Senior IT Specialist

Overview

Planned Systems International (PSI) is an Enterprise IT services company who focuses on designing, building, securing, and operating cutting-edge software solutions that drive mission success and operational excellence for Federal Government organizations. We are currently seeking an Information Technology (IT) Specialist to support the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits and Memorial PMO Team. This position supports the development, modernization, and sustainment of enterprise software applications that deliver critical services to Veterans.

The ideal candidate has experience developing and maintaining enterprise applications within an Agile environment and is comfortable working across the full software development lifecycle from requirements through deployment and production support. Working as part of a SAFe Agile Scrum Team, the IT Specialist will collaborate with Product Owners, developers, testers, business stakeholders, and technical teams to deliver secure, scalable, and high-quality software solutions.

This role offers the opportunity to contribute to application modernization initiatives, DevSecOps practices, CI/CD automation, and continuous process improvement across a complex enterprise environment.

Essential Functions and Job Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain enterprise software applications using Agile and SAFe development methodologies.
• Participate in Scrum ceremonies, including sprint planning, backlog refinement, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.
• Develop and maintain web applications, APIs, and system integrations using Microsoft .NET technologies and modern software engineering practices.
• Design, develop, and support RESTful and SOAP web services to enable secure data exchange and application interoperability.
• Develop responsive user interfaces using modern web technologies while supporting accessibility and usability standards.
• Design, develop, and optimize Microsoft SQL Server databases, queries, stored procedures, and data models.
• Implement and maintain CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, source code management, and DevSecOps practices using industry-standard development tools.
• Perform secure coding, code reviews, static and dynamic code analysis, and vulnerability remediation to support application security and compliance.
• Troubleshoot application defects, production issues, and performance bottlenecks while implementing corrective actions and long-term improvements.
• Support application modernization efforts by improving system architecture, automation, scalability, maintainability, and performance.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, system design artifacts, configuration documentation, and development standards.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver reliable, secure, and high-quality software solutions that meet business and mission requirements.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field. Equivalent combination of education and directly related experience may be considered.
• Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible experience administering and supporting enterprise Windows server infrastructure, systems administration, and IT operations.
• Experience developing, enhancing, and supporting enterprise web applications using Microsoft .NET technologies (C#, ASP.NET, ASP.NET Core, MVC, Blazor, Entity Framework, or comparable frameworks) throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Experience working within Agile and/or SAFe development environments, participating in Scrum ceremonies, backlog refinement, sprint planning, and iterative software delivery.
• Experience designing and supporting RESTful APIs, SOAP web services, Microsoft SQL Server databases, stored procedures, and data integration using JSON and XML.
• Experience with source code management, Git-based version control, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, secure coding practices, code analysis, and release management using modern DevSecOps tools and processes.
• Experience diagnosing and resolving application defects, performance issues, and production incidents while implementing automated testing, code reviews, and continuous improvement practices.
• Ability to work effectively with Product Owners, developers, testers, business stakeholders, and cross-functional technical teams while preparing technical documentation and supporting application modernization initiatives
• Experience working as a federal contractor or employee.
• Ability to self-organize, balance workload, complete tasks on time (without reminders), proactively seek out assignments, and offer improvements to client delivery.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Required Technical/Business Tools Experience
  • Microsoft Development Stack: C#, .NET/.NET Core, ASP.NET, ASP.NET Core, Blazor, Entity Framework
  • Database Tools: Microsoft SQL Server, SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), Transact-SQL (T-SQL)
  • Development & Collaboration Tools: Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, Git, GitHub, GitHub Desktop, Jira
  • DevSecOps & Testing Tools: CI/CD pipelines, MSTest, NUnit, xUnit, Micro Focus Fortify, CodeQL
  • Web Technologies: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, RESTful APIs, SOAP Web Services, JSON, XML, PowerShell
  • MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working as a VA contractor or employee.
• Experience with Jira or a comparable Agile requirements/development management tool.

Physical Demands

• Ability to effectively communicate in English, including talking and hearing.
• Ability to operate productively in a fully remote work environment, including the ability to take meetings and phone calls from a quiet and private space during business hours.
• Ability and willingness to actively participate in virtual meetings throughout most of the workday and be responsive to messages (MS Teams) and emails (MS Outlook) within reasonable timeframes set by the supervisor or client.
• Ability to be responsive and working during Eastern time zone standard business hours (8:00am to 4:00pm EST).
• Ability to satisfy security clearance and onboarding requirements:
  • Print, sign, scan, and return onboarding documentation.
  • Travel at personal expense to nearest government facility to get fingerprinted, apply for a PIV badge, pick-up the PIV badge, and pick-up government equipment.

Company Benefits

PSI offers full-time, benefits eligible employees a competitive total compensation package that includes paid leave, and options for employer sponsored group medical, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, AD&D coverage, legal services, identity theft, and accident insurance. Flexible spending account and health saving account options offer pre-tax savings for qualified medical, dental, and vision expenses. The company sponsored 401(k) retirement plan has an employer contribution match that is immediately vested. We invest in the professional growth of our employees through professional courses, certifications, and tuition reimbursement programs.

EEO Commitment

It is company policy to promote equal employment opportunities. All personnel decisions, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, and termination, are made without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, citizenship status, veteran status, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities will be provided. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources by emailing [email protected], or by dialing 703-575-8400.