Software Engineer (JAVA Developer) (Open and Promotional) Full Time

The Controller’s Office of the County of San Mateo is seeking highly qualified candidates for the position of Software Engineer (JAVA Developer).

As a Software Engineer on the Property Tax Team, you serve as an experienced member of an agile team to manage the Controller’s Property Tax System. The System is a web-based application that utilizes JAVA for the front-end and RPG for the back end and utilizes DB2 databases. The System is used to calculate and distribute property taxes, process corrections to tax amounts owed, and issue refunds. The incumbent will work with users to understand and develop technical solutions that satisfy the business needs and comply with applicable California laws.

This position is responsible for providing critical support to the Controller’s Property Tax System including, but not limited to, programming, development, application support, enhancement of the System and end-user training. This position serves as technical advisor and liaison to vendors, contractors and department staff on system applications, hardware and/or software products, services and issues.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Proficient in JAVA, DB2, JQuery, AJAX, HTML, XML, CSS, and AngularJS.
• 4+ years of experience in system development, implementation, and support
• 2+ years of experience with IBM iSeries.
• Proficient in Websphere development environment. 
• Knowledge of industry standards for system development including version control and bug tracking.
• Knowledge of deployment tools.
• Experience using Help Desk and Ticketing Softwares (e.g., HelpSpot, JIRA). 
• Experience with Java, JavaScript, JSP, CSS, HTML, DB2, SQL, WebSphere (WSAD/RAD), Windows, RDBMS, AJAX.
• Experience with Version Control Tools, Reporting Tools, Data Warehouses, Web UI Design.

 
The Controller’s Office is looking to modernize its existing application system.  Experience in modern programming languages is highly desirable.
 
Please note this is a hybrid office work position from our Redwood City office. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Duties may require work outside of normal schedule to address project timelines or emergency situations such as system outages.
 
NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Perform a variety of complex analytical duties in the design, implementation, and maintenance of the Controller’s Property Tax System.
• Confer with department staff to define application requirements and translate such business needs into technical solutions; prepare requirement specifications, designs, and other documentation of the system and/or subsystems.
• Analyze and identify opportunities to automate business processes using available resources and technologies.
• Monitor system statistics to advise management on current usage, status, and performance.
• Plan software enhancements and changes to meet the needs of system users.
• Prepare test environments and work with users on user acceptance testing.
• Participate in system installation and/or enhancement projects.
• Participate in departmental and countywide systems planning activities.
• Create, update, and/or maintain intra and/or internet web pages, websites, and surrounding layers of files/links; present consistent and readable visual images by promoting uniform fonts, formatting icons, images, layout techniques, and modularization.
• Administer County policies and procedures to ensure security and integrity of all departmental databases.
• Use programming languages to retrieve and develop data and to maintain the integrity of database structures.
• Perform related duties as assigned.
• Deploy application to test and production environments.

Education and Experience: 
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
 
Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college with major coursework information systems, or closely related field and four (4) years of responsible experience in a position that would provide knowledge of department-specific programs, processes, and/or operations, including at least two (2) years of experience in the planning, implementation, oversight, and/or utilization of automated information systems and applications used to support departmental activities and specific to the specialty area assigned which includes report design, writing, and generation; business analysis; technical writing; system administration; vendor relationship management; and/or departmental information security.
Additional related experience may substitute for education requirement on a year-for-year basis, up to four (4) years.
 
 Knowledge of:

• Advanced principles and practices used in adapting information systems to business needs and communicating those needs to information systems professionals and vendors.
• Various information technology platforms and operating systems.
• Advanced principles and practices used in the analysis and development of procedures and information systems associated with assigned operational and/or program area.
• Advanced principles of relational database management and systems integration analysis and programming.
• Advanced principles and practices of programmatic analysis and report preparation.
• Advanced information systems and data processing concepts.
• Principles and practices of contract and vendor relationship management.
• Department and County systems, policies, programs, and practices related to information systems.
• The organization, operation, and functions of the department as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities and to determine appropriate point of escalation.
• Principles and practices of project management.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• Record keeping principles and procedures.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively working with users, vendors, external agencies, and County staff.

 Ability to:

• Provide advanced technical and analytical support to users of department and County systems and applications.
• Communicate with department personnel to identify and translate complex information needs into system requirements.
• Communicate business information system needs to system vendors for the complex design, development, and/or enhancement of system applications.
• Conduct complex research projects on a wide variety of software and systems issues, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret procedures and data; develop sound conclusions, recommendations, and solutions.
• Research, develop, and recommend cost-effective technical system improvements.
• Develop and implement comprehensive computer operations-related projects and training programs.
• Lead focus groups or working sessions to establish new processes or technical design for improvement.
• Perform analyses of business and system requirements and needs; identify, evaluate, and solve systems problems; design and implement new or revised systems and procedures; provide technical advice and consultation, and ensure efficient computer system utilization.
• Working tactfully with the customers and staff in providing information, answering questions, and providing customer service.
• Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, rules, and regulations.
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record keeping, and tracking systems.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, SEIU or AFSCME represented extra-help/term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

The examination process will consist of an application screening based on the candidates’ application and responses to the supplemental questions (weight: pass/fail). Candidates who pass the application screening may be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County’s website, you may click the “Apply” button. If you are not on the County’s website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org  to apply. Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.
 
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023, 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: Week of July 24, 2023
Civil Service Panel Interview: August 16 and/or 17, 2023

Analyst: Sedrick Dixon (07052023) (IS Business Analyst III – V266)