Software Engineer Houston, TX

Openings

5

Work location(s)

Houston, TX

Summary

This position is accountable for the analysis, development, maintenance and testing of software applications and/or programs as it relates to the ABCBS Private Programs application systems. These activities include development and maintenance of programs, preparation of test data, program coding and documentation. The incumbent is expected to make recommendations of workable solutions to processing problems.

Job Description

This position reports to an Information Systems Supervisor within Information Systems. The Systems Analyst Programmer performs the majority of his/her assigned tasks in a project team environment with direct supervision from the project supervisor or senior member of the project team. Most job activities are performed in the realm of small systems, subsystems, or programs, and their general relationship to the project or system. The incumbent works closely with members of the Information Systems team, systems and user business analysts, data warehouse staff, other enterprise wide technical staff, as well as the internal and external users to ensure user/customer requests, problems, and questions are researched and resolved in a timely manner. An individual in this position is able to formulate logical statements of business problems and devise effective solutions to these problems through the use of proposed manual procedures, an existing automated system or a proposed automated system. Assignments include analysis, data gathering, program logic development, coding, testing, documentation and various other tasks as requested by the project supervisor. The Systems Analyst Programmer is expected to conduct detailed analysis of defined system specifications.

Communication

The incumbent must possess excellent communication skills, both oral and written to ensure that a productive and cooperative climate is maintained with all customers of the ABCBS Private Programs systems, the Blue Cross Association, various vendors and other Enterprise team members.

Skills and Competencies

• Possess effective interpersonal skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to analyze a problem and develop a solution.
• Ability to establish goals and objectives and plan methods to achieve these goals.
• Demonstrate stability of performance under pressure and/or opposition.
• Ability to be scheduled for work on short notice and overtime – nights, days, Saturdays or holidays – and travel on short notice.
• Possess above average investigative skills.
• Possesses good technical skills in computer hardware, software and computer operations techniques and procedures.
• Possess effective organizational skills.
• Possess a basic understanding of the health care industry and the specific information systems technologies and concepts employed to satisfy the Enterprise Information Systems direction.
• Ability to make decisions based on facts, intuition and experience and assume responsibility for those decisions.

Minimum Job Requirements and Responsibilities

Application Systems Programming includes performance in the areas of analysis, design, coding, testing and implementation and documentation of system projects.

Level 1

• Bachelors Degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 24 semester hours in computer and/or analytical related studies (pref. degree in Computer Information Systems, Computer Science, Management Information Systems, etc.) and a minimum of 3 years of prior experience in application systems programming design and analysis with emphasis and experience in the skills listed in the base requirements on the attached sheet for the system specified.
• Or a a minimum of 5 years of prior experience in application systems programming design and analysis with emphasis in the base requirements on the attached sheet for the system specified.
• One (1) year minimum experience with the specified system. Related application programming experience in a similar development environment may be substituted.

Level 2

• Bachelors Degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 24 semester hours in computer and/or analytical related studies (pref. degree in Computer Information Systems, Computer Science, Management Information Systems, etc.) and a minimum of 3 years of prior experience in application systems programming design and analysis with emphasis and experience in the skills listed in the base requirements on the attached sheet for the system specified.
• Or a a minimum of 5 years of prior experience in application systems programming design and analysis with emphasis in the base requirements on the attached sheet for the system specified.
• Two (2) years minimum experience with the specified system. Related application programming experience in a similar development environment may be substituted.
• Two (2) years minimum experience with the database design and database access methods for systems specified.
• One (1) year minimum experience with skills identified in Systems Analyst Programmer Level 2 & 3 requirements on the attached sheet for the system specified.
• Internal - Production Support Team detailed knowledge of one (1) ABCBS Private Program System supported by Production Support Team.

Level 3

• Bachelors Degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 24 semester hours in computer and/or analytical related studies (pref. degree in Computer Information Systems, Computer Science, Management Information Systems, etc.) and a minimum of 4 years of prior experience in application systems programming design and analysis with emphasis and experience in skills listed in the base requirements on the attached sheet for the system specified.
• Or a a minimum of 6 years of prior experience in application systems programming design and analysis with emphasis in the base requirements on the attached sheet for the system specified.
• Three (3) years minimum experience with the specified system. Related application programming experience in a similar development environment may be substituted.
• Three (3) years minimum experience with skills identified in Systems Analyst Programmer Level 2 & 3 requirements on the attached sheet for the system specified.
• Three (3) years minimum experience with the database design and database access methods for systems specified. Related database access methods may be substituted.
• Project Management Experience - must have participated in a minimum of three large scale projects with heavy user interfacing. Successful completion of the project (e.g. implementation, problem resolution and user satisfaction) must be shown.
• Internal - Production Support Team detailed knowledge of two (2) ABCBS Private Program Systems supported by Production Support Team.

Principal Activities or Accountabilities

• Ensure that the project supervisor is adequately informed concerning the status of all assigned tasks.
• Ensure that all assigned tasks are completed accurately and by the assigned target dates and within cost estimates.
• Become knowledgeable of company functions to the level necessary to accomplish assigned tasks.
• Formulate solutions to business problems through the use of data processing concepts and techniques.
• Enhance programming skills including coding, testing, debugging and documentation.
• Consult with users to identify current operating procedures and to clarify program objectives.
• Write documentation to describe program, development, logic, coding, and corrections.
• Use standard application design principles to create appropriate logical and physical application designs to promote efficiency and code reuse so systems operate at highest level of efficiency.
• Follow corporate standards in naming conventions, security, and interface design.
• Thoroughly test and debug/fix code.
• Ensure positive working relationships exist with all customers.
• Become familiar with the ABCBS Private Programs applications and operational usage of the applications.
• Ensure that a cooperative and productive climate is maintained with all internal and external contacts.
• Contribute to and support enterprise-wide undertakings and commitments.
• Contribute to and support the enterprise strategic and operational planning process to include total quality management philosophies.
• Become knowledgeable of, and adhere to Corporate and ABCBS Information Systems standards and policies.

Operating Systems

• OS/390
• Wind Vista
• Windows 7

Data Access Method

• DB2
• SQL Server

Programming Languages

• C,C#
• .NET
• ASP
• VB.NET
• ADO.NET
• Visual
• FoxPro
• SQL

Scripting Languages Job Control

• VBScript

Web Technologies

• XML
• HTML
• JavaScript

Application Development Tools

• Microsoft Applications

Reporting

• Crystal Enterprise Reporting

Level 2 & 3 Requirements

• DB2 Stored Procedures
• Web Services

Security Requirements

• This position is identified as level three (3). This position must ensure the security and confidentiality of records and information to prevent substantial harm, embarrassment, inconvenience, or unfairness to any individual on whom information is maintained. The integrity of information must be maintained as outlined in the company Administrative Manual.

Segregation of Duties

• Segregation of duties will be used to ensure that errors or irregularities are prevented or detected on a timely basis by employees in the normal course of business. This position must adhere to the segregation of duties guidelines in the Administrative Manual.