Address:  801 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034

Must reside in the state of Arizona.

Salary:  $66,000 - $71,400

Grade: 26

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

This position is eligible for full-time remote work (including virtual office arrangement in Arizona).

A career in public service awaits you. COME JOIN OUR TEAM!

A great benefit of working for the State of Arizona is a fantastic work/life balance. State employees enjoy challenging work, popular remote work options, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, and career growth opportunities.

What You'll Do:

The release specialist is responsible for planning and managing the release of new software or updates to software or systems. This position will plan, coordinate, and track releases while ensuring quality and compliance. This position requires strong problem-solving skills, and must be able to work both independently and collaboratively with teams across the organization. You will also document and help to improve processes and procedures.

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Plan: Plan/Create release window and cycles, and coordinate release schedule and resources. Complete written systems analysis, design tasks and implementation plans that are technical in nature and in full scope of requirements. Manage version control systems and ensure accurate versioning. Implement security best practices throughout the release process. Validate components in release adhere to agency guidelines as well as implement components to testing and production regions.
• Report/Track: Report and track all aspects of the release components. Create and update reports related to release management activities, currently utilizing data warehouse and Microsoft access.
• Coordinate/Communicate: Communicate and Coordinate with business users, peers, and other technical staff as needed during the requirements analysis, design, development, test review, and implementation of assigned tasks. Review, discuss, and comprehend assignments with project manager.
• Improve: Maintain system knowledge and release management procedures. Track metrics and KPIs to improve the release process. Participate in system testing. Perform complex analysis of computerized systems development, often interacting with other technical teams.
• Develop/Design: Develop or modify or analyze programs or processes. Configure and manage Azure Boards, Repositories, Pipelines, Artifacts, and Test Plans. Design and maintain Azure-based deployment pipelines and infrastructure as code (IaC) solutions.
• Manage Risks: Identify and manage risks that could delay releases.
• Documenting: Documenting release procedures and best practices. Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of business area being worked upon and continually reviewing how that business function interacts with the other business functions that form the entire business process.

Knowledge:
• Release management methodologies
• Azure services
• Computer programming language(s) and methodologies
• JCL (or other operating control language required by the environment) and related operating systems relevant to the environment being used by the agency
• Relational database structures

Skills:
• Planning and deployment of a release
• Complex coding of computer programs
• Complex relational database tasks
• Lifecycle systems design, software development, analysis, and testing procedures
• Complex JCL coding procedures (or other operating control language required by the environment)
• Developing and executing project workplans
• Verbal and written communications

Abilities:
• Analyze basic to complex situations to determine the best way to develop a solution and communicate the solution with other staff
• Balance, prioritize and organize multiple tasks
• Work collaboratively in teams and across organizations
• Technical problem solving abilities related to JCL, CICS, and programming, ability to read and understand error messages in the execution statements
• Quickly learn release component deployment processes and techniques

Minimum:
• Five years experience in full lifecycle software development, which includes requirement definition, analysis, design, coding, system testing, documentation & implementation.

Preferred:
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 5 or more years in programming, analysis and release deployment.

• Successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify), applicable to all newly hired State employees.
• Successfully pass fingerprint background check, prior employment verifications and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• Travel may be required for State business. Employees who drive on state business must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.) AND have an acceptable driving record for the last 39 months including no DUI, suspension or revocations and less than 8 points on your license. If an Out of State Driver License was held within the last 39 months, a copy of your MVR (Motor Vehicle Record) is required prior to driving for State Business. Employees may be required to use their own transportation as well as maintaining valid motor vehicle insurance and current Arizona vehicle registration; however, mileage will be reimbursed.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Among the many benefits of a career with the State of Arizona, there are:
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Vacation and Sick time off (13 and 12 days per year respectively) - start earning it your 1st day (prorated for part-time employees)
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Other Leaves - Bereavement, civic duty, and military.
• A top-ranked retirement program with lifetime pension benefits
• A robust and affordable insurance plan, including medical, dental, life, and disability insurance
• Participation eligibility in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (must meet qualifications)
• RideShare and Public Transit Subsidy
• A variety of learning and career development opportunities

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Lifetime Pension Benefit Program
• Administered through the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
• Defined benefit plan that provides for life-long income upon retirement.
• Required participation for Long-Term Disability (LTD) and ASRS Retirement plan.
• Pre-taxed payroll contributions begin after a 27-week waiting period (prior contributions may waive the waiting period).

Deferred Retirement Compensation Program
• Voluntary participation.
• Program administered through Nationwide.
• Tax-deferred retirement investments through payroll deductions.

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by emailing careers@azahcccs.gov.
Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.