Associate Software Engineer-Applications & Automation job

Company DescriptionThe Office of Innovation & Technology (OIT) is the central IT agency for the City of Philadelphia headed by the Chief Information Officer (CIO). OIT oversees all major information and communications technology initiatives for the City of Philadelphia - increasing the effectiveness of the information technology infrastructure, where the services provided are advanced, optimized, and responsive to the needs of the City of Philadelphia's businesses, residents, and visitors. OIT responsibilities include: identifying the most effective approach for implementing new information technology directions throughout city government; improving the value of the city's technology assets and the return on the city's technology investments; ensuring data security continuity; planning for continuing operations in the event of disruption of information technology or communications services; and supporting accountable, efficient and effective government across every city department, board, commission and agency.The Associate Software Engineer - Applications & Automation supports the design, development, and maintenance of internal applications, scripts, and tools used by the Philadelphia Department of Prisons. This entry-level engineering role is intended for candidates early in their careers who are interested in building practical software solutions, automating manual processes, and improving how users interact with departmental systems.This position focuses on application development, automation, and workflow support, including building small features, scripts, or services; modifying existing applications; and supporting user-facing tools. The Associate Software Engineer works collaboratively with senior engineers while also responding to a mix of planned development work and operational or ad-hoc requests that arise in a live production environment.Work is performed onsite and requires flexibility, curiosity, and a strong sense of ownership. The role provides exposure to real production systems while operating under established change-management, review, and security processes.Job DescriptionEssential FunctionsDevelop and maintain internal applications, scripts, and tools that support departmental operationsModify existing software to add features, fix defects, or improve usability and performanceSupport workflow automation and process improvement initiativesAssist with backend logic, data access, and basic integration tasks as neededParticipate in troubleshooting and resolving application or automation issues in operational systemsCollaborate with senior engineers, system engineers, and stakeholders to gather requirements and deliver solutionsSupport applications and services running in production environments under established change and review processesWrite clear, maintainable code and contribute to technical documentationParticipate in testing, validation, and deployment activitiesQualificationsRequired QualificationsBachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field OR Completion of a relevant technical certificate program, military technical training, or equivalent practical experienceFoundational programming experience through coursework, labs, internships, or professional workBasic understanding of how applications interact with databases or external systemsAbility to work with operational and production systems while following change and review proceduresAbility to work onsite and collaborate with technical and non-technical stakeholdersPreferred QualificationsRecent graduates in IT, Computer Science, or related fieldsMilitary veterans with technical or IT-related experienceHands-on experience through coursework, labs, internships, or professional roles involving:Application development or scriptingWorkflow automation or internal toolsBackend or service-oriented developmentFamiliarity with version control systems (e.g., Git)Interest in building reliable, maintainable software in a public-sector environment Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and AbilitiesFoundational understanding of software development concepts and application designBasic programming skills in one or more languages (e.g., Python, C#, JavaScript, PowerShell)Ability to understand and modify existing codebasesFamiliarity with basic database concepts and data-driven applicationsAbility to learn new tools, frameworks, and technologies quicklyAbility to work collaboratively while managing individual tasks independentlyStrong problem-solving skills and attention to detailEffective written and verbal communication skillsAdditional InformationSalary Range: $55,000-$60,000Salary cannot exceed $60,000All applications must include a cover letter. Applications without a cover letter will be considered incomplete. Did you know? We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer : 25% tuition discount program for City employees (and sometimes spouses and dependents as well) in partnership with area colleges and universities We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays Generous retirement savings options are availableThe successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race,ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr @phila.gov. For more information, go to: Human Relations Website:http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspxJob LocationGoogle Maps requires functional cookies to be enabled