Junior Java Developer Jobs in South Dakota (NOW HIRING)

Under general direction, formulates and defines system scope and objectives. Devises or modifies procedures to solve highly complex problems considering computer equipment capacity and limitations, operating time and form of desired results. Prepares detailed specifications to write programs. Designs, codes, tests, debugs, documents and maintains those programs. Competent to work on and responsible for nearly all phases of applications systems analysis and programming projects. Regularly provides guidance and training to less experienced analysts/programmers.

This role will be responsible for the design and development of critical applications supporting life insurance new business processing, underwriting, policy administration, and enterprise integrations.

• Lead the modernization of legacy Java applications to cloud-native architectures and microservices using Spring Boot, containerization, and modern integration patterns, while ensuring clean, efficient, secure, and well-documented code that adheres to established coding standards and development methodologies.
• Design, develop, test, and maintain enterprise applications using Java and the Spring Framework (Spring Boot, Spring MVC, Spring Data, and related technologies)
• Design, document, version and maintain RESTful APIs and microservices following API-first design principles and OpenAPI standards.
• Design and develop event-driven integrations utilizing messaging technologies such as Kafka to enable scalable, loosely coupled enterprise applications
• Develop automated unit, integration, and API tests using frameworks such as JUnit, Mockito, Cucumber and related testing tools to ensure software quality and reliability.
• Apply object-oriented design principles, software design patterns, and modern Java frameworks, libraries, development tools, and engineering practices to produce maintainable, reusable, extensible, and high-performing applications while improving developer productivity.
• Utilize Git-based source control and code review processes while contributing to CI/CD pipeline design, deployment automation, infrastructure-as-code practices, and release management to support collaborative development and reliable, automated software delivery.
• Develop and optimize SQL queries and integrate Java applications with relational databases such as Oracle, SQL Server, or PostgreSQL using JPA/Hibernate or similar ORM technologies.
• Troubleshoot and resolve application defects, performance bottlenecks, memory utilization issues, and production incidents using appropriate monitoring and diagnostic tools.
• Utilize approved AI-assisted development tools to improve productivity in software design, coding, testing, documentation, and troubleshooting while adhering to enterprise security, governance, and responsible AI standards.
• Evaluate and recommend opportunities to incorporate AI-enabled capabilities into business applications and development processes to improve efficiency, automation, code quality delivering measurable business value, and user experience.
• Actively participate as a member of a cross-functional Scrum team within a SAFe Agile environment, contributing to sprint planning, backlog refinement, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, retrospectives, and other Agile ceremonies.
• Collaborate with Product Owners, Scrum Masters, architects, developers, QAs, and business partners to refine requirements, estimate and prioritize work, identify dependencies, and deliver high-quality software incrementally in alignment with program objectives and commitments.
• Perform technical tasks, detailed analyses, and interpretation of technical problems requiring expertise and/or specialized knowledge in a systematic manner; apply subject matter expertise unique to the discipline.
• Exhibit expert understanding of the organization’s Systems Development Life Cycle.
• Plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard information resources against accidental or unauthorized modification, destruction, or disclosure.
• Design, run and monitor software functional and performance tests on new and existing programs for the purposes of correcting errors, isolating areas for improvement, and general debugging; administer critical analysis of test results and deliver solutions to problem areas.
• Recommend, schedule, and perform software improvements and upgrades.
• Must be on call during scheduled times and may be required to work for extended periods at night and on weekends in support of conversion, assisting in operational problems, or testing a new program.
• Maintain currency of professional, technical and business skills.
• Utilize established status report, time accounting and collaborative process to provide data for management.
• Exhibit expert understanding of application, data, and integration, plus deep understanding of security, operational, and systems management architectural and design domains.
• Meet with decision makers, systems owners, and end users to define business requirements and systems goals, and identify and resolve business systems issues.
• Ensure compatibility and interoperability of systems.
• Review and analyze the effectiveness and efficiency of existing systems and develop strategies for improving or further leveraging these systems.
• Create and describe system design and models utilizing commonly used industry mechanisms like E-R Diagrams, UML models, flow charts, etc.
• Perform cost-benefit and return on investment analysis for proposed systems to aid management in making implementation decisions.
• Direct research on emerging application development software products, languages, and standards in support of procurement and development efforts.
• Liaise with company’s software and hardware suppliers for prompt rectification of any problems or emergencies.
• Take an active role in cross-departmental projects when needed.
• Cultivate and disseminate knowledge of application development best practices; Train, mentor, and provide guidance to junior software development staff.
• Oversee the quality assurance of program logic, data processing, and error resolution.
• Commitment to embrace Sammons Financial Group Companies shared values (Accountability, Connection, Openness, Respect and Integrity).
• As stated within the Company Attendance and Punctuality policy, regular attendance is required and expected in order to meet the business service levels and workflow demands.
• Participate in other initiatives and/or projects as necessary.

• Java 17+, Spring Boot/Spring Framework, REST APIs, Hibernate/JPA,ChatGPT, CoPilot, Claude,SQL, Git, Maven or Gradle, JaCoCo,Junit/Mockito/Cucumber,Docker and Kubernetes,CI/CDpractices,AzureDevOps, AWS, Kafka, SAFe Agile, Scrum, PIPlanning.

• College Degree in the field of computer science, information science, management information systems Preferred
• Minimum 8 years' IT development experience or equivalent Preferred
• Effective verbal and written communications skills and the ability to communicate with business partners and other IT staff
• Problem solving skills sufficient to perform research and recommend a proposed solution to problems
• Able to work on multiple tasks and meet established deadlines
• Able to effectively direct and coordinate the work of other team members on a project without having HR management responsibility for them
• Knowledge of computer programming languages as required for the system

• Criminal background check required.

USD $84,721.00 - USD $176,501.00 /Yr. Range includes data points from multiple labor markets. Specific range is dependent on the labor market where the incumbent will be hired to perform the position. Starting salary is dependent on candidate qualifications and experience. For a narrower salary range specific to your labor market, please inquire.

• Comprehensive health coverage for you and your family, including Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA & FSA options, and term life insurance.
• Competitive compensation with a performance-based incentive program tied to clear goals and individual and/or company success.
• Invest in your future with our 100% company-funded Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), plus automatic enrollment in our 401(k).
• Work-life balance that means something. Friday afternoons off year-round, generous paid time off, and paid holidays.
• Commit to your growth with paid development time, tuition reimbursement, and professional development opportunities across industry, individual, and leadership programs.
• Make an impact beyond the workplace through volunteer time off, and our company nonprofit matching gift program, supporting the causes that matter most to you.
• An ownership culture that inspires; join a connected, values-driven workplace where employees take accountability, support one another, and are empowered to do their best work - together shaping our future shared success.

At this time, we're not considering candidates that need any type of immigration sponsorship now or in the future or those needing work authorization for this role (This includes, but is not limited to students on F1-OPT, F1-CPT, J-1, etc.)

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Sammons Financial Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation at any stage of the application or hiring process, including navigating our website or applying for a position, please contact HR@sfgmembers.com or call 800-728-2987.

Sammons Financial Group participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

Sammons Financial Group maintains an internal Talent Acquisition function and does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from search firms, staffing agencies, or other third-party recruiting vendors. Please review our Recruitment Agency Policy for additional information here.