State of Iowa

Information Technology Specialist 4 - Application Developer

State of Iowa$70K — $108K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 2-7 years of application development and database management experience.
  • Proficient in SQL and data maintenance for system integrity.
  • Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities.
  • Strong communication skills for collaboration with vendors and team members.
  • Experience in mentorship and technical guidance for junior developers.

Responsibilities

  • Manage and support both new and legacy computer systems.
  • Analyze and resolve system defects reported by users or vendors.
  • Develop and optimize SQL queries and reports.
  • Maintain database integrity through import jobs and scripts.
  • Troubleshoot complex issues by reviewing code and developing solutions.
  • Plan and execute system testing, including automation processes.
  • Collaborate with vendors to clarify responsibilities and improvements.

Benefits

  • Flexible work environment
  • Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS)
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Generous vacation and sick leave
  • Life and disability insurance
  • Retirement savings options
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
Full Job Description
Salary : $70,075.20 - $108,388.80 Annually
Location : Des Moines - 50309 - Polk County, IA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 27-00557
Agency: 532 Iowa Department of Management
Opening Date: 08/25/2026
Closing Date: 9/6/2026 11:59 PM Central
LinkedIn Tag: #LI-POST
Point of Contact:

Job Description
The Department of Management (DOM), Division of Information Technology (DoIT), is seeking a skilled and motivated Application Developer to help manage, enhance, and support a diverse portfolio of new and legacy computer systems. In this role, you will work closely with business partners and vendor teams to troubleshoot issues, improve system performance, and ensure data integrity across critical applications. This position offers the opportunity to solve complex technical challenges, contribute to continuous system improvement, and provide mentorship to junior developers while supporting important organizational goals through meaningful data insights.

What You Will Do
  • Manage, maintain, and support new and legacy computer systems of moderate to high complexity as a junior or senior developer.
  • Analyze, document, and resolve system defects identified by business unit partners or vendors.
  • Develop, update, and optimize SQL queries, reports, and data export jobs to support business operations and system continuity.
  • Maintain database integrity by creating and executing import jobs and data maintenance scripts using SQL and related development tools.
  • Troubleshoot complex system issues by reviewing programming code and identifying alternative technical solutions.
  • Plan and perform system testing, including automation testing, to ensure quality and functionality.
  • Review business requirement specifications to understand system design, functionality, and user needs.
  • Collaborate with vendor partners to clarify code ownership, recommend improvements, and support remediation of vendor-owned system components.
  • Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior developers, offering day-to-day support, reviewing code, assigning tasks, and serving as a technical lead.
  • Support business units through data analysis, transforming raw data into clear, interactive dashboards, charts, and reports using BI and data visualization tools.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned to support departmental and organizational goals.

What We Are Seeking
  • Proven ability to support, troubleshoot, and enhance complex computer systems using strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Experience with SQL, data maintenance, and report development to ensure database integrity and reliable business operations.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to work with vendors, interpret business requirements, and mentor junior developers.
  • Ability to translate data into actionable insights through business intelligence tools, delivering clear and interactive visualizations.

What We Offer
  • Flexible work environment
  • Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS)
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays
  • Life and disability insurance
  • Retirement savings options (RIC)
  • Flexible Spending Accounts


Working Arrangement
This position requires onsite work in Des Moines, IA each week. Employees meeting all expectations of their work responsibilities may request remote work and develop a hybrid/remote schedule collaboratively with their manager.

Please note, candidates for this position must reside in the state of Iowa at the time of starting the role.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field, and experience equal to two years of full-time work in application development and database management, business analysis, systems and network administration, technical training and reporting, IT vendor and purchasing management, IT project management, IT product management, system testing and quality assurance, mainframe and platform administration, and/or information technology security.
2) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in computer science, computer applications, software engineering, computer engineering, management information systems, business analytics, or cyber security, and experience equal to one year of full-time work in application development and database management, business analysis, systems and network administration, technical training and reporting, IT vendor and purchasing Information management, IT project management, IT product management, system testing and quality assurance, mainframe and platform administration, and/or information technology security.
3) All of the following (a and b):
a. Two years of full-time work experience in application development and database management, business analysis, systems and network administration, technical training and reporting, IT vendor and purchasing management, IT project management, IT product management, system testing and quality assurance, mainframe and platform administration, and/or information technology security; and
b. A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience.
4) All of the following (a and b):
a. Four years of full-time work experience in application development and database management, business analysis, systems and network administration, technical training and reporting, IT vendor and purchasing management, IT project management, IT product management, system testing and quality assurance, mainframe and platform administration, and/or information technology security; and
b. Either of the following:
i. Certification from an authorized educational institution/major computer or software producer in one or more of the specialty areas listed in part a; or
ii. Eighteen semester hours from an accredited college or university in one or more of the specialty areas listed in part a.
5) Current, continuous experience in the state executive current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes experience equal to six months of full-time work as an Information Technology Specialist 3.

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About State of Iowa

The State of Iowa is a government entity responsible for providing services and programs to the residents of Iowa. The state government is divided into three branches: the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. The executive branch is headed by the Governor of Iowa, who is responsible for implementing and enforcing state laws. The legislative branch is responsible for making laws, while the judicial branch is responsible for interpreting laws and administering justice. The State of Iowa was admitted to the Union on December 28, 1846, and has since become known for its agriculture, manufacturing, and renewable energy industries.
Learn more about State of Iowa
Size
18,000 employees
Industry

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