Senior Software Developer 1

Job Grade: 3

Reports To: Software Delivery Lead

Reviewed By: Pretty Dube

Review Date: 19 October 2023

Department: IT Software & Development

Approved By: Software Development Managers

Job Summary

The purpose of a Senior Software Developer 1 is to contribute to the development and implementation of complex software solutions. They are responsible for designing, coding, testing, and maintaining software applications, as well as providing technical guidance and leadership to other members of the software development team.

Job Responsibilities

1. Design Fit-for-Purpose Solutions, Algorithms & Planning

Actively contribute to design and planning meetings, discussions, and documentation.

Design solutions using the most appropriate approved architectural patterns.

Ensure design patterns increase organisational levels of high-volume transactional performance, resilience, automation, and innovation.

Ensure designs meet best practices and are Test, DevOps, and Support friendly.

Identify and establish objectives for self and team.

Set objectives and goals based on the team's chosen software development methodology to successfully complete projects.

Consider all reasonable factors, impediments, and obstacles.

Identify potential alternative strategies and refactoring approaches for maximum benefit within the shortest possible time.

Formulate supporting plans and communicate dependencies and impacts to others.

Publish plans to peers and stakeholders through agreed methods.

1. Implementation of a Solution that is Complete, Efficient and Compatible

Deliver a complete solution covering all agreed specified tasks and user objectives.

Deliver a correct solution that provides accurate results with the required degree of precision.

Deliver an appropriate solution that facilitates the accomplishment of specified tasks and objectives while excluding unnecessary steps.

Ensure checked-in code is reviewed to confirm standards are met and the code base remains sound.

Deliver solutions where throughput rates, response times, and processing times meet stated requirements.

Deliver solutions that utilise system resources effectively and efficiently during operation.

Deliver solutions that achieve or exceed maximum operational capacity requirements.

Deliver solutions capable of effectively and efficiently exchanging information with other products, systems, or components.

Deliver solutions that perform efficiently, coexist with other solutions, and do not negatively impact other systems.

1. Implementation – Ensure a High Usability Factor

Ensure users can achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction.

Ensure users can easily recognise system flows, functions, and capabilities.

Ensure the system supports intuitive self-learning and ease of use.

Protect users from making errors through thoughtful design.

Ensure the user interface is engaging and provides a satisfying user experience.

Ensure accessibility for users with diverse characteristics, capabilities, cultures, and languages where appropriate.

1. Implementation – Ensure the Solution is Reliable

Ensure solutions perform appropriately under agreed conditions for extended periods without intervention, despite potential attacks.

Reduce faults caused by misunderstood requirements, design errors, and implementation errors.

Ensure solutions are robust and continuously available.

Respond to outages and failures when required.

Improve fault tolerance, even under suboptimal operational conditions.

Ensure complete data recoverability and restoration capabilities.

Ensure solutions are maintainable and actively seek ways to reduce downtime.

Ensure solutions can evolve over time as user volumes and requirements grow.

Simplify support and maintenance through traceability and effective error messaging.

Improve solution maturity over time by reducing the frequency of required interventions.

Minimise downtime in the event of failures.

1. Implementation – Ensure Effective Security

Ensure solutions are secure and maintain confidentiality of all information and data, including data transmission.

Ensure users and systems have appropriate levels of access according to authorisation requirements.

Maintain high integrity by preventing unauthorised access, modifications, or changes.

Ensure survivability despite third-party attacks, human error, hardware failures, or software faults.

Employ logging and auditing mechanisms to support accountability and non-repudiation.

Ensure actions can be traced to the entity that performed them wherever possible.

Ensure entity identities can be verified accurately wherever possible.

1. Implementation – Ensure the Solution is Maintainable

Ensure solutions and code bases support ease of modification for future maintainers.

Apply appropriate standards and methodologies.

Enable support teams to perform maintenance where possible without developer intervention.

Promote modularity so changes to one component have minimal impact on others.

Provide relevant documentation to support teams and reduce development support overhead.

Apply reusable design principles so assets can be used across multiple solutions.

Implement mechanisms that enable solutions to analyse faults and generate reports before critical failures occur.

Develop solutions that support future modifications while minimising defects and preserving system quality.

1. Testing, Verification and Deployment

Ensure solutions are test-friendly through effective test data mechanisms, automated testing hooks, and simulations.

Deliver solutions with all required deployment assets to ensure seamless installation and deployment.

Ensure solutions are adaptable to evolving hardware, software, and operational environments.

1. Respond to Outages & Failures

Provide proactive support to peers, testing teams, development support teams, and operational teams to reduce escalations.

Support Development Support teams during operational events and assist with the creation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Be available to handle emergency outages and failures affecting owned or team solutions.

Troubleshoot and resolve issues effectively to improve stability and reduce future interventions.

Recommend and implement approved improvements to development methods and solutions.

Deliver rapid resolutions to application and system issues to improve stability, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Maintain solutions that have transitioned into operational support.

Develop and maintain technical support documentation where necessary.

Assess the risk and impact of production issues and changes and take appropriate mitigation actions.

1. Coaching & Mentoring

Provide guidance, training, and problem-solving assistance to other team members.

Mentor and contribute to the growth of junior and intermediate team members.

Design and deliver end-user training and supporting training materials.

Job Specification

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field (advantageous).

Minimum of 5 years' experience within a software development environment.

Knowledge of design principles and architectural fundamentals.

Demonstrated leadership and mentoring skills.

Detailed knowledge of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and software project management.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Strong attention to detail.

Living the Spirit

Actively drive a culture of collaboration and open communication within the team.

Promote authenticity and champion diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging.

Foster versatility and adaptability by encouraging team members to support one another across the business.

Act as a change agent and promote continuous learning, ensuring the team approaches challenges with enthusiasm and proactivity.