Specialized Applications Developer

Firstday-Foundation; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 95,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstDay Foundation seeks a Specialized Applications Developer to design and deliver secure, maintainable enterprise applications, integrations, and automation. You will own platform health, work across REST/SOAP APIs, SQL Server, and iPaaS like Workato, collaborating with business leaders and technical teams to move from discovery through production support.

The role emphasizes rapid learning, strong engineering judgment, and effective communication with non-technical stakeholders while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field.
• At least 4 years of professional experience designing, developing, integrating, or supporting software applications.
• Proficiency in one enterprise stack such as .NET/C# or Java, plus working ability in another language or web tech like JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, PowerShell, HTML or CSS.
• Hands-on experience with APIs, relational databases and SQL, source control, debugging, testing, and production support.
• Ability to learn unfamiliar technologies quickly and deliver beyond a single product or platform.
• Strong communication with non-technical stakeholders and multi-priority management in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, test, deploy, and maintain custom applications, services, and internal tools.
• Work across multiple technologies, selecting practical approaches based on security, maintainability, and value.
• Translate ambiguous requirements into prototypes and production-ready solutions with stakeholders.
• Review, troubleshoot, and improve existing code, integrations, and processes.
• Build and support REST/SOAP APIs, data pipelines, and workflow automations.
• Own platform health, monitoring, and incident response; provide training and guidance.
• Travel for deployments or incidents as needed (rare 14-21 day assignments).

Skills

Engineering judgment

Learn unfamiliar tech quickly

Stakeholder communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/SE/IS or related field

Tools

.NET/C#

Java

JavaScript/TypeScript

Python

PowerShell

HTML/CSS

SQL Server

REST APIs

Workato

Salesforce

Workday

SharePoint

Drupal

WebEOC

ArcGIS

AlertMedia

PointClickCare

Job description

It's a great feeling to work for a company that does so much good for others around the world! Note: No VISA sponsorship available. Candidate must be onsite in San Antonio, TX.

Position Summary

The Specialized Applications Developer is a versatile software engineer who designs new solutions, connects systems, and assumes technical ownership of specialized enterprise platforms. The role is intentionally broader than a traditional platform administrator: success depends on strong engineering judgment, coding range, curiosity, and the ability to learn unfamiliar technologies quickly. Working with business leaders, technical teams, and external partners, this developer turns operational needs into secure, maintainable applications, integrations, automations, and AI-enabled capabilities. The individual will be trained on assigned platforms and is expected to become a trusted technical owner who can move comfortably from discovery and prototyping through production support.

Essential Responsibilities

Software Engineering & Solution Delivery

• Design, build, test, deploy, and maintain custom applications, services, utilities, and internal tools that solve operational problems.
• Work across multiple technologies and codebases, selecting practical approaches based on business need, security, maintainability, and speed to value.
• Translate ambiguous requirements into working prototypes and production-ready solutions; iterate rapidly with users and technical stakeholders.
• Review, troubleshoot, and improve existing code, integrations, and technical processes.

Integration, Data & Automation

• Build and support REST/SOAP APIs, event-driven and batch integrations, data pipelines, and workflow automations across enterprise and affiliate systems.
• Develop with relational data platforms, especially SQL Server, including data modeling, queries, stored procedures, performance tuning, and data-quality controls.
• Use integration and automation platforms such as Workato to connect systems and reduce manual effort.
• Create secure integrations involving platforms such as Salesforce, Workday, Microsoft 365/SharePoint, Drupal, WebEOC, ArcGIS, AlertMedia, and PointClickCare as assignments require.

Platform Ownership & Operational Support

• Learn, configure, administer, enhance, and support assigned specialized platforms; prior expertise in each platform is not required.
• Bonus for WebEOC, AlertMedia or PointClickCare.
• Own platform health across configuration, access, integrations, releases, testing, documentation, vendor coordination, and lifecycle planning.
• Monitor performance and availability, investigate incidents, resolve issues within defined service expectations, and participate in root-cause analysis.
• Partner directly with end users to understand workflows, improve adoption, and deliver effective training and technical guidance.

Incident Response & Deployment Readiness

• Be available to deploy on short notice for extended assignments, typically 14-21 days, to incidents, disasters, or planned events as part of an incident management or emergency operations team. (this is rare but can happen)
• Complete required platform, emergency-management, and deployment training; participate in drills and exercises as requested.
• Maintain readiness to fulfill the travel and physical requirements of deployments, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience.
• At least 4 years of professional experience designing, developing, integrating, or supporting software applications.
• Demonstrated proficiency in one enterprise development stack such as .NET/C# or Java, plus working ability in another language or web technology such as JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, PowerShell, HTML, or CSS.
• Hands‑on experience with APIs, relational databases and SQL, source control, debugging, testing, and production support.
• Evidence of learning unfamiliar technologies quickly and independently delivering solutions beyond a single product or platform.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly, work directly with non-technical stakeholders, and manage multiple priorities in a fast‑moving environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with SQL Server, Workato or another integration platform as a service (iPaaS), and Drupal or another content management system.
• Experience administering or extending enterprise SaaS or specialized operational platforms.
• Exposure to WebEOC, ArcGIS, AlertMedia, PointClickCare, Salesforce, Workday, or Microsoft 365 is helpful but not required.
• Experience supporting mission‑critical systems in nonprofit, humanitarian, healthcare, emergency‑management, or similarly regulated environments.
• Experience with cloud services, CI/CD practices, observability, containerization, or modern application architecture.

Key Competencies

• Software engineering depth with broad technical curiosity
• Systems thinking and end‑to‑end ownership
• Rapid learning and comfort with unfamiliar platforms
• Practical problem solving and sound technical judgment
• Bias toward experimentation, delivery, and measurable improvement
• Strong collaboration, listening, and stakeholder communication
• Calm execution during incidents, deployments, and changing priorities

Other Responsibilities

• Perform other duties and support other technologies as assigned based on organizational priorities.

English (United States)

If you like to work with people that believe they can make a difference in the world, this is the company for you!

EEO Statement

In accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other applicable federal and state laws (e.g., the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is our policy to provide equal employment opportunity and treat all employees equally regardless of race, religion, national origin, color, sex, or any other classification made unlawful or prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws, such as age, citizenship status, veteran or military status, or disability. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, training, working conditions, transfer, job assignments, benefits, layoff, and termination. Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

FirstDay Foundation is a charitable foundation created to provide philanthropic grants, management and governance services to nonprofit organizations doing good work in local communities and across the globe. Our goal to elevate and enhance the work nonprofits are doing to serve children, families and communities in need. Making good, greater.

EEO Statement

In accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other applicable federal and state laws (e.g., the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is our policy to provide equal employment opportunity and treat all employees equally regardless of race, religion, national origin, color, sex, or any other classification made unlawful or prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws, such as age, citizenship status, veteran or military status, or disability. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, training, working conditions, transfer, job assignments, benefits, layoff, and termination.