Java Developer

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage.

Functional Title: Java Developer 
Job Title: Programmer IV 
Agency: Health & Human Services Comm 
Department: TIERS Elgblty Apps Staff 
Posting Number: 21496 
Closing Date: 10/14/2026 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Computer and Mathematical 
Salary Range: $6,377.50 - $10,785.83 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-26 
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift: Days (First) 
Telework:  
Travel:  
Regular/Temporary: Regular 
Full Time/Part Time: Full time 
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: AUSTIN 
Job Location Address: 1609 CENTRE CREEK 
Other Locations:  
MOS Codes: 0673,2652,8846,8848,16KX,181X,182X,255A,255S,25B,26B,62E,681X,682X,781X,782X,8K000,CT,CTR,CWT,CYB10 
CYB11,ISM,IT,Z Prefix 
 
 

Brief Job Description:

This position is open to U.S. Citizens and permanent residents.

This onsite role requires the selected candidate to work from an HHS office in Austin, Texas.

HHSC Social Services Applications division is seeking a Senior Developer who has a proven track record in developing and maintaining high-performance enterprise software solutions using Agile methodologies. HHSC Social Services Applications team is responsible for implementing and managing leading edge applications including Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS) and the related Eligibility Supporting Technologies portfolio that is used to process applications and to determine eligibility for over 60 types of food, cash assistance, medical, and community care services to Texans in need.

We work with cutting edge technologies on many high-impact initiatives that serve various HHSC lines of business. We do this all with an exceptional team of software, database, and dev-ops engineers, working together to make a difference for our customers. We are embarking on an exciting new effort to modernize our applications using cloud-friendly and cloud-native technologies.

In this position, you will work hands-on to develop, enhance, maintain, and support the TIERS applications portfolio including one or more of State Portal, Workflow Management, Document Center, Call Center Inquiry, Enterprise Web Services, and related application components. You will work closely with over twenty sprint teams, other cross-agency application development teams, our business stakeholders and other partners to enhance the TIERS applications portfolio and to implement new solutions.

You will work with a very talented team and some of the coolest web platform technologies including: Angular, Spring, Java/J2EE, JavaScript, SOAP/REST web services, JPA, JQuery, IBM WebSphere, IBM DataPower, Oracle, and more.

This is an exciting role, demanding a strong background in web platform and cloud-native technologies, and is central to ensuring that the TIERS applications portfolio remains available and in service for HHSC Staff and the citizens of the State of Texas. You will work in a fast paced, customer service-based environment. As a key contributor to the development, modernization, and delivery of the assigned applications, using Agile development practices, you will:

- participate in backlog grooming & user story development;

- design, develop & test application code;

- work together with other teams in support of application enhancements planned to support new program & business requests and to enhance Scalability & Stability of the applications;

- provide application operations triage support to troubleshoot & resolve functional & performance issues encountered in production, development, and test environments.

This responsibility includes both workday and night/weekend on-call support as required to maintain high availability of the applications for various users.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

1. (70%) Using Agile methodologies, develops and enhances web-based Java applications in an SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) platform. Participates in backlog grooming and user story development, as required. Creates technical and design documentation, as required. Develops, deploys, and tests application code to ensure that the application code functions properly and without error in alignment with approved requirements & design. Utilizes Java, J2EE, HTML5, CSS3, Angular, Spring, Enterprise Java Beans (EJB), Java Server Pages, JSF/Struts, Hibernate, JPA, JSON, XML, WebSphere/JBoss Application Server, Oracle/PostgreSQL Database, Docker, Kubernetes, and other HHSC approved and cloud friendly/native technologies / tools to perform work tasks. Develops and maintains data and process models. Provides technical support for testing and implementation efforts.

2. (15%) Provides application support (defect repair, maintenance, and production operations support) for web-based Java applications in an SOA platform. Performs system analysis, troubleshooting, diagnosis and problem resolution. Analyzes software for defects and performance tuning opportunities. Develop and test application code to resolve defects and improve application reliability and performance.

3. (15%) Works together with product owners, scrum masters / agile coaches, solution architects, web/java developers, database developers & administrators, system administrators, business analysts, and other team members in performing tasks. Provides a strong customer and cross-functional interface and contributes to teamwork and unit harmony. Attends program design, coding and test walk-through meetings to provide input regarding adherence to technical standards and customer requirements Complies with all Federal, State, and agency laws, rules, policies, and procedures including SOPs that govern HHSC IT. Complies with Department and State guidance on automation system architecture and programming standards. Promotes an image of IT excellence and communicate effectively. Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of software development and the full software development life cycle (SDLC).

• Knowledge of industry accepted software engineering practices and life cycle methods.

• Knowledge of the limitations and capabilities of computer systems, information technology equipment, applicable programming languages, computer hardware and software, and computer operating systems.

• Skill communicating with varied levels of staff and end users to develop positive effective working relationships and to establish credibility, trust, and confidence.

• Skill using Java, J2EE, HTML5, CSS3, Angular, Spring, Enterprise Java Beans (EJB), Java Server Pages, JSF/Struts, Hibernate, JPA, JSON, XML, WebSphere/JBoss Application Server, Oracle/PostgreSQL Database, Docker, Kubernetes, and other HHSC approved and cloud friendly/native technologies/tools to design, develop, test, troubleshoot, and repair enterprise-class web applications.

• Skill analyzing software applications, defects, and business problems to draw evidence-based conclusions and devise innovative solutions.

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, to serve as a technical consultant to technical colleagues, to clearly and accurately document relevant issues, and to prepare accurate, concise, reliable reports.

• Ability to work under pressure and successfully manage multiple overlapping deadlines.

• Ability to contribute to teamwork and unit harmony.

• Ability to accept suggestions for improvement and take steps to continuously improve one’s own performance and conduct.

• Ability to produce reliable, accurate, high-quality results.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

N/A

Initial Screening Criteria:

Required:

• Graduation from an accredited College or University with a Bachelor's degree. A degree in computer science, computer information systems, management information systems, or a related field is highly preferred. Graduation from an accredited high school or GED plus four years of work experience may substitute for degree.

Preferred:

• Preferred 4 Years: Hands on web application development or closely related experience.
• Preferred 4 Years: Hands on development experience using one or more of Java, J2EE, HTML5, CSS3, Angular, Spring, Enterprise Java Beans (EJB), Java Server Pages, JSF/Struts, Hibernate, JPA, JSON, XML, WebSphere/JBoss Application Server, Oracle/PostgreSQL Database, Docker, Kubernetes, and other HHSC approved and cloud friendly/native technologies/tools.
• Preferred 4 Years: Experience performing analysis and maintenance of customer critical Java/J2EE based applications in a high-visibility production environment.
• Preferred 2 Years: Hands on experience developing/enhancing/maintaining applications in Azure, Amazon, and/or Google cloud platforms.
• Preferred 2 Years: Hands on experience developing/enhancing/maintaining application user experiences using HTML5, CSS3, Angular, React, and similar technologies.
• Preferred 2 Years: Hands on experience in migrating WebSphere and Oracle based applications to cloud friendly/native technologies.
• Preferred 2 Years: Hands on experience implementing and migrating enterprise applications to microservices architecture.

Additional Information:

Candidates for this position will be subject to a pre-employment security review to determine employment eligibility.

This is an onsite position, with at least 3-5 days in office required.

Any employment offer is contingent upon available budgeted funds. The offered salary will be determined in accordance with budgetary limits and the requirements of HHSC Human Resources Manual.

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Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions.

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHSC and DSHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.

Pre-Employment Checks and Work Eligibility:

Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.

HHSC uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Download the I-9 Form

Telework Disclaimer:

This position may be eligible for telework.  Please note, all HHS positions are subject to state and agency telework policies in addition to the discretion of the direct supervisor and business needs.