Associate Software Engineer-Applications & Automation

About the role

The Associate Software Engineer – Applications & Automation supports the design, development, and maintenance of internal applications, scripts, and tools used by the Philadelphia Department of Prisons. This entry-level engineering role is intended for candidates early in their careers who are interested in building practical software solutions, automating manual processes, and improving how users interact with departmental systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain internal applications, scripts, and tools that support departmental operations
• Modify existing software to add features, fix defects, or improve usability and performance
• Support workflow automation and process improvement initiatives
• Aid in backend logic, data access, and basic integration tasks as needed
• Participate in troubleshooting and resolving application or automation issues in operational systems
• Collaborate with senior engineers, system engineers, and stakeholders to gather requirements and deliver solutions
• Support applications and services running in production environments under established change and review processes
• Write clear, maintainable code and contribute to technical documentation
• Participate in testing, validation, and deployment activities

Qualifications

• Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field
• OR
• Completion of a relevant technical certificate program, military technical training, or equivalent practical experience
• Foundational programming experience through coursework, labs, internships, or professional work
• Basic understanding of how applications interact with databases or external systems
• Ability to work with operational and production systems while following change and review procedures
• Ability to work onsite and collaborate with technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Preferred Qualifications:
• Recent graduates in IT, Computer Science, or related fields
• Military veterans with technical or IT-related experience
• Hands-on experience through coursework, labs, internships, or professional roles involving:
• Application development or scripting
• Workflow automation or internal tools
• Backend or service-oriented development
• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git)
• Interest in building reliable, maintainable software in a public-sector environment

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Foundational understanding of software development concepts and application design
• Basic programming skills in one or more languages (e.g., Python, C#, JavaScript, PowerShell)
• Ability to understand and modify existing codebases
• Familiarity with basic database concepts and data-driven applications
• Ability to learn new tools, frameworks, and technologies quickly
• Ability to work collaboratively while managing individual tasks independently
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Effective written and verbal communication skills

Additional Information

• Salary Range: $55,000-$60,000
• All applications must include a cover letter. Applications without a cover letter will be considered incomplete.
• Did you know?
• We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer : 25% tuition discount program for City employees (and sometimes spouses and dependents as well) in partnership with area colleges and universities
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• *The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire
• Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.
• The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr @phila.gov. For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx