THE OPPORTUNITY

We’re on a mission to protect and improve the health of every person in Washington. To do that, we rely on powerful, secure, and innovative technology systems that keep public health data flowing where and when it’s needed.

As our Application Development Manager, you’ll lead the teams that design, build, and maintain the cloud-based systems powering some of Washington’s most critical public health programs, from disease tracking and lab reporting to data that informs state and national decisions. You’ll guide the technical direction for multiple teams, ensuring our cloud environments and applications are secure, reliable, and built for the future.

This is a high-impact leadership role at the heart of DOH’s digital transformation, where technology meets mission-driven purpose. You’ll manage a talented group of developers, architects, data professionals, and system administrators, about 19 people across three teams. Together, you’ll shape the way DOH designs and delivers cloud-based solutions that keep our state’s health data safe, efficient, and accessible.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading Cloud Innovation – Build and guide a modern, secure, and scalable cloud development platform. Set standards, define best practices, and implement cutting-edge tools that support rapid application development and citizen-driven innovation.
• Managing Technical Teams – Create a collaborative and supportive environment that helps staff grow, succeed, and deliver high-quality results.
• Driving Strategy and Alignment – Partner with IT and business leaders to turn public health needs into technical solutions that advance DOH’s mission.
• Ensuring Security and Reliability – Oversee the design, development, and maintenance of applications and systems that must run 24/7—many tied directly to state, local, and federal reporting.
• Managing Resources and Vendors – Oversee budgets, contracts, and software licensing while ensuring compliance with agency and federal requirements.
• Building Partnerships – Collaborate across divisions and with external partners—vendors, state agencies, and federal entities like the CDC—to deliver technology that strengthens public health statewide.

Option 1: Minimum of nine (9) years of professional IT experience in application development, system administration, cloud engineering, or a related field.

Option 2: Associates degree in computer science, system engineering, information systems, informatics or related discipline and a minimum of seven (7) years of professional IT experience in application development, system administration, cloud engineering, or related field.

Option 3: Bachelor’s Degree in computer science, information technology, software engineering, or a closely related field AND a minimum of five (5) years of professional IT experience in application development, system administration, cloud engineering, or a related field.

Additional Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Experience:

• Two or more years of experience managing or supervising application development teams or professionals responsible for software application delivery.
• Experience designing, deploying, and managing solutions in a major cloud platform such as Microsoft Azure (preferred), AWS, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
• Experience with software development life cycle (SDLC) methods, DevOps/CI-CD pipelines, and Infrastructure-as-Code tools (e.g., Terraform, ARM templates, or CloudFormation).
• Knowledge of Windows and/or Linux environments, including configuration, performance monitoring, and system security.
• Experience with enterprise database management (SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, or similar).
• Knowledge of data governance, cybersecurity standards, and regulatory compliance frameworks (e.g., NIST, FedRAMP, HIPAA).
• Skill in leading and motivating diverse technical teams and managing competing project priorities in a complex IT environment.
• Ability to translate business needs into technical solutions, communicate clearly with technical and non-technical audiences, and ensure systems meet operational, security, and compliance goals.

About Washington State Department of Health

Our programs and services help prevent illness and injury, promote healthy places to live and work, provide information to help people make good health decisions and ensure our state is prepared for emergencies. To accomplish all of these, we collaborate with many partners every day. We help ensure a safer and healthier Washington by: Working to improve health through disease and injury prevention, immunization, and newborn screening Providing health and safety information, education and training so people can make healthy choices Promoting a health and wellness system where we live, learn, work, play and worship Addressing environmental health hazards associated with drinking water, food, air quality and pesticide exposure Protecting you and your family by licensing healthcare professionals, investigating disease outbreaks and preparing for emergencies

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