This position will be filled at the System Software Engineer I, II or III level, contingent upon the experience of the selected candidate.
Systems Software Engineer III
Overview
The Systems Software Engineer III is the career-level contributor responsible for delivering high-quality, scalable, and secure software solutions by applying advanced engineering skills and strong analytical capabilities within cross-functional Agile teams. Responsibilities include system design, technical implementation, process improvement, backlog planning, technical analysis, and peer mentoring. Operating in an Agile/DevOps environment, this role solves complex technical challenges, supports continuous improvement, and shares expertise to enhance team performance and the development of less experienced engineers.
Responsibilities
- Technical Strategy & Execution: Translates user stories and functional requirements into secure, reliable, and maintainable software solutions using modern frameworks and tools. Develops high-quality code and integrations that adhere to team and District standards; participates in peer reviews and contributes to reusable patterns and components. Resolves complex technical challenges and is recognized as a primary resource for expertise in modern engineering practices and tools. Applies and champions Agile, DevOps, and testing strategies to advance engineering maturity and reduce cycle time. Monitors personal and team-level task progress, communicates blockers or risks, and supports sprint success through technical readiness and collaborative planning.
- Analysis & Solution Design: Contributes to the technical analysis of complex business requirements by partnering with stakeholders, Business Analysts, and Program Managers. Translates high-level business needs into scalable, efficient system solutions. Identifies gaps, recommends improvements, and validates technical feasibility early in the project lifecycle. Participates in backlog refinement, estimation, and requirements clarification discussions to inform feasibility and sizing. Identifies and documents technical dependencies, integration points, and potential risks; contributes estimates that support team and business planning.
- Communication & Collaboration: Communicates clearly and professionally with technical and non-technical stakeholders to support alignment and shared understanding. Collaborates regularly with cross-functional partners including Quality Assurance, Security, Infrastructure, and Business Analysts to ensure holistic delivery. Documents technical decisions, design patterns, and development approaches to support transparency and maintainability. Shares insights, flags technical risks, and participates constructively in team planning and review ceremonies. Contributes to Agile events—including stand-ups, iteration planning, and demos—by representing technical progress and coordinating with teammates.
- Mentoring & Coaching: Provides direction and support to junior Systems Software Engineers, helping set clear goals and expectations aligned with business and technical objectives. Contributes to a collaborative team environment that encourages innovation, psychological safety, and continuous learning. Mentors and coaches junior engineers by offering feedback, promoting best practices, and supporting career development planning. Reinforces knowledge sharing, cross-functional learning, and retrospective participation to drive improvement and engagement. Models leadership behaviors, upholds team values, and cultivates trust and accountability. Supports iteration delivery by helping align team members to commitments and by monitoring shared progress.
- Continuous Improvement & Innovation: Actively participates in retrospectives and recommends improvements to process, tooling, and team practices. Identifies opportunities to reduce waste, improve quality, or enhance delivery velocity through focused innovation. Stays current with evolving technologies, languages, and frameworks; shares findings and promotes practical adoption within the team. Encourages experimentation and iterative improvement aligned with Agile, DevOps, and software craftsmanship principles. Uses team metrics to identify areas for growth and helps foster a culture of continuous learning and ownership.
- Maintain regular and predictable attendance: Perform related duties and responsibilities as required. Comply with District policies. Complete all required training. Maintain a working knowledge and comply with District safety procedures and specific safety requirements of this position, and those in accordance with applicable provisions of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC).
Reports To
Manager - Technology Development and Innovation
Overtime exemption
Exempt
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor''s Degree (B.A. or B.S.) in Computer Science or a related field is required.
- Equivalent experience (year for year) may substitute for required education.
Experience
- 5+ years of related software engineering experience in an independent role is required.
- Proven ability to deliver high-quality software in Agile environments using DevOps practices and modern development frameworks, and utility industry experience, is desired.
Licenses and Certifications
- Industry-recognized certifications, such as in Agile, DevOps, or relevant technologies, are preferred.
Skills and Abilities
A fully skilled incumbent will have the following knowledge skills & abilities:
- Software Architecture & Design – Ability to architect complex systems for scalability, reliability, and maintainability.
- DevOps & CI/CD – Experience implementing and managing pipelines.
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC) – Familiarity with IaC tools.
- Cloud & Hybrid Environments – Knowledge of cloud platforms and hybrid deployment models.
- Version Control & Code Reviews – Expertise using Git-based platforms and peer review workflows.
- Agile & Scrum – Applied knowledge of Agile principles, ceremonies, and backlog management.
- Test Automation & Quality Engineering – Championing unit, integration, and automated testing frameworks.
- Secure Coding – Awareness of OWASP, secure development lifecycle (SDLC), and compliance needs.
- Monitoring & Logging – Familiarity with system observability tools.
- District Software & Standards – Help define or refine standards and contribute to consistency across systems.
- Systems Analysis & Solution Architecture – Ability to assess business needs, evaluate system interactions, and contribute to scalable design solutions.
- User Story Decomposition & Translation – Translate business and functional needs, typically defined as user stories and acceptance criteria, into clearly scoped technical tasks, acceptance criteria, and implementation designs.
- Root Cause Analysis – Identify and analyze underlying causes of technical problems and contribute to corrective action planning.
- Technical Risk Identification & Mitigation – Recognize potential delivery or design risks and escalate or recommend mitigation strategies accordingly.
- Leadership & Coaching – Ability to mentor engineers, develop strengths, and promote career growth.
- Technical Project Management – Basic ability to plan, estimate, delegate, and deliver software projects.
- Conflict Resolution – Apply structured communication to support resolution of technical or interpersonal issues.
- Hiring & Onboarding – Participation in talent selection and successful team integration.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration – Effectively work with Product Owners, Quality Assurance, Security, Infrastructure, and Project Management Office.
- Stakeholder Communication – Translate technical information for non-technical stakeholders.
- Meeting Facilitation – Facilitate Agile ceremonies (e.g., stand-ups, retrospectives, planning sessions, and demos) as needed
- Documentation – Clear articulation of designs, patterns, standards, and team practices.
- Retrospective Participation – Contribute ideas and observations to retrospectives and team improvement efforts.
- Metrics-Driven Culture – Use team KPIs and metrics to identify and act on improvement opportunities.
- Experimentation & Modernization – Implement tools, techniques, and process innovations.
- Personal Reflection – Reflect on personal performance and adjust approach based on team feedback.
- Must be proficient in reading, writing and speaking English.
Systems Software Engineer II
Overview
The Systems Software Engineer II contributes to the development, enhancement, and support of software systems that enable Chelan PUD''s business operations. Applies established Agile software engineering practices to deliver secure, scalable, and maintainable solutions. Works under general direction within Agile/DevOps teams, collaborates with cross-functional members, and builds technical skills through practical experience, peer learning, and participation in team planning and execution.
Responsibilities
- Technical Strategy & Execution: Writes maintainable and testable code using modern frameworks and tools. Contributes to code reviews and incorporates feedback to improve quality and maintain consistency with team standards. Participates in DevOps practices such as builds, deployments, and environment setup under team guidance. Troubleshoots and resolves software defects using structured debugging and support pr...