Lead IT Applications Engineer

Cleveland-Cliffs

2d•$120,000 - $160,000

About The Position

Cleveland-Cliffs is seeking a Lead IT Applications Engineer to serve as a key technical resource for business-critical HR, Payroll, Time & Attendance, Badging/Access Control, and Safety applications. The portfolio includes modern vendor platforms and long-running custom systems built on Oracle, Java EE, Visual Basic, .NET, and Linux. The position combines hands-on development and production support with close collaboration with business users and software vendors. The role supports application development and enhancements, databases, batch processes, production operations, application servers, upgrades, payroll cycles, documentation, and compliance practices. It may also serve as technical lead or manager delegate, coordinating team work, incidents, and cross-functional activities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
8–10 years of experience developing and supporting business applications on platforms such as .NET and/or Java/Java EE, including Visual Basic applications.
Strong Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server skills, including complex queries, PL/SQL and T-SQL stored procedures, indexing, performance tuning, query optimization, and basic data modeling.
Working knowledge of Linux/Unix environments, including shell scripting, Cron scheduling, and log analysis, and Java application servers such as Tomcat or WebLogic.
Ability to work directly with business users to understand needs, resolve support issues, and communicate technical topics to non-technical audiences.
Experience coordinating with third-party vendors on application support, issue escalation, and enhancements.
Ability to lead others when required, including serving as technical lead, guiding peers, delegating work, and keeping management informed during incidents and projects.
Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience with HR, Payroll, and Time & Attendance systems such as Frontier Matrix and UKG Kronos, and exposure to Dayforce or similar workforce management platforms.
Experience with system integrations and data pipelines, including APIs, web services, flat-file and batch interfaces, and ETL tools.
Familiarity with SAS, SSRS, Power BI, or similar reporting tools, and scripting for automation.
Exposure to legacy technologies such as ESQL/C and Open Ingres, or willingness to learn and support them.
Knowledge of payroll and timekeeping concepts, including pay rules, overtime, and regulatory compliance.
Experience working in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
Familiarity with ITIL, SDLC, and change management practices.

Responsibilities

Develop, enhance, and support HR, Payroll, Time & Attendance, and Safety & Security applications, including custom Java/Java EE, Visual Basic/VB.NET, and .NET applications, batch programs, interfaces, and reports.
Write, tune, and troubleshoot complex SQL and database code, including Oracle PL/SQL and Microsoft SQL Server stored procedures, functions, views, and data-load processes.
Support scheduled batch and data-pipeline processes, including Korn shell scripts, Cron jobs, and Java batch programs, to ensure timely and accurate data movement between systems.
Provide production support for high-criticality systems, investigate incidents, perform root cause analysis, and implement permanent fixes within agreed service levels.
Support application servers and Linux-based environments, such as Tomcat and WebLogic, in coordination with infrastructure teams.
Partner with business stakeholders to gather requirements, evaluate initiatives, and deliver solutions on time.
Coordinate with software vendors on support tickets, patches, upgrades, enhancements, and escalations, and track issues through resolution.
Plan and support application upgrades, releases, and testing cycles, including regression and user acceptance testing.
Support payroll processing cycles, including month-end, year-end, and regulatory or tax-driven changes, with a focus on accuracy and timeliness.
Create and maintain technical documentation, including functional specifications, runbooks, support procedures, and system and data flow documentation.
Crosstrain teammates and document specialized or legacy applications to provide dependable primary and backup coverage.
Lead the team when required by acting as technical lead or manager delegate, prioritizing and assigning work, coordinating incident response and payroll-cycle support, and representing the team in cross-functional meetings.
Identify opportunities for process improvement, automation, and modernization of legacy applications, and contribute to cross-functional projects.
Follow change management, security, and audit/compliance practices, and help ensure data integrity and appropriate access controls.
Mentor junior team members and share knowledge across the team.
Perform other duties as assigned.