Applications Specialist

About Us Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: GPI) is a Fortune 250 leader in global automotive retail, operating more than 250 dealerships and collision centers across the United States and United Kingdom. As the 4th largest dealership group in the U.S., Group 1 delivers a fully integrated automotive experience, including vehicle sales, financing, aftersales service, and digital retail solutions. As the automotive industry continues to evolve, Group 1 is investing in the people, technology, and operational excellence needed to shape what comes next. Our work is grounded in a simple belief, that a better experience for customers starts with an exemplary experience for employees. At Group 1, our commitment is to keep finding smarter ways to serve our customers and support one another. We believe great careers are built in environments where people are trusted, challenged, and given room to grow. If you share our core values of integrity, transparency, professionalism, teamwork, and respect, you can get more with Group 1. More opportunity. More support. More ways to build a career that moves you forward. Overview Group 1 Automotive is seeking a highly skilled Applications Specialist to support the design, development, and ongoing optimization of enterprise applications and integrations. This role will partner closely with business and IT teams to translate operational needs into scalable technical solutions that enhance performance, efficiency, and user experience across the organization. The Applications Specialist will play a key role in managing application lifecycles, supporting system integrations, and ensuring alignment with enterprise standards. This position requires strong technical expertise, effective communication skills, and the ability to work across cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, multi-location environment. Responsibilities Own end-to-end the full lifecycle of applications and integrations, including design, development, testing, deployment, and continuous improvement Partner with business stakeholders to gather and translate requirements into clear technical solutions and deliverables Assist in the development and maintenance of internal applications, ensuring high-quality scalability, performance, and reliability Ensure adherence to enterprise standards, including coding practices, architecture, testing, and documentation Support and enhance system integrations and data workflows, including enterprise data platforms Collaborate with IT, data, and business teams to ensure solutions meet operational and compliance requirements Contribute to the adoption of modern development practices, including CI/CD, DevOps, and cloud-based solutions Provide guidance and support to development teams to ensure consistency and best practices Evaluate and recommend tools, platforms, and technologies to improve system performance and developer productivity Maintain clear and organized technical documentation Stay current on emerging technologies (e.g., AI, cloud services, data platforms) and identify opportunities to enhance business capabilities Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field (or equivalent experience) 5+ years of experience in application development, systems integration, or solution support Experience designing and supporting API integrations and enterprise data flows Working knowledge of DevOps practices, including CI/CD pipelines, version control, and testing methodologies Strong ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions and communicate effectively with non-technical stakeholders. Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams in a multi-location or enterprise environment Experience leading or mentoring developers Strong hands-on experience with: SQL and data modeling Snowflake or similar cloud data platforms .NET/C# Modern frontend frameworks (Vue.js or similar) Azure services, including: Logic Apps API Management Azure SQL AI tools/platforms (preferred) Salary range: $104,000-$130,000 (may vary based on experience) Equal Opportunity Employer We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status. Employment may be contingent upon successful completion of a background check and/or drug screening. #J-18808-Ljbffr