Senior Application Developer

Taylor, TX

Full time

R2203

At ERCOT, our diverse and dynamic work environment provides a platform on which employees can work together to build the future of the Texas power grid and wholesale market utilizing the latest technologies and resources. We encourage you to join our talented, dedicated workforce to develop world-class solutions for today and tomorrow’s energy challenges while learning new skills and growing your career.

ERCOT is committed to fostering inclusion at all levels of our company. It is the cornerstone of our corporate values of accountability, leadership, innovation, trust, and expertise. We know that individuals with a wide variety of talents, ideas, and experiences propel the innovation that drives our success. An inclusive and diverse workforce strengthens us and allows for a collaborative environment to solve the challenges that face our industry today and in the future.

JOB SUMMARY

Designs, codes, tests, documents and maintains applications to meet ERCOT business needs based on the ERCOT defined Software Development Life Cycle. Works closely with customers, business area subject matter experts, team members and other internal technical teams to design, develop and maintain complex ERCOT applications in support of market needs and internal corporate requirements. Uses toolsets that adhere to the frameworks of the technical stack used across the Application Services division and ensures that products and solutions comply with the organization’s architectural standards. The Applications Developer works with ERCOT business partners to design, develop and support complex business applications and tools.

JOB DUTIES

Broadly applies principles, theories and concepts related to the profession. A seasoned, experienced professional with an in-depth/full understanding of area of specialization.

May provide recommendations regarding issues outside the bounds of defined procedures and practices. Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.

Wide latitude for decisions within assignments, programs and projects; impact is generally limited to the project or department.

Acts as a resource to advise and may at times a lead the work of lower level professional and/or support employees. Generally, represents the department on projects and may perform in a project leadership role.

ADDITIONAL JOB DUTIES

Level 1

• Makes recommendations towards the development of new code or reuse of existing code

• Learns to understand business and customer requirements that drive the analysis and design of technical solutions

• Under supervision participates in all phases of product development lifecycle, including the analysis, design, test and integration of products

• Helps develop design specifications and parameters that are in compliance with products’ architectural blueprints

• Helps research, evaluate and incorporate new technology and tools to enhance the product development process

• Resolves customer complaints with products and responds to suggestions for improvement and enhancements

• May assist in development of product user manuals

• Assists in defining the overall technical development goals of the team

• Assists with providing code statistics, development metrics (i.e. development cycle time), and assisting in the implementation and maintenance f a standardized development methodology

• Interfaces with several key groups in the company to ensure quality product delivery (example, project managers, application and technical architects, usability engineers, other development groups, business end users, and external users as appropriate)

• Maintains and may enhance proficiency in key technical areas

Level 2 – Above + Conducts all phases of product development lifecycle, including the analysis, design, testing and integration of products

• Participates in component and data architecture design, performance monitoring, product evaluation and buy vs. build recommendations

• Supplies input and insight in development of product user manuals

• Provides code statistics, development metrics (i.e. development cycle time), and assisting in the implementation and maintenance of a standardized development methodology

• Conducts component and data architecture design, performance monitoring, and product evaluation

• Researches, evaluates and incorporates new technology and tools to enhance the product development process

• Develops and revises product user manuals

• Gives advice and recommendations to management for the overall technical development goals of the web team

• Advises and guides several key groups in the company to ensure quality product delivery (example, project managers, application and technical architects, usability engineers, other development groups, business end users, and external users as appropriate)

• Expands technical proficiency in key technical areas

Level Senior – Above + Serves as a Subject Matter Expert providing guidance to other team members

• May schedule work, train, mentor, and/or coach other employees

• Conveys team goals effectively through strong written and verbal communication skills

• Works on moderately complex issues where analysis of situations requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors

• Has the ability to resolve issues in creative and effective ways

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Experience with modern integration patterns/event based architectures e.g. messaging/streaming

• Modern LTS Java experience (Java 17, 21, 25)

• Modern Spring Boot experience (Spring Boot 3.x, 4.x)

• Container based development experience

• "DevOps" experience (packaging applications, writing deployment/operational automation, building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines)

• Experience building, scaling, developing observability for, and troubleshooting high volume/high performance data handling applications

• Experience building relational database backed application

• Sr level: Requires minimum 5 years job related work experience in excess of degree requirements.

• Lead: Requires minimum 8 years job related work experience in excess of degree requirements

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE PREFERRED

• Experience with Apache Kafka and/or JMS/AMQP

• Kubernetes experience specific to OpenShift and Azure Kubernetes Service

• Container experience specific to Docker Desktop/Docker Compose

• Fedora OS family experience (Fedora, CentOS, RHEL, RockyLinux)

• Configuration Management/Provisioning experience with tools like Ansible and Terraform

• GitHub/GitHub Actions experience.

• Azure experience. Cloud experience in general will suffice.

• Generally strong SQL experience. Specifically experience with Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or PostgreSQL.

WORK LOCATION – Taylor, TX:

• Employees will be required to be on-site in Taylor, TX at minimum 2 days per week, or more, as needed based on the business needs as determined by management

• On-site schedules are flexible or may be rotated based on business needs as determined by the Manager

• Remote work is required to be performed from your Texas residence.

• Employees may opt to work on-site more than required or 100% of the time

The foregoing description reflects the minimum qualifications and the essential functions of the position that must be performed proficiently with or without reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. It is not an exhaustive list of the duties expected to be performed, and management may, at its discretion, revise or require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. This job description is not intended to create a contract of employment with ERCOT. Both ERCOT and the employee may exercise their employment-at-will rights at any time. #LI-DN

ERCOT is firmly committed to equal employment for all qualified persons without regard to race, sex, medical condition, religion, age, creed, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, ancestry, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected category under federal, state or local law.

Expected Salary Range:

$109,000 - $150,000

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to 27 million Texas customers - representing about 90 percent of the state's electric load. As the independent system operator for the region, ERCOT schedules power on an electric grid that connects more than 54,100 miles of transmission lines and 1,250 generating units. ERCOT also performs financial settlement for the competitive wholesale bulk-power market and administers retail switching for 8 million premises in competitive choice areas. ERCOT is a membership-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature. ERCOT's members include consumers, cooperatives, generators, power marketers, retail electric providers, investor-owned electric utilities (transmission and distribution providers,) and municipal-owned electric utilities.

ERCOT offers an excellent benefits package, which includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, long/short-term disability insurance, long-term care insurance, Section 125 Flexible Spending Account, and a Retirement Savings Plan.

The medical, dental, vision ( , and quality-of-life benefits offered by ERCOT are second to none. Full-time employees are eligible to enroll in benefits on the first of the month following the date of hire. Additionally, 401(k) plans ( are available to help employees plan for the future.

The ERCOT Internship Program provides college students the opportunity to develop their skills in a professional work environment. Each intern will receive unique projects and assignments that aim to solve real challenges facing the electric industry. ERCOT internships provide professional learning experiences that offer meaningful, practical work related to each student's desired career path.

Eligible candidates should be enrolled in an academic bachelors or post graduate degree program maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The ERCOT Engineer Development Program (EDP) is a 12- to 16-month, self-paced program geared toward entry-level engineers looking to start a career in the power industry. Through the program, an EDP Engineer receives one-on-one mentoring, specialized training, and exposure to the work performed by each of the engineering groups at ERCOT.

The program allows engineers to develop the fundamental skills necessary to reach their full potential while gaining an understanding of the types of engineering work ERCOT has to offer. EDP management supports participants each step of the way as they progress through the program. Upon completion, graduates are placed as full-time engineers within one of ERCOT’s engineering groups.

The GMS Development Program (GDP) is designed to provide entry-level and early career professionals with the skills necessary to become successful Power System and Computer Engineers.

The program, which is based in ERCOT’s Grid and Market Solutions (GMS) Department, will provide experience in day-to-day work and instruction in the fundamentals of electric power systems engineering, grid and market applications, software programming, and IT service and operations management. The GDP offers one-on-one mentoring, training, field trips, and special assignments. These assignments allow GDP engineers to become knowledgeable and familiar with the various business areas at ERCOT. The GMS leadership team prepares GDP engineers for a future career at ERCOT in power systems and computer engineering.

The System Operator Development Program (ODP) is intended to combine real-time daily operations in an exciting work setting to prepare participants with the vital skills necessary to be successful in such a critical position — providing 24x7x365 on-demand support to manage the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers. If you are new to the industry, this program introduces you to the Bulk Electric System by combining introductory courses with the NERC Certification Exam Preparation Program in preparation to pass the NERC Certification Exam.