Technical Lead

Health & Human Services; United States; Hybrid; USD 88,000 - 131,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid leave

Hybrid work options

Job summary

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) IT division is seeking an Applications Systems Specialist I to deliver comprehensive business analysis, system design, programming, and production support for enterprise applications. The role covers the full software lifecycle, coordinating with clients and IT leadership to plan enhancements and ensure compliance.

The position emphasizes modernizing legacy systems, securing applications, and providing on‑site and hybrid IT support

Qualifications

• Experience building applications using Java, Spring, and Spring Boot, including microservices, REST APIs, and event-driven components.
• Experience deploying applications on cloud platforms like Azure, AWS, or GCP with hands-on experience building and managing CI/CD pipeline.
• Experience developing responsive UI using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks such as React, Angular, or Vue.
• Deployed microservices using Docker and Kubernetes, integrated Kafka/RabbitMQ or similar, and automated deployments across dev/test/prod environments.
• Using AI development tools like GitHub Copilot to improve productivity, code quality, and architectural design.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical design, solution development, prototyping, testing, deployment, and post-production support.
• Develop, maintain, and integrate complex applications and systems across multiple platforms.
• Gather and refine business and technical requirements; design new features and enhance existing applications.
• Conduct impact analyses for new requirements and support technical effort estimation and project planning.
• Lead and support functional testing, integration testing, and data conversion activities.
• Produce and maintain technical documentation, user guides, and training materials.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to troubleshoot and resolve system issues.
• Modernize legacy systems and replace unsupported technologies with modern solutions.
• Remediate security vulnerabilities within required timelines.
• Provide on‑call and after‑hours production support, including support for nightly batch cycles.

Skills

Java

Spring

Spring Boot

Microservices

REST APIs

CI/CD

UI/Frontend

Docker

Kubernetes

Kafka/RabbitMQ

GitHub Copilot

Cloud Platforms

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT

Associate degree in CS/IT

High School / GED + 8 years experience

Tools

Azure/AWS/GCP

Job description

Agency Dept of Health and Human Services Division SEC OFFICE - INFO TECH - NC FAST Job Classification Title Applications Systems Specialist I (NS) Position Number 65014252 Grade DT10

About Us The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well‑being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Description of Work This position supports the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) IT division by delivering comprehensive business analysis, system analysis, programming, and production support for enterprise applications. The role spans the full software development lifecycle, including requirements gathering, technical design, application development, testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance. The position works closely with clients, Technical Leads, and IT leadership to plan enhancements, evaluate system impacts, ensure quality, and maintain compliance with established processes and security standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead technical design, solution development, prototyping, testing, deployment, and post-production support
• Develop, maintain, and integrate complex applications and systems across multiple platforms
• Gather and refine business and technical requirements; design new features and enhance existing applications
• Conduct impact analyses for new requirements and support technical effort estimation and project planning
• Lead and support functional testing, integration testing, and data conversion activities
• Produce and maintain technical documentation, user guides, and training materials
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to troubleshoot and resolve system issues
• Modernize legacy systems and replace unsupported technologies with modern solutions
• Remediate security vulnerabilities within required timelines
• Provide on‑call and after‑hours production support, including support for nightly batch cycles

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities / Management Preferences

Salary Grade Range: $87,617.00 - $131,426.00 Recruitment Range: $105,000.00-$117,879.00 Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement. The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required.

• Experience building applications using Java, Spring, and Spring Boot, including microservices, REST APIs, and event-driven components.
• Experience deploying applications on cloud platform like Azure, AWS, or GCP with hands‑on experience building and managing CI/CD pipeline.
• Experience developing responsive UI using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks such as React, Angular, or Vue.
• Deployed microservices using Docker and Kubernetes, integrated Kafka/RabbitMQ or similar, and automated deployments across dev/test/prod environments.
• Using AI development tools like GitHub Copilot to improve productivity, code quality, and architectural design.

The Posting Will Close At 11:59 P.M. The Night Before The End Date.

This Position Is Funded In Part Through Federal Funds. This Role is Eligible To Be Hybrid And Requires Onsite Reporting Located Within Raleigh, NC.

About the Office of the Secretary

The Office of the Secretary serves as the executive leadership arm of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), guiding the Department’s mission to improve the health, safety, and well‑being of all North Carolinians. Through strategic oversight and collaborative leadership, the Secretary’s Office supports the effective coordination of over a dozen core divisions, ensuring that agency‑wide priorities are aligned, resources are used responsibly, and services are delivered with equity and impact.

About the NC DHHS Information Technology Division

In collaboration with our partners, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) protects the health and safety of all North Carolinians and provides essential health and human services. The IT division (ITD) is one of the divisions that report to the Operational Excellence portfolio. The ITD division comprises four sections: Implementation and Operations, Strategy and Workforce, Enterprise Technology, and Vendor and Finance. ITD offers the following services but not limited to implementations, operations, project/portfolio management, infrastructure, consulting, business division liaison, digital transformation, IT strategy, enterprise technology, IT contract and vendor management, and data office services.

Compensation and Benefits

The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre‑tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave. In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees. Visit website for State Benefits.

Supplemental Contact Information

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer that embraces an Employment First philosophy, which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws, and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job. DHHS uses the Merit‑Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position. In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order 303, our agency supports second‑chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice‑involved. We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified.

If there are any questions about this posting, please contact Talent Acquisition at [e-mail]. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered "Positions of Trust" will be subject to a criminal background check.

Veterans’ and National Guard Preference Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications. Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS), along with the state application, if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing. Applicants who are former members of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard, with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service, must attach a copy of the DD 256 or NGB 22, along with the state application.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or an IT related field or related technical degree from an appropriately accredited institution and four years of progressive experience in business application consulting or development
• Associate degree in computer science or an IT related field or related technical degree from an appropriately accredited institution and five years of progressive experience in business application consulting or development
• High School or General Education Development (GED) diploma and eight years of experience in business application consulting or development
• An equivalent combination of education and experience

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.