R&D Java Solutions Developer at The Kroger Company, Blue Ash, OH

Position Summary:

The R&D Solution Developer is responsible for leading the design, development, testing, debugging, maintaining and documenting software components in accordance to Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) best practices for solution that support the company’s innovative and improvement based solutions.  The Developer has overall responsibility in the technical design process.  Leads and participates in the application technical design process and completes estimates and work plans for design, development, implementation, and rollout tasks.  The Developer also communicates with the appropriate teams to ensure that assignments are delivered with the highest of quality and in accordance to standards.  The Developer strives to continuously improve the software delivery processes and practices. Role model and demonstrate the company’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety of others. 

 

Current tools and technologies include:

 

Java developers: Java, J2EE, SQL, JSF, Stripes, Struts, ExtJS, Hibernate, JPA, Spring, Acegi Security, JBoss, Websphere, DB2, Informix, Eclipse, Ant, Maven, JDBC, JUnit,

 

Essential Job Functions:

• Lead and participate in the design and implementation of large and/or architecturally significant applications.
• Champion company standards and best practices.  Work to continuously improve software delivery processes and practices.
• Build partnerships across the application, business and infrastructure teams.
• Develop programming specifications.  Design, code and unit test application code using Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) best practices.
• Complete estimates and work plans independently as appropriate for design, development, implementation and rollout tasks.
• Create technical system documentation and ensure that this documentation remains current throughout all phases of the SDLC.
• Communicate with the appropriate teams to ensure that assignments are managed appropriately and that completed assignments are of the highest quality.
• Support and maintain applications utilizing required tools and technologies.  Provide support for applications, including involvement with the Support Center, NOC, Infrastructure teams, and vendors as appropriate.  Provide off-hours support (24 x 7) as required.
• Assist other personnel on assignments including mentoring or providing on-the-job training to more junior associates.  Mentor team members in software development principles, patterns, processes and practices.
• May direct the day-to-day work activities of other team members. (Level 87 optional)

Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

Behaviors/Skills:

Some of the Behaviors needed to successfully perform this position are:

Leadership Behaviors:

• Puts the Customer First - Anticipates customer needs, champions for the customer, acts with customers in mind, exceeds customers’ expectations, gains customers’ trust and respect.
• Communicates effectively and candidly - Communicates clearly and directly, approachable, relates well to others, engages people and helps them understand change, provides and seeks feedback, articulates clearly, actively listens.
• Achieves results through teamwork – Is open to diverse ideas, works inclusively and collaboratively, holds self and others accountable, involves others to accomplish individual and team goals.
• Leads through positive influence – Demonstrates strong character; builds partnerships; models a conscious balance between work and personal life; takes personal responsibility for own development; role models leadership qualities such as motivation, inspiration, passion and trust.
• Coaches and develops others - Develops and cares about associates, builds effective teams, helps people be their best, values and manages diversity, provides candid and constructive feedback.
• Leads change and innovation - Challenges the status quo, embraces technology, puts forward creative ideas, champions and implements process improvements, gathers the ideas of others, demonstrates good judgment about which ideas will work.
• Executes with excellence - Is action oriented, drives for results, sets clear expectations and milestones, reviews progress, acts decisively, solves problems, can be counted on to consistently meet or exceed goals.
• Provides clear and strategic direction - Plans and organizes well, sets a clear and simple course of action, stays focused on the most important priorities, has the ability to visualize and plan for the future, understands the industry and marketplace.
• Safety Awareness -Identifying and correcting conditions that affect employee safety; upholding safety standards.

 

Job Specific Skills:

• Analytical – Gathers information needed for analysis; analyzes and defines functional requirements; prepares functional requirements documentation.
• Continuous Improvement – Continuously setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed.
• Decision Making - Identifying and understanding issues, problems, and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences.
• Developing Others – Planning and supporting the development of individuals’ skills and abilities so that they can fulfill current and future job/role responsibilities more effectively.
• Planning and Organizing - Establishing courses of action for self and others to ensure that work is completed efficiently.
• Quality Orientation - Accomplishing tasks by considering all areas involved, no matter how small; showing concern for all aspects of the job; accurately checking processes and tasks; being watchful for deviations in quality.
• Results Oriented – Setting high goals for personal and group accomplishment: using measurement methods to monitor progress toward goal attainment: tenaciously working to meet or exceed those goals while deriving satisfaction from the process of goal achievement and continuous improvement.
• Technical Design – Demonstrates knowledge of design concepts; conducts thorough needs analysis; develops designs that meet requirements; addresses scalability and deployment issues
• Technical/Professional Knowledge, Compliance and Skills – Achieving a satisfactory level of technical and professional skill or knowledge in position and/or related areas; keeping up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise. Ensures associates and location comply with laws and regulation applicable to the company.

 

Minimum Position Qualifications: 

• 4 - 6 years’ experience in systems analysis, design or programming and the associated development methodologies with large size or highly complex projects.  (Level 86)
• 7 or more years (Level 87) experience in systems analysis, design or programming and the associated development methodologies. 
• Experience with Project planning. (Level 87)
• Proven communication and presentation skills to effectively communicate information to customers and to all levels within the organization.
• Ability to interact well in a team environment.  
• Ability to travel independently (10%)

 

Desired Position Qualifications: 

• 2 or more years’ experience in Java UI design and development – preferably working with JQuery or ExtJS.
• 2 or more years’ experience in Rich Web design – preferably HTML5 features
• 2 or more years’ experience working with release management including build tools such as Ant or Maven and Continuous Integration tools, preferably TeamCity
• 3-5 years’ experience working with Java presentation frameworks – preferably Stripes
• 3-5 years’ experience working with Java persistence frameworks – preferably Hibernate or JPA
• Ability to lead small teams (1-3 developers) on fast paced, quick turnaround software projects

 

Potential Career Path from this position: 

• Management positions throughout the enterprise (Level 87)
• Senior level Developer positions (Level 87 or Level 88)
• Applications Analyst (Level 87 or Level 88)
• Quality Engineer (Level 87 or Level 88)
• Release Engineer (Level 88)
• Technology Architect (Level 87)