IT Application Development; Senior Specialist

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.”

Job Title: IT Application Development – Senior/Specialist (Olympia)

Location: Olympia WA, Thurston County (Flexible/Hybrid)

Closes: July 1st, 2026

Salary: $97,356.00 - $ Annually

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 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.

• 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 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.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, NGB Form 22 or Predischarge Certification (issued not more than 120 days prior to End of Term of Service) by date of submission. If claiming preference based on Predischarge Certification, individual will be required to provide their official discharge documentation, such as a DD form 214, NGB form 22 or equivalent, within 30 days after the date of discharge.

Please blackout (redact) the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible.

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.