Information Technology Specialist 4 - Application Developer

State of Iowa; Des Moines (IA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

IPERS

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Generous vacation & holidays

Life and disability insurance

Retirement savings options (RIC)

Flexible Spending Accounts

Job summary

The State of Iowa, Department of Management – DoIT in Des Moines, IA, seeks an Application Developer to manage and enhance diverse systems, troubleshoot defects, and provide data-driven insights. You will collaborate with business partners and vendors, write SQL queries, and lead junior developers to ensure system reliability.

Remote/hybrid options are available; onsite work in Des Moines is required with Iowa residency.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to support, troubleshoot, and enhance complex systems using strong analytical skills.
• Experience with SQL, data maintenance, and report development to ensure data integrity.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, including mentoring junior developers.
• Ability to translate data into actionable insights through BI tools.

Responsibilities

• Manage, maintain, and support new and legacy computer systems of moderate to high complexity as a junior or senior developer.
• Analyze, document, and resolve system defects identified by business unit partners or vendors.
• Develop, update, and optimize SQL queries, reports, and data export jobs to support business operations and system continuity.
• Maintain database integrity by creating and executing import jobs and data maintenance scripts using SQL and related development tools.
• Troubleshoot complex system issues by reviewing programming code and identifying alternative technical solutions.
• Plan and perform system testing, including automation testing, to ensure quality and functionality.
• Collaborate with vendor partners to clarify code ownership, recommend improvements, and support remediation of vendor-owned system components.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior developers, offering day-to-day support, reviewing code, assigning tasks, and serving as a technical lead.
• Support business units through data analysis, transforming raw data into clear, interactive dashboards, charts, and reports using BI and data visualization tools.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to support departmental and organizational goals.

Skills

Analytical skills

Mentoring

Vendor collaboration

Problem solving

Data interpretation

Communication

Tools

SQL

BI visualization

Job description

The Department of Management (DOM), Division of Information Technology (DoIT), is seeking a skilled and motivated Application Developer to help manage, enhance, and support a diverse portfolio of new and legacy computer systems. In this role, you will work closely with business partners and vendor teams to troubleshoot issues, improve system performance, and ensure data integrity across critical applications. This position offers the opportunity to solve complex technical challenges, contribute to continuous system improvement, and provide mentorship to junior developers while supporting important organizational goals through meaningful data insights.

What You Will Do

• Manage, maintain, and support new and legacy computer systems of moderate to high complexity as a junior or senior developer.
• Analyze, document, and resolve system defects identified by business unit partners or vendors.
• Develop, update, and optimize SQL queries, reports, and data export jobs to support business operations and system continuity.
• Maintain database integrity by creating and executing import jobs and data maintenance scripts using SQL and related development tools.
• Troubleshoot complex system issues by reviewing programming code and identifying alternative technical solutions.
• Plan and perform system testing, including automation testing, to ensure quality and functionality.
• Review business requirement specifications to understand system design, functionality, and user needs.
• Collaborate with vendor partners to clarify code ownership, recommend improvements, and support remediation of vendor-owned system components.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior developers, offering day-to-day support, reviewing code, assigning tasks, and serving as a technical lead.
• Support business units through data analysis, transforming raw data into clear, interactive dashboards, charts, and reports using BI and data visualization tools.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to support departmental and organizational goals.

What We Are Seeking

• Proven ability to support, troubleshoot, and enhance complex computer systems using strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with SQL, data maintenance, and report development to ensure database integrity and reliable business operations.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to work with vendors, interpret business requirements, and mentor junior developers.
• Ability to translate data into actionable insights through business intelligence tools, delivering clear and interactive visualizations.

What We Offer

• Flexible work environment
• Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays
• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement savings options (RIC)
• Flexible Spending Accounts

Why Work with Us?

At the Iowa Department of Management (DOM), we help government agencies across the state perform at their best by managing financial resources, technology, and information. Our mission is rooted in service—we provide efficient, innovative, and strategic solutions that empower agencies to fulfill their goals.

We’re guided by four core values:

• Integrity– We act with honesty and accountability.
• Teamwork– We collaborate to achieve shared success.
• Service– We are committed to excellence in public service.
• Partnership – We build strong relationships to drive results.

Working Arrangement

This position requires onsite work in Des Moines, IA each week. Employees meeting all expectations of their work responsibilities may request remote work and develop a hybrid/remote schedule collaboratively with their manager.

Please note, candidates for this position must reside in the state of Iowa at the time of starting the role.

Background Check Requirements

• After a conditional offer of employment has been made, and as the final step in the hiring process, candidates for this position will be subject to a background investigation, which may include but may not be limited to a verification of a candidate’s education, previous employment/work history, contact of personal references, motor vehicle records, and a criminal history check (including through Federal, State, or Local criminal justice agencies).
• Information gathered as part of such background investigation will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by Iowa Code section 22.7, 8B.4A, and other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; provided that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, such information shall be available to candidates upon request.

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:
1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field, and experience equal to two years of full-time work in application development and database management, business analysis, systems and network administration, technical training and reporting, IT vendor and purchasing management, IT project management, IT product management, system testing and quality assurance, mainframe and platform administration, and/or information technology security.
2) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in computer science, computer applications, software engineering, computer engineering, management information systems, business analytics, or cyber security, and experience equal to one year of full-time work in application development and database management, business analysis, systems and network administration, technical training and reporting, IT vendor and purchasing Information management, IT project management, IT product management, system testing and quality assurance, mainframe and platform administration, and/or information technology security.
3) All of the following (a and b):
a. Two years of full-time work experience in application development and database management, business analysis, systems and network administration, technical training and reporting, IT vendor and purchasing management, IT project management, IT product management, system testing and quality assurance, mainframe and platform administration, and/or information technology security; and
b. A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience.
4) All of the following (a and b):
a. Four years of full-time work experience in application development and database management, business analysis, systems and network administration, technical training and reporting, IT vendor and purchasing management, IT project management, IT product management, system testing and quality assurance, mainframe and platform administration, and/or information technology security; and
b. Either of the following:
i. Certification from an authorized educational institution/major computer or software producer in one or more of the specialty areas listed in part a; or
ii. Eighteen semester hours from an accredited college or university in one or more of the specialty areas listed in part a.
5) Current, continuous experience in the state executive current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes experience equal to six months of full-time work as an Information Technology Specialist 3.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.