Senior Software Engineer (Computer Services Officer 4)

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF CYBER SECURITY AND DIGITAL SOLUTIONS (CSDS)

At the Department of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions (CSDS), we prioritize people and are dedicated to driving digital transformation that meets modern expectations. Our mission is to support government departments and partners in their digital transformation journeys, ensuring that digital services are user-centered, efficient, and impactful for all Nova Scotians. 

We don’t just implement digital solutions; we navigate the complexities of digital transformation by modernizing outdated systems and ways of working. Our role is to make a real difference by ensuring that our digital services are accessible and user-friendly. 

At CSDS, we celebrate diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recognize that the people who use government programs and services come from all walks of life, and it’s essential that we reflect the communities we serve. We are committed to creating an environment where diverse perspectives and experiences are valued, and where all talent can thrive. By embracing these values, we deliver better, more accessible, and inclusive public services. 

About The Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced Senior Software Engineer to join our Emerging Platforms Team.  This team is focused on researching, designing, building and supporting new and existing platforms used throughout government departments.

Reporting to the Managing Developer, the Senior Software Engineer plays a crucial role, working alongside an empowered multi-disciplinary team to deliver maximum value for our digital solutions, and to continually evolve and improve our products to ensure they align with user and business needs.  You will work closely with product managers, delivery leads, service operations, business partners, and other stakeholders.  The Senior Software Engineer is responsible for developing secure, stable end-to-end services that are based on user input, meet business needs and are measurable, accessible, and secure.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the design, development and maintenance of the wide variety of digital platform services used by hundreds of thousands of users. 

• Develop and maintain frontend and backend applications.

• Work with product managers to understand user needs for new and existing platform services.

• Participate in Agile ceremonies and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.

• Work with delivery teams and partners to break technical requirements down for digital platforms into appropriate pieces, and to identify key API requirements for integration with internal and external systems.

• Ensure that new and updated platforms, products, and transactions are thoroughly tested for performance, are able to handle specified load, and can be maintained over the long-term.

• Work with cybersecurity to ensure security-by-design and identify additional security risks and mitigation plans. 

• You may have to work with external suppliers to ensure that their system architectures are robust, scalable, open and secure, with appropriate overall system design and integration points/APIs, to deliver a high-quality user experience.

• Provide mentorship and/or coaching for Junior and intermediate software engineers.

• Assist with building a culture of continuous delivery and improvement (CI/CD), ensuring that key systems are regularly analyzed, maintained and improved.

• Write comprehensive technical documentation (such as - UML, Sequence Diagrams, Flow Diagram, etc.) and step-by-step developer guides. (Such as READMEs, confluence pages and SharePoint documentation).

Qualifications and Experience

As the successful candidate, you will have a related Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science plus five (5) years of related experience; or graduation from a recognized Information Technology Program plus five (5) years and six (6) months of related experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience may be acceptable.  

• Experience with Agile-Scrum and/or Kanban methodologies.

• Recent experience in building frontend applications using modern JavaScript Frameworks such as Angular, React or Vue.js. Angular would be a bonus.

• Recent experience with backend technologies preferably dotnet core C# (must have). Candidates with experience in Java, NodeJS and other programming languages will also be considered.

• In-depth understanding of SOLID and DRY principles, and ability to write clean and maintainable code. 

• Practice Test Driven Development such as writing unit tests and ensuring code coverage while building the functionality.

• Hands-on experience with containerization & orchestration, such as Docker and Docker-Compose. Bonus if you have Kubernetes experience.

• In-depth knowledge of OWASP Security standards and Cyber security best practices.

Nice to Have:

• Experience building and scaling high-traffic websites and/or high-volume transaction processing and analysis platforms.

• Open to switch between different programming languages and technologies.

• Experience developing and using web-based APIs (especially REST-based APIs)

• Experience in contributing to open-source projects.

• Experience with Container Orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes.

• Knowledge of industry-leading DevOps principles, methodology and toolsets, and related hands-on experience.

What is our Stack?

•  Backend - C# .NET Core (Primary), Java, NodeJS (NestJS)

•  Frontend – ASP.NET, Angular and React Native (Typescript)

•  Architecture – Microservices and multi-tiered architecture

•  Database – Postgres

•  Emerging Technologies – Open Wallet and AcaPy digital credential solutions

•  Cloud Provider – Azure + Openshift

•  Containerization Tools – Kubernetes in OpenShift, Docker-compose and Docker

•  Source Control – Gitlab and Github (for open-source projects)

•  CI/CD - Gitlab & Github pipelines.

•  Atlassian Jira for Project management and issue tracking.

•  OS – Windows or MacOS for development.

Benefits & Perks

At the CSDS with the Government of Nova Scotia, we are committed to providing a fulfilling work environment with numerous benefits and opportunities:

• Work-Life Balance: Maintain a healthy work-life balance with a 35-hour work week.

• Secure Your Future: Take advantage of our defined benefits pension plan for a stable retirement.

• Generous Time Off: Enjoy vacation, all national/civic holidays.

• Flexible Work Arrangements: Accommodate your needs with various options for flexibility, such as hybrid schedules.

• Employee and Family Support: Access our Employee and Family Assistance Programs for resources and guidance.

• Support in Times of Need: Access to our EAP.

• Cross-Sector Collaboration: Experience the power of collaboration as you engage with various government departments. Unlock a world of knowledge, expertise, and connections, contributing to the betterment of our province.

• Growth & Development: Open doors to professional growth within the department and beyond. Explore diverse career paths in specialized areas such as digital service design, cybersecurity, enterprise risk, digital platform services, and mission IT.

• Lifelong Learning: Continuously expand your knowledge and skills through training and development programs.

• Professional Advancement: Immerse yourself in the government landscape and discover endless opportunities for learning, advancement, and making a meaningful impact.

Join the Department of Cyber Security & Digital Solutions and experience the benefits of a fulfilling career, supported by comprehensive perks, career development opportunities, and a diverse range of paths to explore within our department and across the government.