IT Application Development (Senior Specialist)
Washington State Department of Transportation
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Job summary
Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is seeking a skilled IT Application Development - Senior/Specialist in Olympia to design, develop, and support mission-critical applications that directly support the agency's mission to protect children and strengthen families.
This role serves as a technical lead on a collaborative team, working on secure, high-availability applications, mobile solutions, and system integrations that support critical child welfare and business
Qualifications
- Eleven (11) years of progressively more complex problem solving as a developer designing, developing or maintaining large-scale applications with mission critical business functions using .NET C#, SQL Server, SQL Reporting Services, Transact SQL, Web based programming, and supporting tools.
- OR Associate's degree or higher with a focus on computer science or closely allied field and nine (9) years of related experience.
- OR Bachelor's degree or higher in computer science or closely allied field and seven (7) years of related experience.
Responsibilities
- Independently creating, upgrading, maintaining, enhancing, testing and replacing existing applications.
- Participates in iterative SDLC improvements.
- Designs and develops interfaces with business partners and third parties.
- Integrates COTS software and services using appropriate tools.
- Decomposes requirements into functional specs and solves complex issues.
- Ensures security and privacy requirements are met.
- Monitors health and performance of applications and responds to problems.
- Provides technical leadership to the application development team.
- Develops applications integrating AI capabilities such as text analysis and automation.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Salary: $8,113.00 - $10,916.00 Monthly
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2026-04766
Department: Dept of Children, Youth, and Families
Division: Information Technology
Opening Date: 09/23/2026
Closing Date: 10/7/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
- This position is being reposted. If you have already applied, you do not need to apply again.
Job Title: IT Application Development - Senior/Specialist (Olympia)
Location: Olympia WA, Thurston County (Flexible/Hybrid)
Closes: July 1st, 2026
Salary: $97,356.00 - $130,992.00 Annually
Our vision is to ensure that "Washington state's children and youth grow up safe and healthy-thriving physically, emotionally and educationally, nurtured by family and community".
The DCYF Application Development team is seeking a skilled .NET Developer to help design, develop, and support mission-critical applications that directly support the agency's mission to protect children and strengthen families. This role serves as a technical lead on a collaborative team, working on secure, high-availability applications, mobile solutions, and system integrations that support critical child welfare and business services across Washington State.
- Independently creating, upgrading, maintaining, enhancing, testing and replacing existing applications
- Participates in iterative process improvements regarding the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC.)
- Designs and develops of interfaces with business partners (state agencies as well as third party.)
- Uses software development methods and tools to integrate and support custom-off-the-shelf (COTS) software and services.
- Decomposes high-level business and user requirements into functional requirements
- Troubleshooting and resolving complex application, interface and data related issues.
- Ensures security and privacy requirements are met.
- Monitors health and function of applications, reacts and responds to problems.
- Provides technical leadership to application development team
- Develops applications integrating AI capabilities such as text analysis, automation, or decision support
Eleven (11) years of progressively more complex problem solving as a developer designing, developing or maintaining large-scale applications with mission critical business functions using .NET C#, SQL Server, SQL Reporting Services, Transact SQL, Web based programming, and supporting tools. Expert knowledge of application development principles, concepts, technologies, current industry standards and the Microsoft technology stack including Windows, Visual Studio, IIS, .NET C#, SQL, TFS, SharePoint, etc.
OR
Associate's degree or higher with a focus on computer science or closely allied field. AND Nine (9) years of progressively more complex problem solving as a developer designing, developing or maintaining large-scale applications with mission critical business functions using .NET C#, SQL Server, SQL Reporting Services, Transact SQL, Web based programming, and supporting tools.
OR
Bachelor's degree or higher in computer science or closely allied field. AND Seven (7) years of progressively more complex problem solving as a developer designing, developing or maintaining large-scale applications with mission critical business functions using NET C#, SQL Server, SQL Reporting Services, Transact SQL, Web based programming, and supporting tools.
AND
- The ability to take action to learn and grow
- The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
- Experience may be gained concurrently.
- Experience in Unisys COBOL, UCOB MCB TIP Programs interfacing with Web Services, 2200 Executive Control Language (ECL), DMS 2200 database software, and SSG.
- Experience maintaining and supporting IT applications in a 7 day a week / 24 hour a day availability situation.
- Agile Training or Certification
- .NET Developer training or certification
- Familiarity with concepts in Machine Learning or Natural Language Processing.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington's children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.
If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment or if you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact Cole Alford (Talent Acquisition Specialist).
DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.
Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.
Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.
Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.
Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.
Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.
Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.
Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
As provided in , an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.
Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.
Leave Sharing
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay
Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.
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