Data Systems Developer (IT Data Management – Journey)

State of Washington•Thurston County – Lacey, WA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Data Systems Developer (IT Data Management – Journey) within the Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response program. This role is ideal for a seasoned professional who enjoys solving complex technical problems, building sophisticated databases and application ecosystems, and shaping modern technology solutions that directly support environmental protection. You will serve as part of a team to provide data management and application development services for the program. You will independently design and manage advanced databases, build and maintain custom applications used by spill responders and regulatory staff, and deliver technical solutions that enable fast, accurate decision-making in high-stakes oil spill prevention and response scenarios. You will also influence program strategies, participate in architecture discussions, and ensure that technical systems are reliable, scalable, secure, and aligned with business needs.

Requirements

5 years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position.
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving – Ability to assess complex data and system issues to develop solutions that keep information systems reliable and aligned with business needs.
Collaboration and Communication – Ability to work effectively with staff, IT teams, and partners to translate needs, share information, and ensure systems function well for all users.
Decision Making and Judgment – Ability to independently make sound technical and workflow decisions to ensure data systems and applications meet program, agency, and industry standards.
Business Process and Workflow Improvement – Ability to evaluate how data and applications support work processes and recommend clear, practical improvements to increase efficiency and data quality.
Database Design and Development, SQL and Data Processing – Ability to design, build, and maintain databases to ensure program data is well-structured, secure, scalable, and accessible. Ability to write and optimize SQL queries, stored procedures, and ETL routines to support reporting, system integration, and analytical work.
Application Design and Development – Ability to build and maintain applications using standard development tools (e.g., C#, ASP.NET, JavaScript, SQL Server) to support program operations and external user needs.
Education involving a major study in Computer Science, Information Technology (IT), Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), or closely related field.
Examples of how to qualify: 5 years of experience. 4 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits. 3 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree). 2 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits. 1 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree or higher.

Nice To Haves

System Integration and Troubleshooting – Ability to connect data and applications across systems and resolve technical issues to prevent disruptions and maintain reliable service.
Reporting and Data Visualization – Ability to create and manage reporting tools and environments (such as SSRS) to support decision-making, analysis, and QA/QC activities.
GIS and Spatial Data Integration – Ability to incorporate spatial datasets into databases and applications to support environmental analysis and program operations.
Project and Solution Planning – Ability to plan, scope, and lead development efforts—from requirements through implementation—to deliver dependable databases and applications.
Data Governance and Quality Management – Ability to define data requirements, standards, and practices to ensure program information is accurate, consistent, and usable.

Responsibilities

Design, development, testing, and implementation of highly complex custom applications using modern development tools and agency standards.
Design, develop, optimize, and maintain Spills Program databases, including schema design, stored procedures, integrations, and performance enhancements.
Provide technical guidance and consult with program staff to improve business workflows, ensure high-quality data, and contribute to long-term data and application strategies.
Develop user interfaces and mobile application components that support daily work of spill responders, inspectors, plan reviewers, and public users.
Build and maintain reporting environments and advanced data retrieval systems, including SSRS reports, spatial data integrations, and sustainable ETL processes.
Analyze and resolve complex technical issues across applications, ensuring smooth system interoperability and uninterrupted service for all end users.
Support oil spill risk modeling and analysis teams by designing and maintaining specialized data systems, preparing datasets, and developing custom scripts and queries.
Collaborate with agency IT teams (ITSO, ITSS, Application Developers, Enterprise Architects) to ensure system security, SQL ecosystem alignment, architectural consistency, and successful project delivery.