Weekend Developer Jobs in State College, PA (NOW HIRING)

The Tuscarora Intermediate Unit invites applicants for an Applications Developer, located at our main office in McVeytown, PA. This position is open for remote work as well.

Applicants must apply via Applitrack and complete the online application at http://www.tiu11.org. To be considered for an open position, applicants must upload the following required clearances:

Act 24 Arrest and Conviction Report
Act 34 Pennsylvania Criminal History Clearance
Act 151 Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance
Act 114 Federal Criminal History Clearance

Links to these clearances can be found here: https://www.tiu11.org/human-resources/

The Applications Developer shall be directly responsible to the Director of Innovation & Special Projects for supervision and evaluation. The Applications Developer will work as a peer alongside the existing Applications Developer and collaborate with the Directors of
Educational Technology and IT Operations as needed.

This position is established as a shared position under a Joint Services Agreement (JSA) between Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11 and a partnering Intermediate Unit. While the Director of Innovation & Special Projects provides primary supervision and evaluation, the
Applications Developer is also responsible for projects and tasks assigned by the partnering Intermediate Unit in accordance with the terms of the JSA.

Fundamental Duties/Essential Functions
1. Design, develop, and maintain custom Ruby on Rails applications for TIU employee and TIU customer use, as well as applications assigned by the partnering Intermediate Unit under the Joint Services Agreement.
2. Lead the modernization of existing Rails codebases, including adoption of Hotwire/Turbo, improved test coverage, and cleaner architecture through code review and example.
3. Coordinate customization and maintenance of TIU and TIU-hosted websites, including WordPress and related platforms.
4. Coordinate customization and maintenance of TIU and TIU-hosted learning management systems, including Moodle and affiliated platforms.
5. Design, develop, and maintain the codebase for all TIU-developed software and software customizations, with emphasis on maintainability by a small team.
6. Build and maintain integrations with third-party platforms, including LMS systems, JotForm Enterprise, Google Workspace, Microsoft SharePoint, and district-facing tools.
7. Ensure that all developed applications adhere to current cybersecurity best practices. Collaborate with the Infrastructure Specialist - Cybersecurity Technician on both TIU11 and IT Operations teams to conduct security reviews, address vulnerabilities, and maintain compliance with applicable standards for all TIU-developed and customized software.
8. Coordinate the development and maintenance of documentation for custom software applications developed for TIU employees and TIU customers.
9. Coordinate and manage multiple concurrent development projects across TIU11 and the partnering Intermediate Unit, including scope definition, timeline management, stakeholder communication, and delivery documentation.
10. Utilize project management tools to plan, track, and communicate development work across TIU11 and the partnering Intermediate Unit. Develop accurate project outlines and time estimates, and create and maintain detailed technical and end-user documentation throughout the project lifecycle.
11. Develop proposals for new custom software applications for TIU employees and TIU customers.
12. Contribute to AI-assisted development workflows, including resourceful use of AI coding tools within shared subscription constraints.
13. Serve as a mentor and partner to the Applications Developer, supporting professional growth and contributing to a collaborative, high-quality development culture.
14. Influence technical direction and team practices through code review, peer collaboration, and leading by example without requiring formal supervisory authority.
15. Work with the Server Administrator and IT Operations staff to ensure proper operation of TIU-developed software and software customizations.
16. Remain current in industry-standard software development tools, languages, and frameworks, with particular emphasis on the Ruby on Rails ecosystem and emerging cybersecurity practices.
17. Coordinate regular meetings, both virtually and on-site, with project stakeholders for purposes of needs assessment, project updates, and risk analysis.
18. Performance of the above tasks will require a flexible schedule to include occasional evening and weekend hours and travel.
19. Perform other tasks as assigned by the Director of Innovation & Special Projects.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Individuals must possess these skills, knowledge, and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.
Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.
1. Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally in English with staff, administrators, and non-technical stakeholders at all levels.
2. Five or more years of professional Ruby on Rails development experience, with a demonstrated understanding of Rails conventions and modern development patterns.
3. Experience with or demonstrated motivation to lead the adoption of Hotwire and Turbo in existing Rails codebases.
4. Demonstrated comfort working with legacy Rails applications, including incremental improvement without full rewrites.
5. Experience with Python and PHP for scripting, automation, and maintenance of legacy web applications, with the ability to support and extend existing codebases written in those languages.
6. Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction and team practices at the peer level without formal authority, through code review, documentation, and example.
7. Knowledge of cybersecurity best practices as they apply to web application development, including secure coding standards, vulnerability assessment, and compliance requirements.
8. Ability to collaborate effectively with cybersecurity and infrastructure specialists to ensure applications meet current security standards.
9. Practical experience using AI coding assistance tools in a resource-constrained setting, with a developed workflow for maximizing value under usage limitations.
10. Experience with PostgreSQL or comparable relational database systems.
11. Familiarity with Linux server environments, Apache, and web application deployment and configuration.
12. Ability to manage responsibilities across multiple organizational stakeholders, including a primary employer and a partnering Intermediate Unit under a Joint Services Agreement.
13. Ability to utilize project management tools effectively for planning, tracking, and communicating development work. Demonstrated ability to develop accurate project outlines and time estimates, and to create and maintain detailed technical and end-user documentation.
14. Ability to perform with efficiency and a high level of accuracy in all assigned duties in a remote, async-first work environment.
15. Willingness to travel and attend meetings at various hours, including occasional evenings and weekends as required.
16. Ability to present ideas logically in writing using good proofreading, spelling, and grammar skills.

Qualification Standards
1. Education: Possess a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field, or demonstrate equivalent professional experience.
2. Experience: Demonstrate five or more years of experience with software development, project management, database design, and related technology, preferably in an educational or public sector setting.
3. Clearances: Successful completion of Pennsylvania required clearances including Criminal History, Child Abuse History, and FBI fingerprinting.