Western Governors University

Senior Software Engineer - Salesforce

Western Governors University$143K — $222K *
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 6+ years of software development experience, with 3+ years on the Salesforce platform
  • Experience designing multi-system integrations (error handling and data reconciliation)
  • Mastery of async Apex patterns with ability to choose appropriate methods
  • In-depth understanding of Salesforce order of execution impacting automation
  • Proven problem-solver for complex, cross-system issues
  • Experience in mentoring engineers and improving team skills
  • Ability to convey technical architecture to both engineers and non-technical leaders
  • Experience with CI/CD pipeline design and management (Copado or equivalent)

Responsibilities

  • Design systems integrating multiple Salesforce capabilities and external systems
  • Make architectural decisions impacting the team's portfolio
  • Lead technical design for complex cross-system features
  • Solve challenging platform problems that cross transaction boundaries
  • Mentor junior engineers through design guidance and architecture reviews
  • Drive technical standards for Salesforce development practices
  • Own, identify and reduce technical debt
  • Collaborate with leadership on platform strategy and governance
  • Enhance CI/CD release strategies for the portfolio

Benefits

  • Bonuses available
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Flexible paid time off and sick time without accrual
  • 11 paid holidays, plus other paid leaves including parental leave
  • Wellness programs and discounted tuition for WGU
  • Retirement savings plan options
Full Job Description
Job Description

We're looking for a Senior Software Engineer - Salesforce to join the Student Lifecycle Services engineering team at WGU. You'll work on a large, complex Salesforce org that directly supports the student journey - from enrollment through graduation. This isn't a simple CRM. It's an enterprise platform with 300+ flows, 2000+ Apex classes, deep integrations with Banner (SIS), ServiceNow, Kafka, and other university systems, and serves thousands of internal users daily.

You'll build and maintain the automation, integrations, and platform capabilities that enable WGU to serve 150,000+ students. The work matters - every flow you build, every integration you design, every performance problem you solve has a direct line to whether a student enrolls on time, gets their financial aid processed, or connects with their mentor.

We use Copado for CI/CD, follow a trigger framework pattern, and deploy through a structured promotion pipeline. We value code that's readable, testable, and built with the next engineer in mind.

The Salesforce engineering team operates within WGU's broader Ed Tech Engineering organization. We work closely with Product, Marketing, Operations, Enrollment, and Student Services stakeholders. The team practices Agile (Scrum).

This is a full-time, in-office position requiring 5 days per week in Salt Lake City, designed to foster the collaboration and connection that fuel our best work.

What You'll Do

  • Design systems that span multiple Salesforce capabilities and external systems - expertise in when and how to deploy Platform Events, CDC, async Apex, and integration callouts, and how these can work together as a coherent architecture


  • Make architectural decisions for the portfolio - not just your team's code, but how it fits with everything else


  • Lead technical design for complex cross-system features (Salesforce, Banner, ServiceNow, Kafka)


  • Solve the hardest platform problems - the ones that cross transaction boundaries, involve multiple async handoffs, or require understanding the full order of execution


  • Mentor SE I and SE II engineers through design guidance, architecture reviews, and pairing on complex problems


  • Drive technical direction for Salesforce development practices (async patterns, integration standards, testing strategy)


  • Own and reduce technical debt - identify what needs to change, build the case, and execute the plan


  • Partner with engineering leadership on platform strategy (migration plans, org health, governance limit forecasting)


  • Represent the technical perspective to non-technical stakeholders (Product, Operations, Academic leadership)


  • Design CI/CD improvements and release strategy for the portfolio


What You Bring

  • 6+ years of software development experience, with at least 3 years on the Salesforce platform


  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field


  • Experience designing multi-system integrations (not just building them - designing the approach, error handling strategy, and data reconciliation pattern)


  • Mastery of async Apex patterns - you choose between Batch, Queueable, Platform Events, and CDC based on the problem, not habit


  • Deep understanding of Salesforce order of execution and how it impacts complex automation


  • Track record of solving problems that span multiple systems and nobody else could figure out


  • Experience mentoring engineers and elevating team capability


  • Ability to communicate technical architecture to both engineers and non-technical leadership


  • Experience with CI/CD pipeline design and management (Copado or equivalent)


Preferred:

  • Salesforce Platform Developer II certification


  • One or more Architect-level certifications (Integration Architect, Data Architect, Application Architect)


  • Experience with Copado at the pipeline/strategy level (not just as a user)


  • Experience with Kafka or event streaming platforms


  • Experience in higher education technology (SIS integration, FERPA-aware systems)


  • Experience with large-scale Salesforce orgs (complex sharing models, 100+ objects, 300+ automation components)


  • Experience migrating legacy automation (Process Builder/Workflow Rules 12 Flow/Apex)


What Success Looks Like (First 6 Months)

  • Leading the technical design for at least one cross-system feature


  • Identifying and driving resolution of a systemic platform issue (performance, reliability, or architectural)


  • Becoming the go-to person for hard problems that cross system boundaries


  • Establishing or improving at least one technical standard that the team adopts


  • Mentoring at least one engineer in a way that visibly accelerates their growth


Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.

About Western Governors University

Western Governors University (WGU) is a private, nonprofit online university based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The university was founded by 19 U.S. governors in 1997 with a mission to expand access to higher education. WGU offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, information technology, education, and healthcare. The university is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and has been recognized by the White House as an example of excellence in education innovation. WGU has a competency-based learning model, which allows students to progress through their coursework at their own pace based on their mastery of the material.
Learn more about Western Governors University
Size
5,000 employees
Industry

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Western Governors University

More Information Technology Jobs

Find similar Senior Software Engineer - Salesforce jobs: