Java Software Developer; Software Development Specialist

Java Software Developer (Software Development Specialist
3)

Organization:
Job & Family Services

Agency Contact Name and Information: odjfscareerso.gov

Primary

Location:

United States of America-OHIO

Compensation: $41.81

Schedule:

Full-time

Classified Indicator:
Classified

Union: OCSEA

Primary Job Skill:
Software Development/Implementation

Technical

Skills:

Information Technology, Software development/implementation

Professional

Skills:

Active Learning, Results Oriented, Teamwork, Written Communication, Continuous Improvement

Primary Technology:
Java 2 EE

Agency Overview

Who We Are The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) supports Ohioans and their families through the following programs:
Cash and Food Assistance Employment Services and Workforce Development Unemployment Insurance Adult Protective Services Child Support Public service is an honorable way to serve the community in a hands-on dedicated way. You can make a difference in someone's world! Guiding Principles We will be a leader in customer satisfaction. We will have a reputation that attracts and retains talented, diverse, and dedicated employees.

We get better at what we do every day.

Office of Information Services The Office of Information Services (OIS) works to support the business functions and the delivery of health, human, and employment services through the application of information technology. OIS supports the delivery of programs to millions of recipients through the development and round-the-clock operation of automated information systems. Due to the number of end-users and technologies supported, OIS is one of the largest and most complex IT organizations within Ohio state government.

Learn more about the Office by visiting the ODJFS OIS webpage.

What You Will Do As a Java Software Developer, you will be a key technical contributor in modernizing the ODJFS Hearings and Tracking Systems (HATS). These applications directly support legally mandated hearings, appeals processes, and critical program workflows across the state. The work you do will help ensure program integrity, compliance with state and federal regulations, and reliable service delivery to Ohioans.

This role centers on refactoring legacy Java EE components and preparing the system for migration to secure, scalable, cloud-based architecture aligned with State of Ohio Enterprise Architecture standards. You'll work with in a small, collaborative team of Java EE developers and partner closely with architects, security teams, and business stakeholders. The environment is fast-moving, modernization-focused, and requires balancing new development with stabilizing existing components to support continuity of operations.

Expect to work with modern architectural patterns, containerization, API-driven design, cloud deployment models, and Dev Ops practices while also navigating the complexities of a large legacy system that contains monolithic modules, aged dependencies, and custom integrations. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Working as part of a small, supportive team of Java/Jakarta EE developers responsible for modernizing the HATS application suite.
• Refactoring legacy modules to align with State of Ohio Enterprise Architecture standards, including cloud readiness, security compliance, logging, monitoring, and identity management requirements.
• Supporting the full software development lifecycle: analysis, design, development, testing, deployment, documentation, and ongoing maintenance.
• Contributing to PMO-required technical deliverables including architecture documentation, technical design specifications, refactoring plans, dependency assessments, and modernization work packages.
• Developing and optimizing secure RESTful APIs, integration endpoints, and service layers to support responsive, accessible front-end experiences.
• Building proof-of-concept prototypes for cloud deployment and helping guide containerization and adoption of modern deployment patterns.
• Stabilizing existing legacy modules by decomposing monolithic components, resolving technical debt, improving performance, and ensuring business continuity during modernization.
• Participating in…