APPLICATIONS DEVELOPER

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY

YOUR PARTNER FOR A STRONGER ARIZONA.

DES WORKS WITH FAMILIES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, ADVOCATES AND STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO REALIZE OUR COLLECTIVE VISION: A THRIVING ARIZONA.

DES SERVES MORE THAN 3 MILLION ARIZONANS. OUR MISSION IS TO STRENGTHEN INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.

Job Location:

DIVISION OF TECHNOLOGY SERVICES (DTS)
1400 WEST WASHINGTON STREET, PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85007

Posting Details:

SALARY: $83,000 - $93,250

GRADE: 26

CLOSING DATE: AUGUST 23, 2026

Job Summary:

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES) we strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals who are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES please visit des.az.gov; or click on the link here to view ‘Our DES’ video. Come Join the DES Team!

The Department of Economic Security, Division of Technology Services (DTS), is seeking an experienced and highly motivated professional to join our team as an Applications Developer. This position supports 4 mainframe systems called Job Automated System (JAS), Tax Employer Accounting Multi-system (TEAM), Computer Assisted Collection System (CACS) and General Unemployment Insurance Development Effort (GUIDE) which are written in Natural, COBOL, CICS and use ADABAS, DB2, and VSAM files. Position also provides support to the DERS Customers when necessary. Analyzes customer's application change request, requirements documents, system investigation requests and translates these requests into technical specifications, writes and/or modifies programs, tests and debugs programs, and utilizes JobDoc to create operation documentation, writes and tests Job Control Language (JCL), writes program to call common modules to access DB2 from Central Information File (CIF) and completes all production migration requests. Supports and participates in Agile Methodology practices. Attends Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-up meeting, Sprint Review and Sprint Retrospective sessions; Assists team to meet commitment each Sprint period; Creates User Stories in Product Backlog, updates User Stories in Sprint Backlog, and creates/updates tasks; Demonstrates the issue and solution of assigned User Story during Sprint or during Sprint review.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely within Arizona based upon the department's needs and continual meetings of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, commissions, many State employees participate in the State's Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Job Duties:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Pro-actively solves complex problems; fixes and develops changes to applications to meet functional and technical designs following best practices and development standards and guidelines; analyzes, debugs, and resolves defects in applications.
• Support production systems; resolves end user service requests as assigned; completes unit and system test application changes to ensure quality of work and assist User Acceptance Test as needed; supports and participates in Agile Methodology practices.
• Attends Daily Stand-up meetings, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective and Sprint Planning sessions; assist team to meet commitment each Sprint period; create User Story in Product Backlog; update User Story in Sprint Backlog, and create/update task.
• Engages with business analysts and stakeholders to understand functional requirements, and contributes to completion of functional specifications; prepares technical documentation on application specifications.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of:

• Multiple Mainframe programming languages, multiple development platforms, such as ADABAS, DB2, VSAM file, Natural, COBOL, CICS, TSO, and JCL

Skills In:

• Strong customer service
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral
• Database management systems

Ability to:

• Balance, prioritize and organize multiple tasks
• Work collaboratively in teams and across organizations
• Synthesize feedback and adjust plans accordingly
• Develop and write technical documentation
• Quickly learn and develop in new programming languages, APIs and platforms
• Evaluate and test emerging technologies
• Apply creative solutions to business problems to ensure business needs are most effectively met

Selective Preference(s):

A bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Management or Computer Information Systems, Computer Engineering, Math, or Engineering or related technical degree from an appropriately accredited institution and two (2) years of mainframe computer programming and analysis experience. Or five (5) years of mainframe computer programming and analysis experience.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree and two (2) years of mainframe computer programming and analysis experience or 5 or more years of experience in mainframe computer programming and analysis experience (or equivalent experience).
• Applicants for this position will be required to apply for and show proof of receipt of a valid Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card that meets DES requirements for a Level One card.
• This position will require driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).
• Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits:

The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page here.

Retirement:

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

Contact Us:

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact us at email OODHRstaffing@azdes.gov.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting OODHRStaffing@azdes.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.