Software Development Engineer

Salary : $118,788.80 - $144,539.20 Annually
Location : Service Center, Administration, Issaquah, WA
Job Type: Full-Time Exempt
Job Number: 2026-00166
Department: Information Technology Services
Division: Business Applications
Opening Date: 08/06/2026
Closing Date: 8/13/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Union Represented: Yes


General Position Summary

JOB NUMBER: 2026-00166
The King County Library System is seeking a new Software Development Engineer to join their team. The Software Development Engineer designs and develops features, tools and applications used for enhancing King County Library System (KCLS) capabilities.
In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Create business and technical requirements
• Estimate projects/tasks, creates prototypes
• Develop application and integration software and features
• Test software and generates supporting documentation

This is an ideal role for an experienced developer with experience in object-oriented design and development, and a commitment to the .
This position collaborates with third-party software development, database support and open source partners to develop technically appropriate solutions. The developer will also work closely with the Quality Assurance Analyst to develop and test/fix/implement said solutions.

General Position Summary

The Software Development Engineer is responsible for designing and developing features, tools, and applications to enhance KCLS software capabilities. This position participates in the full software solution development cycle from inception to completion, ensuring that solutions meet all KCLS business needs and requirements. This role is the principal consultant for team members and vendors needing assistance and support with technical design, development, testing and the implementation of new software programs.
Required: Applicants must attach a current resume and cover letter which addresses relevant work experience, education, and training as it relates to this position.

About King County Library System (KCLS):
KCLS has a vision of a world where knowledge allows diverse communities to prosper and grow. In order to support this vision, we create opportunities through meaningful connections by acting as the knowledge sharing center for over 1.5 million diverse patrons, providing an unparalleled collection of library materials, resources, technology, services, and programs.

Approximately 1,000 engaged and passionate staff provide service in 50 community library locations and patron engagement using direct outreach, programs, and virtual assistance. Our service area includes cities, towns, tribal lands, and unincorporated districts of King County, with the exception of the city of Seattle.

From a 2021-2022 comprehensive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Assessment Demographics and Language Report, of the more than 1.5 million residents who live within the KCLS service area, almost half identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). Moreover, roughly one-third of the KCLS community speaks a language other than English as their first language.

The King County Library System values the diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures of all qualified individuals. We seek applicants that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other people of color), immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, veterans, etc.

KCLS welcomes reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities as an opportunity to assist qualified individuals to participate in the job application or interview process and/or perform the essential functions of the position upon hire.


Need an accommodation to apply or interview? Call View phone number on click.appcast.io or email .


KCLS ensures equal opportunities and consideration for all job applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. KCLS does not tolerate discrimination or harassment during any stage of employment, including in recruiting, hiring, promotion, termination, leave of absence, compensation, or training.
Examples of Duties


Essential Duties:
The items listed in this section are the key duties and responsibilities for this job and do not represent an exhaustive list. Our organization is dynamic and therefore duties may change based on business necessity; however, any new duties will remain within the scope of the job.

• Researches, designs, implements, tests, documents, and delivers software applications, tools, systems, and services.
• Maintains and manages all software applications, tools, and systems after implementation.
• Analyzes, consults and advises on existing, alternative, and emerging technology products and solutions regarding the feasibility, potential standardization, and financial impact to the organization.
• Leads system improvement development life cycle (SDLC) processes, including continuous integration and delivery, automated testing, and deployment.
• Ensures compliance with KCLS policies, procedures, and standards.
• Technical lead in establishing standards, methods and specifications for the development, improvement, and maintenance of KCLS's software policies, procedures, applications, tools, systems, and services. Analyzes user requirements for system features and functionality.
• Defines and maintains software requirements and procedures documentation for the effective design, installation, configuration, operations, and management of KCLS software applications, tools, systems, and services.
• Implements, follows, and measures performance using industry-standard software development methodologies and best practices.
• Conducts training sessions and provides mentorship to junior developers.
• Coordinates and monitors vendor relationships and performance on outsourced projects.
• Works collaboratively as a team member with third-party software development teams, following Agile methodologies to deliver large-scale releases.
• Works independently as an individual contributor on smaller, less complex solutions.
• Collaborates with and contributes to open-source communities where appropriate to leverage existing code libraries and optimize KCLS's utilization of community code.
• Develops statistical tools and measurement criteria as directed by the Business Applications Manager.

Secondary Duties:

• Contributes to strategic planning as directed by the Business Applications Manager.
• Assists with annual budget preparation by providing estimates for needs and resources.
• Creates and manages Linux virtual machines for development, testing and production.
• Serves as liaison and facilitator between assigned business units, consultants, customers, and management to assist in addressing and resolving issues.
• Prepares and maintains technical documentation.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Core Competencies
Organizational Competencies:
Valuing Diversity

Manages relationships with all kinds and classes of people inclusively and equitably; respects, values, and encourages the unique dimension each employee adds to the organization and each member of the community brings to the whole. Seeks opportunities to learn about differences.
Customer Focus

Primarily focused on customer needs, able to deliver high quality, value added services. Constantly strives to find new ways to increase customer satisfaction and understanding, foster equitable services, and forge meaningful connections.
Ethics, Values and Judgement

Exercises best judgment, trustworthiness, and professional standards of conduct; consistently demonstrates organization's values, moral principles, and accountability through behavior, character, and action. Defends intellectual freedom and confidentiality.
Professional and Technical Knowledge

Demonstrates proficiency in professional and technical skills and/or knowledge in position-related areas; purposely keeps up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise, in order to better foster personal success and connections for others.
Job Specific Competencies
Communicates Effectively

Conveys ideas/information in a way that is clear, engaging, and suitable to the audience. Main point of their message is apparent. Listens more than they speak, responds appropriately. Seeks influence.
Vision and Strategic Thinking

Supports, promotes, and ensures alignment with the organization's vision, mission, and values; holds big picture view while setting priorities, often uses breakthrough strategies to find the way forward.
Work Quality

Inspires and strives for excellence in all aspects of work including setting high standards of performance for self and others; ensures that results are complete and accurate; exhibits attention to detail.
Accountability

Holds self, direct reports, and others accountable for achieving intended outcomes; follows up and monitors progress to ensure that things stay on track; models organizational values and norms.
Desired Minimum Qualification


Education/Experience:
The items listed below are the minimum requirements for the job and are relevant to this position. The organization values both work experience and education and realizes that individuals take different paths to acquire knowledge.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in computer science, information technology or software engineering.
• Five (5) years of experience in software design or systems analysis.
• One (1) year Experience with Evergreen, or skill with both agile and waterfall methodologies and use of source control management tools, preferred.
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties and responsibilities of the classification will be considered.

Knowledge and Skills
List the minimum knowledge and skills needed to perform the essential duties of the job. Preferred knowledge and skills may be listed as well. Indicate which are preferred.

• Code development with object-oriented design and development.
• Demonstrated proficiency with modern web development technologies such as Typescript, Angular, Bootstrap CSS, Perl and Linux,
• Experience with and SQL, specifically PostgreSQL.
• System performance evaluation and troubleshooting.
• Works effectively with diverse populations and a wide and varied customer base.
• Listening and communications skills with diverse populations and team members.
• Presentation and public speaking with groups of all sizes.
• Makes independent decisions using critical thinking.
• Responds to requests in a proactive manner.
• Manages work in an environment with many interruptions.
• Works well under pressure from deadlines or changing priorities.

Professional Licenses and Certifications
Items in this section are applicable to the job and can be required or preferred. Indicate which are preferred.

• None.

Physical Demands & Work Environment


Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job the employee will: Constantly sits and seldom walks and stands.
• Constantly use hands/fingers for frequent keyboarding which may be repetitive up to occasional.

• Extensive PC monitor work is required.

• Frequently will reach up to chest level with hands and arms.
• Occasionally lift to 10 pounds and seldom up to 35 pounds.
• Seldom push/pull carts using light force.

Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a typical office environment.
• Incumbent may be permitted hybrid telework schedule upon request.

General Benefits Summary
Paid Time off
It is the policy of KCLS to grant to all part-time and full-time employees:

• Annual Leave (Vacation).
• Sick Leave
• Holidays - KCLS celebrates twelve (12) holidays each year and one (1) floating holiday. Part-time employees are eligible for holiday pay if they are scheduled to work on the day the holiday falls on.

Medical/Dental Insurance Benefits
Our health insurance plans with Kaiser/Premera/Delta Dental are offered at low premium rates to all employees working 20 or more hours per week. Employees may also purchase benefits for dependents and domestic partners.


Retirement - Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)
Employees working 20 hours per week or more are automatically enrolled in the Washington State Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) program. Both KCLS and the employee contribute toward PERS retirement benefits.


Flexible and Dependent Care Spending Accounts and Health Saving Account
Employees working 20 hours per week or more can set aside a portion of their salary on a pre-tax basis to pay for family medical and dependent care needs. KCLS provides an annual employer contribution to Health Saving Account when the employee is enrolled in a high deductible health plan.

Life and Accidental Death & Disability, Long Term Disability Insurance
All the employees working 20 hours per week or more qualify for the group term life and AD& D insurance benefits equal to one times their annual salary. Employees working 40 hours per week receive long-term disability insurance.


Optional/Voluntary Benefits
Employees working 20 hours per week or more are eligible to participate in the following voluntary benefits:

• Supplemental Term Life and AD&D Insurance
• Personal Accident Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Nationwide Pet Insurance
• Allstate Identity Theft Protection
• Student Loan Refinance

Deferred Compensation Retirement Plan (available to all KCLS Employees)

• 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan - You can supplement any other retirement benefits you may have by setting aside pre-tax dollars in this retirement savings account.

Other Benefits

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - This employer-sponsored program is a confidential service that can provide referrals to counseling, financial, legal, child care/elder care services.
• Ride-Wise - KCLS encourages you to "leave the car at home" and seek other ways to commute to work. All employees are eligible for reimbursement of 50% of your tax-free ORCA transit pass and van pool. The Guaranteed Ride Home program is also available for staff.
• Tuition Assistance - KCLS encourages employees to pursue college, associate and graduate degrees and certificate programs where such education and knowledge bring value to KCLS. Tuition assistance, as funding permits, is available to all employees.

01


Please fill out both the application and this questionnaire completely. Any false or incompleteanswers (such as "see resume" or "see application") may result in your not having an opportunity to interview. Do you agree to answer each of these questions truthfully, and do you understandthat your answers will be compared to the information on your application?

• Yes
• No

02


Are you a current KCLS employee?

• Yes
• No

03


Can you (with or without reasonable accommodation) perform the physical requirements of this position as described in the job posting?

• Yes
• No

04


Do you possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited school with major in a computer science, information technology, application development engineering, or related field?

• Yes
• No

05


If you answered "No" to the previous question, equivalent of full-time work experience in applications development, software design or systems analysis may substitute education on a year for year basis. If you possess equivalent full-time work experience in any of the fields identified, please describe where you have gained this experience, including employer and duration.(If you answered "Yes", please put "N/A".)
06


How many years of software development work experience do you have?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year of experience
• 1-3 years of experience
• 3-5 years of experience
• 5-7 years of experience
• More than 7 years of experience

07


How many years of experience with object-oriented design and development?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1-2 years of experience
• 2-4 years of experience
• 4-6 years of experience
• More than 6 years of experience

08


If you have experience with object-oriented design, please describe some of your software designs, and which employer you created the design for.If you answered 'NO', please put "N/A"
09


Please check all programming and markup languages you have experience with?

• JavaScript/HTML/CSS
• Perl
• Linux
• SQL
• C
• Rust
• Other

10


If "Other", please list other programming languages you have used.
11


Have you ever participated in, or contributed to an open source community? If so, please indicate when and how you contributed.If you have not participated in, or contributed to an open source community, please put "N/A" below.
12


Have you designed or contributed to software release cycles for large information systems and if so, what was your role?
13


Briefly describe your basic process for creating technical documentation.
14


Briefly describe your experience using agile waterfall or similar methodologies and use of source control management tools.If you do not have experience with these tools please put "N/A".
15


As indicated in the posting, applicants are asked to attach a cover letter and current resume detailing your relevant work experience, education, and training as it relates to the position. Have you done this?

• Yes - I have attached my resume and cover letter.
• No - I understand my application is considered incomplete without the required materials.

16


The King County Library System works to offer library materials that represent a wide range of community interests. This is one of the foundations of our policy of intellectual freedom, the idea that each and every patron has the right to choose the materials that interest them. Given this policy of Intellectual Freedom would you both allow and support the fact that patrons have the right to choose what they wish to see, to hear, or to read at the library?

• Yes
• No

17


The screening process at KCLS includes application review, interviews, and references. If selected to proceed after interviews, I acknowledge that KCLS may reach out to my listed references without notifying me beforehand.

• Yes

18


Where did you hear about this job opportunity? Please select all that apply.

• KCLS Social Media (Facebook or Twitter)
• American Library Association (ALA)
• Washington Library Association (WLA)
• Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA)
• Seattle Public Libraries (SPL)
• Sno-Isle Libraries
• Pierce County Libraries
• LinkedIn
• Indeed.com
• Career Fair (In-Person)
• Government Jobs (public sector job site)
• Referral from KCLS Staff Member
• Job Interest Email Notification
• Other

Required Question