then, we've broadened our mission to helping all educators protect what they have today and prepare for a successful tomorrow. And with our broadened mission has come corporate growth: We serve more than 4,100 school districts nationwide, we're publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: HMN) and we have more than $12 billion in assets.
We're motivated by the fact that educators take care of our children's future, and we believe they deserve someone to look after theirs. We help educators identify their financial goals and develop plans to achieve them. This includes insurance to protect what they have today and financial products to help them prepare for their future. Our tailored offerings include special rates and benefits for educators.
EOE/Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status
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