Associate Software Developer Jobs in Olympia, WA

Salary: $109,512.00 - $147,264.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number: 2026-07081
Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services
Division: FTAA
Opening Date: 08/28/2026
Closing Date: 9/10/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step
Description
Building a new technology team means deciding not only what gets built, but how the team will work.
This role exists to fill a key management gap in a new systems development team supporting Washington's new Long Term Care benefit program, WA Cares. You'll help develop the team, establish how its work is managed and measured, and provide the leadership needed to move technology projects already underway.
During your first year, the goal is to have a fully staffed technology team, approved and working IT processes and procedures, and stable systems. You'll manage staff developing and supporting technology solutions, help shape the team's roadmap, and work with IT leadership to ensure they have the information they need to understand the health, priorities, and direction of WA Cares technology.
You'll also be joining while there is still room to influence how the team operates. You'll help establish and refine tech delivery processes and practices, working with cross-functional program partners and with peers in all parts of the Division of Information Technology (DIT) to ensure IT services are delivered consistently and strategically across the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).
We encourage you to apply if you've managed technology teams and understand what it takes to turn technical work into a dependable operation. You can evaluate the quality of you team's work, make decisions about priorities and resources, and keep leadership informed without losing sight of the technical details affecting delivery.
Experience working within government policies and procedures will matter here, as will experience managing teams that develop using Salesforce technologies such as Apex and Lightning Web Components (LWC). This is a role for someone who can operate within those requirements while helping a new team establish effective ways of working.
Your first 90 days will be about understanding the WA Cares technology environment, the team you're building, and the commitments already in flight. You'll begin hiring remaining team members, establish relationships with your direct reports and IT leadership, review proposed processes and procedures, and get grounded in the roadmap, system health, budget, contracts, and vendor relationships you'll manage.
By six months, success should be visible. Leadership is getting the information it needs from WA Cares technology, staff are producing quality code and configurations without critical defects, and you're actively contributing to the roadmap and projects already underway.
Some of What You'll Do

• Manage and grow the WA Cares technology team, including hiring remaining staff and holding regular one-on-one meetings with direct reports.
• Help develop the technology roadmap and guide delivery against current and upcoming commitments.
• Review and approve technical proposals, processes, and procedures.
• Monitor system health and the quality of code and configurations produced by the team.
• Participate in daily and weekly Scrum ceremonies and regular technology, development, and IT leadership meetings.
• Track and approve technology licensing and contracting costs and plan for upcoming budget cycles.
• Manage relationships with technology vendors.
• Work with IT leadership on project proposals, including upcoming AI initiatives and other WA Cares technology projects.

Who Should Apply
You can qualify through one of the following pathways:

• A bachelor's degree in information technology or related field and eight years of IT management experience in planning, analyzing, consulting, programming, installing and/or maintaining computer software applications, hardware, telecommunications, network infrastructure equipment, directing projects, providing customer or technical support and administering or supervising staff who performed work in any of these information technology disciplines

OR

• Associates degree in information technology or related field and ten years of IT management experience in planning, analyzing, consulting, programming, installing and/or maintaining computer software applications, hardware, telecommunications, network infrastructure equipment, directing projects, providing customer or technical support and administering or supervising staff who performed work in any of these information technology disciplines

OR

• Twelve years of IT management experience in planning, analyzing, consulting, programming, installing and/or maintaining computer software applications, hardware, telecommunications, network infrastructure equipment, directing projects, providing customer or technical support and administering or supervising staff who performed work in any of these information technology disciplines

Preferred education, experience, or certification:

• Two years of experience working with Salesforce, AWS cloud applications, Azure Cloud, or other cloud based applications or platforms.
• Experience with developing and implementing internal standards to guide the organization in design of technology solutions.

Work Environment
This role is mostly remote, with occasional onsite work at the Lacey Blake East building. Expect frequent virtual collaboration throughout the day with direct reports, technology colleagues, project teams, and IT leadership.
How to Apply
Submit:

• An updated resume.
• Three professional references with contact information.

Questions?
Email recruiter Kris George at and reference job number 07081.
The Department of Social and Health Services' (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency's vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.
Supplemental Information
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at . Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-.
Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.
E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.
Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.
Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.
Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.
Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.
Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.
Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.
Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.
Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.
Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.
Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the