Applications Engineer

Job Description Code: 6F.020


Division/Department: Technology and Information Services


Pay Grade: T-7


Pay Type: Salaried; Exempt


Retirement: TRS


Contract Work Year: 233 Days


Reports To: Supervisor, Business Information or Executive Director, Student Information


Evaluation Instrument: PEI

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS


Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Information Technology, Computer Science or closely related area. Minimum of two years of experience in systems, infrastructure or closely related area. Experience in a public K-12 school system preferred.

GOAL


Under direction of the Supervisor, the Applications Engineer is responsible for formulating, designing, and implementing solutions that ensure high availability, performance and connectivity across enterprise resource systems and the district's business environment. This role partners closely with other divisions and performs a key role in vendor management and monitoring.


REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development of complex software applications, defining system and data architectures, and setting coding standards to ensure high-quality output.
• Display knowledge of programming languages, frameworks, and tools commonly used in application development.
• Write, review, and optimize code to ensure that applications are secure, scalable, and efficient.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand business requirements and translate them into technical specifications and architecture.
• Identify and resolve technical challenges throughout the software development lifecycle, providing innovative solutions to complex problems.
• Design and manage integrations between ERP or student information systems and other district applications.
• Development and maintenance of data infrastructure, including data warehouses, data lakes, and ETL processes.
• Evaluate and implement data analytics tools and technologies to enhance capabilities.
• Develop and maintain APIs, ETL processes, and middleware solutions for seamless data flow.
• Stay current with emerging technologies and programming languages, integrating new tools and methodologies to enhance productivity and application performance.
• Lead initiatives to improve system performance, security, and scalability by introducing new technologies or optimizing existing solutions.
• Streamline software development processes to improve team efficiency, including implementing new tools, methodologies, or automation.
• Drive the adoption of new technologies, frameworks, or programming languages that can improve productivity and software quality.
• Monitor the performance, stability, and uptime of applications in production, ensuring minimal downtime and quick resolution of incidents.
• Collaborate with business analysts and stakeholders to gather and analyze business requirements.
• Translate business requirements into technical specifications.
• Oversee the integration of various system components, including software, hardware, and networks.
• Ensure seamless implementation and deployment of systems.
• Develop and document system architecture, ensuring it meets business requirements and technical specifications.
• Design scalable, reliable, and efficient IT systems.
• Develop and maintain system documentation, including architectural diagrams and technical specifications.
• Deep understanding of system architecture principles, practices, and tools.
• Possess proficiency in relevant programming languages, frameworks, and technologies.
• Hold strong analytical skills to assess business requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
• Analyze complex systems and identify areas for improvement.
• Display strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex technical data and provide actionable insights.
• Exhibit excellent problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to identifying and addressing software development challenges.
• Escalate network and security concerns to the appropriate supervisor and other administrators as applicable. Advise of any potential risk exposure.
• Research and recommend new technologies that may add value and quality to the school system operations.
• Consult with users to define technical needs and requirements.
• Define training needs and requirements to ensure smooth network operations.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings.
• Represent the school district at meetings, conventions and conferences when required and approved in a professional manner.
• Maintain a positive, professional and safe work environment.
• Perform and promote all activities in compliance with equal employment and nondiscrimination policies of the Cherokee County School District.
• Possess and maintain valid and appropriate license, certificate and/or credential as may be required for this position.
• Follow work scheduling and attendance requirements in a regular, predicable and punctual manner.
• Participate in training programs to increase skills and proficiency related to assignments.
• Review current developments, literature and technical sources of information related to job responsibility.
• Ensure adherence to good safety procedures.
• Follow federal and state laws, as well as School Board policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

IMPORTANT NOTES

ESSENTIAL DUTIES


Job descriptions are designed and intended only to summarize the essential duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and requirements for the purpose of clarifying the general nature and scope of a position's role as part of the overall organization. Job descriptions do not list all tasks an employee might be expected to perform, and they do not limit the right of the employer/supervisor to assign additional tasks or otherwise to modify duties to be performed - even if seemingly unrelated to the basic job. Every employee has a duty to perform all assigned tasks. (An employee who is assigned a duty or task believed to be unlawful should report the assignment to the Chief Human Resources Officer.) It should also be noted the order of duties/ responsibilities as listed in the job description is not designed or intended to rank the duties in any order of importance relative to each other.


MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS


In filling a vacant position, preferred or required credentials regarding education, training, experience, and other bona fide occupational qualifications may be established. The credentials shown in this job description may be interpreted only as the minimum criteria existing at the time the description was developed. Other bona fide occupational qualifications and criteria may be utilized as needed in the selection process.


Fringe Benefits


FICA is paid by the employee and matched by the School District. Temporary workers do not qualify for employee benefits.

Adopted: December 2025


Revised: April 2026